General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: South-bashing [View all]BlueMTexpat
(15,378 posts)I myself was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the 1960s. It was an experience that truly enriched my life and hopefully helped the community I served in, even if only in small ways. Most of those with whom I served - from all corners of the US - are still friends and we try to get together when we can. We all still have friends in the communities where we served. PC has always prided itself on being nonpartisan and some of my former colleagues are Republicans (or at least were, most are much too sane to have anything to do with today's iteration of the GOP). Such bonds are truly important in making one feel a part of something bigger.
At that time, the military draft was compulsory. Some of my male colleagues also had to serve militarily after their PC experience. Others were exempted for various reasons. A few fled to Canada. In my view, we all served our country.
In some moments, our lives were likely as much on the line as those in the military, even though we were never as obviously targets and the US was not as hated then as we are today in some areas of the world, due especially to policies from the Reagan and Bush eras. We were never armed, nor were we generally grouped together, often assigned to separate locations some distance apart, having to live much as those in the communities where we served. There were moments when things could have gone very badly.
But yes, there are so many things that need to be done in and for the US and so many ways to give us all opportunities to participate meaningfully, especially when we are still young and trying to learn about ourselves. But it's never too late.