2008.01.13: January 13, 2008: Headlines: Speaking Out: Diplomacy: New York Times: Robert Wong writes: The value of the Peace Corps is that people in other countries who may never have seen a foreigner are happy for the opportunity to ask questions directly to an American
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2008.01.09: January 9, 2008: Headlines: COS - Liberia: Country Directors - Cameroon: Speaking Out: New York Times: Liberia RPCV Robert L. Strauss writes: Too often young volunteers lack the maturity and professional experience to be effective development workers in the 21st century:
2008.01.13: January 13, 2008: Headlines: Speaking Out: Diplomacy: New York Times: Robert Wong writes: The value of the Peace Corps is that people in other countries who may never have seen a foreigner are happy for the opportunity to ask questions directly to an American
Robert Wong writes: The value of the Peace Corps is that people in other countries who may never have seen a foreigner are happy for the opportunity to ask questions directly to an American
"Maybe Robert L. Strauss should talk to the average person in the countries the Peace Corps serves. In my work outside the United States, I am always surprised when people ask me questions about things that are taken for granted by Americans."
Robert Wong writes: The value of the Peace Corps is that people in other countries who may never have seen a foreigner are happy for the opportunity to ask questions directly to an American
To the Editor:
Maybe Robert L. Strauss should talk to the average person in the countries the Peace Corps serves. In my work outside the United States, I am always surprised when people ask me questions about things that are taken for granted by Americans.
Why, I’ve been asked, do Americans wear shoes in their houses? What is the Dow Jones (or who is Dow Jones and why is he average)? And is root beer alcoholic?
The value of the Peace Corps is that people in other countries who may never have seen a foreigner are happy for the opportunity to ask questions directly to an American.
Robert Wong
Khartoum, Sudan, Jan. 9, 2008
The writer is deputy political counselor at the United States Embassy in Khartoum.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: January, 2008; Speaking Out; Diplomacy
When this story was posted in January 2008, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance Act Senator Chris Dodd vowed to filibuster the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that helped this administration violate the civil liberties of Americans. "It is time to say: No more. No more trampling on our Constitution. No more excusing those who violate the rule of law. These are fundamental, basic, eternal principles. They have been around, some of them, for as long as the Magna Carta. They are enduring. What they are not is temporary. And what we do not do in a time where our country is at risk is abandon them." |
| What is the greatest threat facing us now? "People will say it's terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what is the great threat we are facing? I would approach this differently, in almost Marshall-like terms. What are the great opportunities out there - ones that we can take advantage of?" Read more. |
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Story Source: New York Times
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Speaking Out; Diplomacy
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