Evening star., 1961-03-28
Peace Corps


Each settler chose America
as his permanent home and
struggled with that goal in
mind. -
. The Peace, Corps. as de-
scribed in the news, will be
a temporary arrangement for
approximately a two year
tour Of duty for those chosen
to represent the United
States in many lands
throughout the world.
Should this rapidly grow
ing volunteer program send
forth anyone but the best in
our land we shall lose the
prestige that is now ours and
hence make communism
more, attractive to under
developed countries. This
''crash-program" is danger
Gus for it is enticement to
many who have sand in
their shoes. wanderers and
adventure seekers. Our her
itage is priceless to us, we
cannot give it away; never
has a free gift been appre-
ciated; mankind, in its weak
est frame, detestS charity.
Charles Canton
+' - So
I was glad to learn about
Gov. G. Mennep Williams
recent trip to Africa and most
impressed when he said Africa
needed aid at once. This
Peace Corps idea that has the
country excited is wonderful.
but ! have the feeling that
much more could be ac-
complished II this money
that will be spent for trans
portation Of our youth to
these undeveloped countries
be put to Q better use in
providing better institutions
Of learning. Hire good
teachers and instructors from
America. The need Is great
for better schools in all of
these countries.
ElIswer w. Davis.
President, Friends Of
Sierra Leone Club.
80
In keeping with the. spirit
of What can you; do for
your country2" I visited
headquarters of the Peace
Corps. Our newspapers have
been filled with stories Of the
mountains Of mail and woe
fully inadequate facilities
being encountered by the
harried Peace Corps person.
mel. I stopped in to volunteer
my services on q free, part
time basis for as long as re-
quired. I. thought perhaps my
personnel background might
be Of some use in screening
applications. I was told by q
very pleasant young lady that
my help was surely needed
and my interest greatly ap-
preciated. The Justice De-
partment, however, had ruled
that the use Of unpaid vol
unteers is illegal, hence, I
could not be considered.
II my experience is typi.
cal Of that which will, be en-
countered by Americans who,
aroused from their lethargy,
seek to be Of service to their
country. the enthusiasm of
the New Frontier" will soon
be hopelessly mired in the
quicksand Of Government red
tape. -,
1t is inconceivable to me
that. 1t Is illegal for interested
citizens to work for their
country as suncompensated
volunteers. 49, es
Donald T. Jameson.
4 = A&
In regard to President Ken
nedy's Peace Corps, it can be
said that If that great Being,
who healed the sick, restored
the sight Of the blind, raised
the dead and finally gave
His life in the interest Of
peace, could not get people
to follow the path Of peace,
then how is it reasoned that
representatives Of a nation,
whose peace record is not
exactly outstanding, can get
people to follow the path?
The truth is, we should
stop this "corny" business of
trying to promote the idea
that the United States is the
worlds most ardent peace
lover. The only ones inn
pressed by such promotion
are ourselves. The rest Of the
world knows that we are as
warlike as any other nation.
y. ]. Sperty.
Woodstock. Va. ,4s..m a