Volume 4 Issue 3
Page 17
contributions may appear minimal but they
aren't, they have a cumulative effect.
Linda: It’s like working on a quilt, each person's square becomes part of the whole.
Phil: The life lesson I learned from the
Peace Corps is that up close it may seem
that what you do has no effect, but the
combined effort over time does. Your impact may not even be visible; it’s incremental and subtle.
KM: Over the years you've both maintained
ties with the Peace Corps and recently attended the 45th Anniversary celebration in
Washington D.C. What do you see as the
greatest changes and challenges to today's
Peace Corps?
Phil: None of the truths have changed. That
said, today there is a certain amount of cynicism that must be overcome. Peace Corps
Volunteers sometimes must work much
harder to establish good will in their communities. Trust may be more difficult to establish
now.
Terrorism is disruptive by its very nature, with
objectives to disrupt and destroy. Terrorist
acts and fear of such make the job harder.
Trust and love are the polar opposites and
the antidote to what terrorism attempts to accomplish. If there were more Peace Corps
volunteers and people who have the Peace
Corps spirit in leadership roles, terrorists
would have greater difficulty with their message of hate and fear.
KM: You are concluding your first visit to Macedonia and the Southeast European region,
any advice for Peace Corps Volunteers serving here?
Phil: Be of good cheer! Macedonia is an
ideal country for PCVs to work. It has
enough infrastructure and opportunities to
recognize its needs, but not be as overwhelming as some emerging nations. Your
Movies and TV show such a small piece of
the elephant that constitutes Americans
and American society. What higher way to
spend our time interpreting and demonstrating who we are? Serving in the Peace
Corps is as much an act of patriotism as
joining the military.
KM: As a former Captain, USAF, that's
saying a lot. Thank you for your insight
and “Dojdi vednash”!