PEACE CORPS - General Comments Section

[Tweaker]

PEACE CORPS - General Comments Section

Gentlemenses and ladieses - Please take the time to consider a young 22 y/o "friend" and her possible 2 year enlistment in the PEACE CORPS ?!?

[Tweaker]

http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.wherepc

THERE BE DRAGONS!!! Live interactive map.

Sgt. Bill sayz, "travel the world, meet ineresting people, and kill them!"

Bonus VGOF sidematch: Find all the places that smell like napalm in the morning!!!

Free UN Monica Spewinski signature series beret for the next 1,000 Obamites!

[Diomed]

Her neck to risk and time to waste...

[OakRidgeStars]

[zephyp]

I'd be hesitant to work for any organization that hopes to send you to faraway dangerous places yet forbids employment to those with intelligence backgrounds or intel related experience...

I realize the PC does some good things around the world but seems to me our tax dollars could better be used to have them do work right here in the good ole US of A where its badly needed or get rid of them altogether...after all,we're footing the bill...just sayin...

[Tweaker]

That's the spirit of my intent, Zeph! Spoken by someone who knows more, has seen more and done more than I. Bravo.

[CowboyT]

Actually, I'm for the Peace Corps. The way I view it, it's similar to my time in the Air Force, but sans the military aspect. The 22yo "friend" would be going overseas, getting exposure to a new (to her) culture and language, learning first-hand that not everything in the world is milk 'n' cookies, being out on her own for real (i. e. not with the parents), and getting to help folks out in the process.

This was kinda similar (obviously not exactly, but similar enough) to my own experiences overseas, and I'm definitely a better man for it. You learn a lot when you "go see the world", or at least a part of it. You learn that not everyone is just like you, and how to get along with people different from you a lot better. I advocate this to young people all the time.

So if your friend wants to do it, tell her to go for it!

[ksanftleben]

PEACE CORPS - General Comments Section

Gentlemenses and ladieses - Please take the time to consider a young 22 y/o "friend" and her possible 2 year enlistment in the PEACE CORPS ?!?

Here's something to consider: Peace Corps Volunteers Killed While Serving. Only a very small percentage of volunteers are murdered by the very people they are helping, but it does happen.

A long time ago, my ex-wife made the list a couple of years after we divorced.

R/Kurt

[CowboyT]

True, while the percentage is very small, it can happen. Of course, it can also happen when you're driving your car, but that doesn't stop most people from driving cars. It can happen to you, including accidentally, if you join the military, but millions have done it. Not encouraging actual foolhardiness, but the only 100% safe life is one lived in a cage. To me, that's not living.

[zephyp]

True, while the percentage is very small, it can happen. Of course, it can also happen when you're driving your car, but that doesn't stop most people from driving cars. It can happen to you, including accidentally, if you join the military, but millions have done it. Not encouraging actual foolhardiness, but the only 100% safe life is one lived in a cage. To me, that's not living.

Reminds me of the old joke about how you'd like to die...serious and with a well preserved body...or skidding into the grave at 90 mph with a cigarette in one hand, a martini in the other, a body just about ready to die, and a great big crap eating grin plastered across your face...

[gunderwood]

but the only 100% safe life is one lived in a cage. To me, that's not living.

We would still need a safety label telling us not to our heads between the bars...

[SgtBill]

I think that I will take DK's way out. Hell yes! and I don't even drink.
Bill

[jrswanson1]

Several friends of mine have been in the Peace Corps. It's one of the few ways of getting paid while learning about foreign cultures. My friends were assigned to an extremely poor African country, and learned first hand what a corrupt gov't does to its people. They all taught in schools there. It's a good experience. Plus, you get to go to the head of the line for gov't jobs.

Jim

[zephyp]

Several friends of mine have been in the Peace Corps. It's one of the few ways of getting paid while learning about foreign cultures. My friends were assigned to an extremely poor African country, and learned first hand what a corrupt gov't does to its people. They all taught in schools there. It's a good experience. Plus, you get to go to the head of the line for gov't jobs.

Jim

...I see extremely poor people every day, am constantly exposed to multiple foreign cultures, and experience first, second, and third hand what a corrupt government does...all from right here in NOVA...

Not trying to dis your post, just couldnt help it...

[Tweaker]

Oh snap!

[gatlingun6]

Several friends of mine have been in the Peace Corps. It's one of the few ways of getting paid while learning about foreign cultures. My friends were assigned to an extremely poor African country, and learned first hand what a corrupt gov't does to its people. They all taught in schools there. It's a good experience. Plus, you get to go to the head of the line for gov't jobs.

Jim

I couldn't agree with you more! The Peace Corps is another face of America abroad where the benefits go in both directions. The Peace Corps volunteer gets an up close invaluable lesson in different cultures and peoples. To peoples around the world the Peace Corps volunteer counteracts what radicals say we are all about. The world is a lot smaller than most Americans seem to think. 75% of Canadians have passports, whereas the State Department and other estimates say that less than 25% of Americans have Passports. That statistic does not bode well for our ability to understand different cultures and peoples, when understand we must. Without large numbers of us moving around the planet, we leave a void that radicals, and people who just don't know any better fill.

Btw for the very same reason, I recommend that all college students spend at least one year abroad. My children found the experience invaluable. That experience has given them lasting international friendships plus a facility with several foreign languages. As one of my kids later did, if you can, you should host a child from overseas in the exchange programs for high school students. Our family did and again we benefited as much as the exchange student. He is literally a part of our extended family now.

Can the world be dangerous? Of course it can, but that doesn't mean we should curl up in a little ball and hide in fear. Just driving to work is dangerous, but as someone noted that does not stop anyone from driving. As I'm writing this piece, some of those Americans with passports are stomping around the globe in all sorts of countries (I was one of them until a few days ago). The chances that they will all return safely is significantly better than the chances that they would have arrived safely at the point of debarkation in the U.S.

Gat6

Quote of the day/week: "It's easy to fear and hate that which you do not know."

[LFS]

75% of Canadians have passports, whereas the State Department and other estimates say that less than 25% of Americans have Passports.

Isn't that because 75% of their population lives within 100 miles of the US/Canadian border? The same is not true for the people living in the United States.

[chfaunce]

I think also because Canada is friggin' cold 9 months out of the year and it's full of French people 12 months out of the year.

[CowboyT]

OK, zat was ze hilarious, Monsieur! Ho-ho!

But seriously, though, gatlingun6 sums it up beautifully. Well done there. I reaped similar benefits from my overseas experience as he describes for his children. Definitely glad I did it, wouldn't trade it.

[gatlingun6]

75% of Canadians have passports, whereas the State Department and other estimates say that less than 25% of Americans have Passports.

Isn't that because 75% of their population lives within 100 miles of the US/Canadian border? The same is not true for the people living in the United States.

And how many Americans live within 100 miles of the Canadian and Mexican borders. How close Canadians live to our borders is actually irrelevant because prior to 9/11 you did not need a Passport to go back and forth to Canada.

Gat6