Peace Corps

[Livetrueordie]

Whats Your opinion?

[Livetrueordie]

I guess i need to give more information

The peace corps was made by Kennedy in the 60's
its an independent agency of the US government scuh as the CIA.
its very interesting to me as you get to travel around to third world countries and do free services. But its original intentions were to promote the US as a kind non-imperialist nation. While i disagree on this, i think it may be a good outlet to help people. im still not sure of my posistion.

[Sa'd al-Bari]

The Peace Corps simply serves as a character building organization for its members. The United States loves to cite the Peace Corps as an example of it being a “friendly superpower”, and further enforces this image by omitting its imperialist ventures. Look in a U.S. history textbook and you’ll usually find something about the Peace Corps, but nothing about its involvement in Chile, the Congo, Lebanon, Iran, etc. While its “character building” exercises may also help people, its use as a friendly façade for imperialism destroys any respect I may have had for the organization.

[El_Revolucionario]

well there might be alternatives, like the Red Cross or something like that.

[Clarksist]

I have fierce problems with charities. As it is always reactionionary and is only used for photo ops, not to solve problems.

[RedSkinheadUltra]

I've become very interested in the Peace Corps.

Taking off for an unknown country and living there for two years while helping a community sounds exciting and meaningful. It combines my goals to travel, learn a new language and culture and do volunteer work.

But I still have some reservations. I don't want to participate in anything that tries to gloss over and give a fake image of US foreign policy.

In the past the US Peace Corps has also been used as a weapon against countries (by threatening to recall aid) and has connections with think tanks that are associated with the CIA (funding and working with US-backed opposition groups.)

I have to graduate college before I can consider it so I time to think about it.

Any more information is appreciated...

[cormacobear]

You could collect as much marxist material while your over here, Join up get them to fly you over, then you can do charity work during the day, and fight capitalism all night.

[Organic Revolution]

the peace corps are used by america to show that america is a nice peace loving charitable country.

[pedro san pedro]

most 'real' aid workers that i know (ie - people who are long term aid workers, not holidayiers) do they're utmost to avoid working with the peace corps - saying that they tend to get in the way too much.

if you really want to be an aid worker, get some training and go and work for a more effective organisation