Peace Corps is looking for an Internet Communications Manager

The irony runs so deep on this one that I laughed out loud. Today, while searching for “web content manager” jobs at Monster.com, you won’t believe what I stumbled upon. Apparently, the Peace Corps is looking for an Internet Communications Manager to take over responsibilities for https://www.peacecorps.gov/.

How funny would it be for me to apply and get this job? I get kicked out of the Peace Corps Guyana due to my online activities only to get hired by its parent company to manage its website. Boy, that would be a hoot. Here is the actual posting:

US-DC-Washington/Metro-Internet Communications Manager

How to Apply
To receive maximum consideration, it is essential that applicants specifically address how they meet the Mandatory and Desired Qualifications. For correct instructions about how to apply, see the Peace Corps Web site at https://www.peacecorps.gov/employment/apply.cfm.

Duties
The incumbent is responsible for managing long-term strategies and day-to-day operations of the Peace Corps? external Web site (www.peacecorps.gov). In managing the Web site and other Internet communications tools, the incumbent is responsible for developing and implementing effective design, content, and marketing projects. This includes developing an overall site architecture and graphic look, working with other offices to improve and expand site content, maintaining existing content, increasing site traffic through marketing and outreach efforts, identifying technical requirements for the site, and coordinating the external Web-based communications of all Peace Corps offices. Responsible for establishing policies and procedures for Web publishing, and must stay current on appropriate technologies, federal Web site requirements, and industry best practices. Responsible for developing and implementing Internet communications strategies related to Volunteer recruitment. To do so, s/he will coordinate activities of the Office of Volunteer Recruitment and Selection, Marketing, Press, Publications, and 11 domestic recruiting offices relating to Internet communications and recruitment and take the leadership role in developing and implementing successful ideas for strengthening the content, features, and functionality of our Web site as they relate to recruitment. Responsible for Internet communications strategies related to non-recruitment agency goals, such as communicating with educators, students, returned volunteers, and the media. Serves as a team leader for other staff supporting the Web site, providing guidance and direction for daily and long-term responsibilities. Conducts interviews and makes hiring recommendations. Manages relationships with external contractors, including drafting statements of work and making recommendations for selection. Exercises editorial judgment in the selection and presentation of content. Participates in research, evaluation and installation of appropriate emerging technology in line with Agency goals and budgets. Represents the agency at meetings and functions involving communications and information technology. Ensures compliance with federal regulations for Web sites.

Mandatory Qualifications
In order to be selected for this position, applicants must be U.S. citizens, must not have been employed in intelligence-related activities. Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, as described above, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent at least to the next lower grade in the normal line of progression. Knowledge, skills, and abilities are those that demonstrate performance of the duties and responsibilities as outlined above and must have included: 1) Professional work experience in the practices and techniques of Internet communications via a public Web site; 2) Thorough knowledge of Web site communications strategies and best practices; 3) The ability to plan, manage, design, and market Web-based and multimedia projects; 4) Strong editorial or communications background; 5) Solid Web technical knowledge, sufficient for defining Web hosting requirements, managing Web application development projects, and developing/maintaining a database-driven Web site; 6) Experience in Web project management, working with diverse teams, and hiring and managing contractors; and 7) Knowledge of HTML, authoring tools, and related technologies, such as javascript, DHTML, and cascading style sheets. All education and experience must be met by October 10, 2002.

Desired Qualifications
The following qualifications are not mandatory for selection to this position. However, highly competitive applicants will have experience and/or education in all or most of the following: 1) Windows OS, Macromedia/Cold Fusion products, and Oracle databases; 2) Adobe Photoshop; 3) developing multimedia CD-ROM projects; and 4) Outstanding writing and speaking skills.

Additional Information
Salary: USD 60,444.00 to USD 88,765.00 per year
Position Type: Full Time, Employee

Contact Information
Peace Corps
1111 20th St. NW
Washington DC 20526

So what do you think? Should I apply? If I did, I’m sure they would really consider me arrogant then (the Guyana country director thinks I’m arrogant).

Justin Long’s Poem

At the swearing in ceremony of the GUY 10 trainees on August 16, volunteer Justin Long wrote and read a great poem on our behalf. Here it is:

Swearing In August 16, 2002

We began this journey in the busy Miami heat;

None of us knowing exactly who we’d meet.

Some of us nervous, some of us bold;

Most of us glad to be leaving that darn northern cold.

A couple days later, again, we exit the plane;

Guyana sending the first wave of real heat, and the puddle of freshly dropped rain.

As we’re waiting for customs, the sweat starts to pour;

While dragging overstuffed bags, two men walk thru the door.

“I am Claudius Prince” and “Call me Kitty” they say;

“We’re with the Peace Corps, so follow us, we’ll lead the way.”

Soon after, twenty-three Americans pile the bus and drive thru the night;

Talking, gaffing, laughing, watching the people and staring at Georgetown lights.

Arriving at Ocean View, we are treated to a feast;

The juice, the veggies, the hot sauce, and oh yes the Guyanese love their meats.

Upon filling our bellies and meeting volunteers and staff, all of us are in high hopes;

For tomorrow we start training and begin to learn the ropes.

As the scorching sun rises and the palms sway in the breeze;

We meet our fearless facilitators: Ken, Colin, Fiona, Greg, Akeel and Marcia.

Along to meet our technical trainers we finally go;

To work with Hazel, Russell, Pam, and Sir Basdeo.

We made it through the long process to get where we are and now we’re all pleased;

Yet some of us are nervous to meet our host families.

We ask “will they like me?” and “how’s it going to be be?”

But from the moment we meet, they make us feel welcome and free.

We’re learning to cook and to clean like Guyanese;

And attempting to understand and speak a bit of (some of us not so well);

Complimenting our hosts comes the experience of Monar and Angie;

Teaching us traditions of a que-que and Jhandie.

Health educators, teachers and IT profs we’ll hopefully be;

Thanks to our patient tech trainers who work with us ah so wonderfully.

We’ve tried a bit of dancing, swimming, boating and singing;

There’s pictures of the soca, cricket, labba, and the sounds of saltfish and boom-boom buses that keep our ears ringing.

The past two months have seemed to fly by;

With images of _Mocha, Grove, South and Georgetown now engrained in our eye.

The days at St.Cuthberts, Diamond Community Center and GNBC we are left to ponder;

As we now head to our sites here, there and some way over yonder.

The joy we feel to get out and serve these up coming two years;

Overshadows the thought of washing and cooking and other silly fears.

With all we have learned from the Guyanese in their land;

Keeping us healthy and free from Dengue;

Nurse Jean and Sheridan give us the shots and help us on our way.

Then there’s the people who keep Peace Corps running smoothly;

Allison, Rita, Michelle, Sasha and James, our over-achieving admin crew.

Claudius, Machu and Kitty, three peas in a pod

Julie, Julie our volunteer coordinator;

When there’s communication between us and staff, she’s our fabulous mediator.

For all your hard work on behalf of us lowly trainees, we do applaud;

There’s Earl and Terrance, the men in charge;

Finding our sites, giving advice, and letting us know our impact here can be large.

These ten weeks have had their share of blood, sweat and tears;

Yet we’ve learned about an amazing culture, how to make a positive difference, and even some about Banks beers.

We hope to give back with our time, skills, resources and our hands;

So from each and every one of us here in Guy 10;

We say thanks for everything and we look forward to seeing you all soon again!

(We’d like all the staff, trainers, host families, and counterparts to stand. Thank you all so much for your time, effort and support on our behalf.)

Subject: Miss you already

Yesterday’s email to friends back in Guyana…

— “Jason.Pearce.net” wrote:
Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 12:55:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: “Jason.Pearce.net”
Subject: Miss you already
To: [email protected]

Peace Corps Friends,

I just wanted to say thank you for all of the support and friendship that you have given me during my difficult ordeal. It was greatly appreciated.

Since returning to North Carolina and moving in with the folks, I’ve spent the last few days catching up on rest and playing Xbox games (hard to do both) to relieve some of the stress that built up over the last few weeks. As you might imagine, both activities have been WONDERFUL.

There is much for me to consider regarding my early close of service. Do I appeal? Do I reapply in hopes of getting assigned somewhere else? Or do I just give up on the Peace Corps and go back to the working world?

As you might imagine, I’ve got lots on my mind. I also spend a lot of time thinking about you, and what your next two years will be like. I don’t want to make any hasty actions, so taking a little bit of time to cool off will likely be wise. I will, however, keep you all informed in regards to what actions I might take with the Peace Corps.

I did leave a message on Tuesday with the Peace Corps’ Office of Placement saying that I would like to be assigned a new site since Guyana was unable to provide me a counterpart. This doesn’t mean that I have decided to reapply. I’m just getting that option started, since we all know how slow things work in DC. Regardless, I’ll keep you posted. I’d also like to hear about anything that you guys might be doing, for I’m still concerned.

I do miss you guys and look forward to hearing about your ongoing adventures. You can easily hear from me by visiting the Monologue section of my website at anytime. Here is the address:

LOCATION: https://jason.pearce.net/monologue/

I’ll send the username and password via a separate email.

I’ll also invite you all to join my personal (and now private) listserve at [email protected]. I use this and my Monologue to communicate with my friends and family; and since you are now a part of both, I’d like to have you join.

I hope all is well with you. Thanks again for all of the support you have offered me. It was/is greatly appreciated.

Your Pearce Corps Friend,
Jason.Pearce.net

Offline problems with online blogs

Earlier this week, one of my buddies told me that two of his friends had also had offline problems with their online blogs (“web Log” to “weblog” to “we blog” to “blog”); or in my case, my Monologue. He said that one of them lost his job and the other had to meet with the human resources department. Seems I’m not alone.

In fact, I found a great Newsweek article called “Living in the Blog-osphere.” It addresses many of the issues that I’m facing with the Peace Corps: intellectual-property complications, privacy implications, global accessibility of personal thoughts and opinions, and the intruding of real life on the Blog-osphere.

Here are the excerpts from the story that I thought were most relevant. If you like to read it in its entirety, click here.

Living in the Blog-osphere
By Steven Levy of Newsweek

Welcome to the world of a half million (and counting) Weblogs, where anyone can instantly publish his passions and favorite Weblinks. And the fun’s just begun.

Indeed, with a new ” ” joining the crowd every 40 seconds, Weblogs are officially the explosion du jour on the Net. Most estimates peg the current number at a half a million Weblogs, depending on how you define the term, but ?my suspicion is that there are even more,” says Cameron Marlow, an MIT graduate student who’s studying the phenomenon.

“It’s a way for anybody with anything to say, to say it,” says Rebecca Blood, author of “The Weblog Handbook.” Often a blog is a way to keep families and friends informed. “In the future, everyone will be famous to 15 people on the Web,” says David Weinberger, author of “Small Pieces Loosely Joined,” an incisive book about the Net.

The blogging boom is more of a realization of unfulfilled promise than a new idea. In the early days of the Web, commentators gushed at the prospect of a billion people’s broadcasting their respective essences on personal Web pages. But Web sites can be difficult to construct, and the tools never became easy enough for the technically challenged to let feelings fly.

But as of 1999, Weblogs were measured by the dozen. The breakthrough came with a small software company called released Blogger on the Web, free. By early 2000, thousands were using the new software. Setting up a Weblog was a no-brainer, a simple walk-through that ended with your blog, live, on the Web. In minutes you could have a site that potentially packed the same wallop as a six-figure, months-in-the-making consultant-created extravaganza.

When high-speed wireless connections become pervasive, we may see bloggers supplementing their daily dispatches with audio and video. The mind boggles at the intellectual-property complications (who owns images snatched from the world at large?). Not to mention the privacy implications.

Privacy worries, in fact, are a lurking presence behind the Weblog explosion. Blogging is an intimate process; the format seduces participants into sharing personal thoughts and opinions. But, of course, when you blog, your words reach not just your trusted cluster, but anyone with a Web browser. With search engines and Internet archives, a bright beam can illuminate the deepest corners of the Net and intimate thoughts suddenly come to the attention of unwanted readers. Real life, sometimes intrudes on the Blog-osphere. One day there may not be a difference.

Excerpts from emails or letters I have received

I would like to publicly thank all of those who have taken the time to show their support via email, phone, letters, or in person. I was fortunate to arrive to Guyana with the enthusiasm of many lifelong friends, and even more privileged to gain the admiration of the 22 colleagues who were in training with me. Your combined words, thoughts, wisdom, and actions have helped make a difficult disappointment more bearable.

I thought that some of you might enjoy reading a few excerpts taken from emails or letters that I have received. I also wanted to archive them here for future reference. Naturally, I have removed the names of the authors for privacy purposes.

The first batch of excerpts is taken from letters or emails that I received from Guyana Peace Corps volunteers and trainees. While I may have known my colleagues only a short while, their impact on me was immense. They will be missed.

I am really flustered writing this. I can’t believe you won’t be here. I am astounded at the decision and think it’s wrong, just wrong.

Over the last ten weeks I have come to respect you a lot. While I am from California, you are maybe the third “dot com” person I have known and I am very impressed with your personality, experience in life, and vision. I honestly feel the people of Guyana are losing a great opportunity with your passing. While others may disagree, I see your heart is in the right place to be here and to help others.

I wish you luck in your future endeavors and hope to connect with you again sometime in the future. I can only hope to be as well off as you are in life by the time I am 30. Your travel experiences make for great stories and you are a wonderful storyteller. You self-assurance and self-awareness are marks of a mature and able man who guides himself in life, not just reacting to circumstances around. Your gadget addiction and embrace of technology inspire others and definitely make you a valuable resource.

Be well, keep hacking, and don’t forget how to gaff. While your stay was short, your impact was large. You will not be forgotten.


I can only imagine how emotionally and mentally wrenching your ordeal here in Guyana was. My head is still spinning about what “could have” been done given the CD’s rather unpredictable temperament. I think he has many volunteers now worried that he’s just going to randomly send someone home for no justifiable reason. I wish you were here because there definitely is more than enough web development work to be done. Regardless of what you decide, just know that I have nothing but admiration for the way you handled this whole situation. Most people would have gone completely ballistic.


I cannot get over this whole ridiculous ordeal. I’m really sorry you’ve been singled out. By far Guyana is going to lose out on a very talented person and we’re going to miss you terribly! Do keep in touch and I’ll never forget your smile and fabulous laugh.


I just wanted to tell you that I was shocked and confused at Earl’s decision to remove you from Peace Corps Guyana. I have never seen another volunteer show as much drive, ambition, and enthusiasm to work as you did. The program and the country has been slighted by the loss your talents. I hope that one poor decision by one short-sighted bureaucrat has not spoiled you to the Peace Corps experience.

You might like to know that VAC [Volunteer Advisory Committee] is conducting a survey among all the volunteers to put together some numbers and percentages on how many of us are dissatisfied with Earl’s decisions. I’ll let you know how it turns out, if you’re interested. Losing you was a huge mistake. I’m sorry it happened.


I will miss you tons! Whatever you do, you’ll be successful, no doubt. I will dearly miss getting to hang out with you playing X-Box the next two years. Good luck and please keep in touch.


I’ll miss my first Peace Corps Guyana contact! All things in life serve a purpose. I’m sure your talents are needed elsewhere. God bless you!


I’ll miss your laugh, your shoulder c.b. talent, and your deep dark savage body. Perhaps you can still rendezvous for a diving vacation with me. You are the king of travel. I remember hearing someone being introduced to you in Miami and you laughing and thinking; cool, that’s Jason. Don’t change.


I’m really sorry to hear about Earl’s decision. For what it’s worth, I think he’s making a big mistake. Take care and good luck.


I’m so sorry about what has transpired. I’m just sick about it. I tossed and turned all night. When things weigh heavy on my mind, well, you know me I analyze and analyze and analyze. I’m a passionate person and if a friend is under attack then it might as well be an attack on me.


I’m proud of the way you are handling this entire thing; it’s very honorable. Keep your chin up. We are all on your side; let us help you if we can.


I’m so sorry to hear the scoop and the run around you’ve been facing. It is pure ridiculous acts they are doing! I really hope they find you a site – you are a very talented person Jason and Guyana would benefit greatly from you. Keep us in the loop and let us know if we can do anything to help in this time of patient waiting.


I’m still trying to figure out how Earl can deny Guyana the most specialized, intelligent, enthusiastic volunteer of the bunch. It makes me sick. I want you to know I won’t forget you or this unfair experience. I hope it fires you up. Frankly, I’m going to kick some legal ass in your honor after law school. I’m serious. I’m going to miss you a lot: Frisbee, cards, minibus rides. Please keep in touch.


Just remember that you will always be a better person that that piece of s*** Earl Brown and I commend you on the way you handled the situation, very professional. Personally, I would have gone ape s*** on that chump!


Life is never fair, so don’t dwell. Move forward. Respect yourself and have fun. Now I’ll never learn how to do web pages.


That stinks about the trouble you are running into. I had heard stories from several people that it was pretty hard to get beyond some of the red tape, and some people didn’t feel that they made any difference after a lot of hard work. It stinks that it sometimes has to be that way, but I’m sure you will persevere. I hope you are able to enjoy at least most things with the PC stuff. Good luck!


We were so saddened to learn how things turned out for you in G’town. Not a day goes past that we don’t wonder about how you are doing–and where you are doing it. Having been in similar situations several times in my life, I can really empathize with you. I really don’t like being the focus of large institutions trying to work out policies on things they don’t really understand. We take heart knowing that you are a resourceful and highly motivated person, so we know that you will come out on top.


Who the heck am I going to play hacky with, learn X-Box games, and fricken watch DVD’s? I was looking forward to that! And even cook for ya once or twice. We’ll miss you.


You are an amazing person and I am so completely disappointed that you have to leave us. I hope that you will keep in touch and I wish you all the luck in the world. You will be able to offer so much to those who have the privilege of knowing you. Thank you for the many laughs, the good conversation, and for your friendship. Peace Corps Guyana is missing out! Please know that we are all behind you on this and if you need anything, do not hesitate to ask! I will miss you!

As you can see, I was fortunate to have a great deal of support from the many new friends that I made while in Guyana. I am looking forward to keeping in touch with all of them and sharing their adventures with you.

Which leads me to my “support group” back home. During my ordeal with the country director, I was trying to come up with a solution that would permit me to communicate with my friends and family while ensuring that my letters home would only reach my intended audience (i.e. not fall into the hands of the Guyanese). One of my proposals was to have me stop posting content on my website and instead send emails directly to my personal listserve ([email protected]), which would then distribute my emails to the rest of you.

While I thought this was a good solution, the Peace Corps Guyana staff remained apprehensive. Their first concern was regarding the number of people who would receive my emails. When I told them that I have about 100 friends and family members who are subscribed to my personal listserve, they balked; claiming that number to be far to high and that they would consider any email that I distributed to this many people to be publishing.

Their second concern was regarding the character and profession of my 100 friends and family. Knowing that I served as an editor of a magazine for five years, the Peace Corps Guyana staff asked if I still had any friends in the publishing/communications business and, if so, were they subscribed to my listserve. They were concerned that my publishing friends would be influenced by my experiences and opinions, and would thus publish my thoughts and opinions as having come from a credible U.S. government or Peace Corps source.

Needless to say, I never expected my wealth of friends and support to lead to my demise. But leave it to the Peace Corps to find a way.

I cherish the interaction and support that I received from each of you. My email box was flooded with letters of dismay, humor, wisdom, advice, and best wishes ? all of which were greatly appreciated, so thank you. Here are a few excerpts from those emails:

I am SO sorry about what is happening to you. I am beyond words! I just cannot believe that they want to censor your site – I can’t believe that anything you have posted would jeopardize any kind of national security – which would be the only reason they could do such a thing! I can’t even think of anything that has been in any way negative. I just don’t understand!! And I can’t believe how they have treated you! Can they send you to another country – one that allows freedom of speech!?


I am sorry to hear about the closed-mindedness of the group in Guyana. One would have thought after some of the less positive press the WWF had taken during it’s recent litigations with the wrestling folks, they would be elated to have any volunteer workers they could get, but even more so to have someone of your caliber.


I can’t believe it!!! Because you wanted to take a modern approach to sharing your experiences, you are being sent home. I’m very disappointed in the Peace Corps. I’m sure things will work out for you, let me know if I can do anything. Have a safe trip home.


I feel how humbled you must feel over all this unfortunate circumstance, and reach out to you. Keep the faith, obey their dicta up to and at the point where you feel you can compromise any longer. I can see how the very conservative elements have to be so guarded, and note that it has been my experience in my travels, and in my foreign missionary efforts within the church. Weigh all things and try to see them from the point of view of the others, and such sensitivity will be rewarded so that your mission can continue.


I find it outrageous and ridiculous that your service was cut short because you were utilizing the skills you were recruited to share in the first place. I’m sure you’re in the process of getting back in the States and getting settled. I was thinking about you, rooting for you and with you all the way.


I for one am glad you are coming home. I have read in the “independent press” that the Peace Corps is not all it’s cracked up to be. Or rather, it’s more than it’s supposed to be and in the wrong direction. The standard thing: a good idea gone awry, controlled by big bucks and big politics. I believe it was an article in Mother Jones: one of the very few national magazines that is not owned by the five media giants that own about 99% of all American media. Maybe Jason needs to start another one! Seriously / it might make a good article for one of the independent publications. Newsweek or Time wouldn’t touch it.


I have known you since our early teenage years and have always known you to be of sound judgment and impeccable character. I also know you to make sound decisions based on integrity and high morals. I personally think in today’s world your web page is the most outstanding way to spread the positive impact of your journeys and experiences in life to include your assignments with the Peace Corps. I personally enjoy reading about your adventures.


I hope they send you home. They don’t deserve someone of your caliber. Small minded people disgust me.


I hope you can stomach the games being played concerning your appointment. I am disappointed with WWF, an organization I support with gifts for dropping you. Keep your chin up and be a brother of courage.


I just read through your site, and I’m amazed. I really enjoyed reading about your times in Guyana, and you definitely have web-dev talent. I’m also shocked that they dismissed you so easily given that you seemed willing to comply with their rules. If your sites are password protected and given out only to friends and family and if names/addresses aren’t mentioned, I don’t see the harm.

I will admit that if I was the host family, I might object to someone posting my daily family activities. You seem like a totally open person, but many people may object to your “reality tv” approach to life. I suspect it was the comment about the naked overweight child that tipped the scales. There is likely a hidden political agenda as well. It’s too bad they didn’t put you in front of a panel of “judges” so that you could explain yourself, make changes, and come to an agreement before they terminated your service. It definitely doesn’t seem just.

I’d say you’d have a chance with the O’Reilly Factor on FoxNews ([email protected]) –that exposure could lead to top pro-bono legal counsel. Your situation is quite interesting and will no doubt occur with others as more and more people learn how to communicate via the web. Might be worth the fight if you’re in for a long haul.


I know this is a big disappointment to you, as I know how much you wanted to help your country and the Guyanese people. I pray that the Peace Corps will reconsider. I do not think you have said anything that will embarrass them or the government of Guyana. In fact it has made me mindful of the sacrifices that Peace Corps volunteers make. It has also made me think that maybe I should consider Peace Corps service when I retire.


I thought I would save my note until the conclusion of this mess. From an observer’s standpoint, I can’t tell you how baffled/amazed/disappointed I am in the outcome. In the global environment we are faced with, I would think that the PC would take advantage of talent when they had it and meet in the middle with you on the issues they had with the monologue. My thoughts go out to you bro. Long live the 1st amendment.


I’ve been following along, quietly, throughout this entire ride you’ve had. I’ve enjoyed looking at the pictures, reading your stories, and learning about the entire experience. All I can say is that I am in disbelief that all this could come from your Web site. If there ever was a motivated and talented individual, that is you, and it is quite upsetting to know you’re down in a foreign country needing to deal with this when all you want to do is help. Needless to say, I hope this is resolved quickly and you can get on with your work. I am with you, brother, and best of luck.


I’ve been thinking about you and hope that he swears you in. He’s nuts if he doesn’t! I admire that you are standing up for what you believe in.


Just wanted you to know I was thinking of you in these difficult times. I am sure you are finding a way to deal with this as you always have with tough situations.


My view is that you probably haven’t done anything wrong in terms of the content you’ve placed on your web site. I think the Peace Corps has totally overreacted to something that could be a significant benefit to recruitment and the spread of information about the Peace Corps, as well as something that could further your and your fellow volunteers’ experience in Guyana. I have really enjoyed reading your monologue and hope that it will be back up and running soon!


Perhaps the answer to your dilemma is to comply with all the Peace Corps requests and to assure them that you will work within their guidelines and do all you can to maintain open communication with them throughout your service. Then, as you get to know them and have a chance to build up trust over a period of months, you can endeavor to deal with the question of freedom of speech, etc. Remember that the Peace Corps is not representative of “corporate America”, but a volunteer agency. Greatly simplified………”where do you want to end up?” and “what is the shortest distance between 2 points?” Other facets of the situation can be dealt with later.


Some people make it really hard to want to help them, eh? Good luck Jason. I think the folks over there could use a person with your talents and personality. Keep fighting the good fight.


Sorry to hear that you are running into logistical/political problems regarding your website. I find your site to be a very useful tool in helping me understand what you are doing. I also have learned much about what the Peace Corps does, and its mission and vision. Anyhow, I hope you stick to your principles, and I hope the Peace Corps can see your commitment to their goals, and the good your “free-speech” can do for their mission.


Sounds like a load of crap to me. You try to volunteer two years of your life to something and this is what you get, amazing.


Thanks for continuing to share your story. I am sad that the country director has been so difficult in relation to your website, etc. Please know that I will keep you in my thoughts and hope that he will grant you the ability to continue. How unfortunate to find someone that is willing to volunteer time and energy and to turn this down due to such trivial issues. Thanks for representing the USA so proudly.


We are thoroughly pissed off on your behalf. We can’t believe it. They are clearly colossal idiots!!!! Have a safe flight and we hope to hear from you soon.


We are very sorry about how everything turned out and the disappointment and frustration that you have experienced. But we are very proud of you for standing up for your freedom of speech. There are times in life when you have to pull together everything you have been taught and what you believe in. We feel that this was one of those times for you and we are proud of the way you responded. We love you and know that you will learn from this difficult experience and are a better person for it.


Wow, totally did not expect to get this e-mail. We have a bet going on how short your country director is. What 5’2″? 5’4″? 3’8″? It has to be a Napoleon complex … he’s jealous of your height … that’s the only possible explanation.