Peace Corps

With Sgt. Shriver's passing, it seems this agency should be put out to pasture. While it served as a wonderful front for the CIA, it routinely sends women into dangerous situations: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/peace-corps-gang-rape-volunteer-jess-smochek-us/story?id=12599341&page=1

With all the aid that the US sends to numerous countries, I really don't see much point in the Peace Corps. Anyway, it's not like you get sent to any good places. Many say it looks good on a resume.....but people also said that about my bachelors degree.....and guess what? I'm a substitute teacher.

Peace Corps is a life changing experience. I was sent to Central Europe and at first didn't really know much about Peace Corps and what was really going on. During my training, I learned the language to near-fluency, was sent to a small town with 30% unemployment and networked with the locals. It was such a great experience, though when you are in the storm it seems to rage endlessly. Years later, I realize that my life has changed greatly because of my PC training. At Returned Peace Corps Volunteer events, you sit at dinner tables with people who served on all of the other continents and you seem to have shared the same experiences as them but with little differences due to regional challenges (ie. food). The rest is the same, and the more you share, the more you realize we are all the same as a human race. Since I ended my service 10 years ago, I have received 2 graduate degrees and have seen my country of service join the European Union. It is unique compared to other PC countries... Read more

"Come on people now/Smile on your brother..." Hold on a minute as I don my love beads, headband, and bang my tambourine. It's great that some young people are self-sacrificing enough to travel to third world countries and help the needy and unfortunate. Creature of comfort that I am, I have always preferred my own cozy digs.

Stay home. We don't need any more amateurs in these third world hellholes. Most will wind up being terrorist targets.

Yawn...

One of the reasons that I respect President Kennedy so much is his establishment of this organization. In a time when American culture seems to be closing its doors on the world (The State Department reports that only 7% of Americans own passports), it is hard for us to realize the hardships that many parts of the world face. This allows America's youth to reach out to other part's of the world and lend a helping hand. I'm only in High School, and as a prospective student of AU, I highly plan on either involving myself in the Peace Corps or Americorps. And Twinmom101 is right- if more people would join the Peace Corps and actually look out onto the world- then perhaps some of the turmoil in the world would be nonexistant. "There's nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer"- Colonel Doolittle, USAF Commander, WWII.

Just an all around awesome experience! I served in Moldova teaching English and would highly recommend doing this to any college graduate who is unsure about where to go next. It's such an eye-opening experience to see how good we have it here in the US, how hard life is for many people in these countries (my host family gave me an egg for my birthday) and how one person can make a difference. I honsetly believe if more people joined the Peace Corps, we would not have the hate and misunderstanding that is growing right now in the world. Just an incredible way to expand your mind and learn a little compassion for for humanity. Also great for the resume and a foot in the door for future careers, especially in government. Peace to all of you!

Disband this fuzzy logic organization or integrate it in the real peace corps the Department of Defense

There's something very interesting about peace.

Set up by JFK, it helps Americans to deliever aid to third world countries in need.

The unfortunate carnage in the Middle East and Afghanistan notwithstanding, the Peace Corps is one of the finest, most noble gifts America has given the world. As a relative of a Corps member who worked in Burkina Faso as an English teacher and as the husband of an Americorps VISTA volunteer in her second term, I can attest that Americans are selfless and extremely giving of themselves. Our legacy of education and helping the local peoples in Africa, Asia and Latin America makes a far better, more lasting, more positive impression than using guns or financing mercenaries. It's a tragedy that our Peace Corps members have been recalled from certain countries because their purpose is to help the local people and also to show the world that not all Americans are insensitive to other cultures and traditions. I recommend the Peace Corps for anyone who desires to help make the world a better place on a humanitarian, grass-roots level, or if you're not a traveling sort, then consider Americorp... Read more

war is good

In general I don't gov't involvement where there's no reason civil society couldn't take care of the same goal, but in the broad scheme of Washington's wastefulness, this one is hardly worth throwing a fit over...