Jason Pearce

Last month PeaceCorpsOnline.org ran a story about a group of 60 Peace Corps volunteers in the Dominican Republic who had planned a peace demonstration at the US Embassy against US policy in Iraq in March and asked RPCVs to comment on whether Peace Corps Volunteers retain first amendment rights while serving overseas to protest actions of the United States Government.

This story provoked more comments than any other story they have published in a long time. More than 50 messages have made on the topic; one of them was mine.

Since making this post on June 16, 2003, traffic to my site grew 344 percent (which is to say three more people showed up). Kidding aside, my story is being read by others.

PeaceCorpsOnline.org Publisher Hugh Pickens sent me an email the day following my post requesting if he could feature me in an upcoming issue. Yesterday, he followed up with an email saying my story is being considered for their August issue.

I’ve also received a few emails from people who read my comments at PeaceCorpsOnline.org and followed links to my site. Here are a few excerpts from emails I’ve received from visitors:

From: “Peter”
Subject: Peace Corps
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2003 18:19:01 -0500

Jason,

I just read your posting on the RPCV website. I am very sorry to hear what you went through. It’s something we were threatened with in Sierra Leone as well.

I served in that country for three years, from 1979 to 1982. As I recall, the Peace Corps handbook allowed volunteers to speak to the US press without hindrance, and suggested caution in talking to host country media. Against that background, we received a sneering (the best word that I can think of that the moment) letter from the Peace Corps Director saying any volunteer who spoke to any media, at home or in-country, would be terminated, and any staff member who did so would be fired. The idea was that we might win an appeal, but could never return to Sierra Leone.

This came after someone in the media interviewed a PCV. I was told the story came out very positively, but I don’t know for sure — I lived at the remote end of the country. It nearly caused a revolt among the volunteers, especially when he sent out a second memo saying there was a correction, and it was exactly the same as before. There were other problems with this director as well.

Peace Corps has been gone from Sierra Leone for nearly ten years, but it remains very popular and now that the war is over the government wants it back. I would still advise volunteers to be cautious in talking to the press. Many of the publishers in Freetown are now friends or acquaintances of mine, and I make the statement in full knowledge of the perils that anyone might face with the media. Still, I think that is their right.

Regards,

Peter

And this one…

Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 10:06:15 -0500
From: Bianca

Good Morning Jason,

I’ve read most of your website regarding your “adventures” with the Peace Corps.

It was nice to hear/read something negative. I have an idealistic view of the PC and its services. It was refreshing to hear it’s not all peaches and cream. I find it hard to believe that everyone has a positive experience with the Peace Corps so reading your story made the organization a bit more human, flawed at times.

Thanks again,

Bianca

For those who are visiting my site for the first time and wish to learn more about my Peace Corps experience, here are a few helpful links:

Early Termination

An extensive section documenting my early termination. This section include memos and emails exchanged between myself and the Peace Corps.

My Monologue

You’re in it. It is here that I share my experiences (dull and exciting) with the world. Posts appear in reverse chronological order.

First Peace Corps posting

I arrived in Guyana on Wednesday, June 5, 2002. This is my first posting.

Last Peace Corps posting

My last post was made on Wednesday, August 21, 2002. I was sent home Friday, August 23.

Audio Diaries

Two 10-minute MP3 audio diaries that I recorded and posted while in Guyana. Country Director Earl Brown took such offence to these two files he took them to Guyana US Ambassador Ronald Godard.

Letters of Support

Letters and small notes I received from most of my peers in disgust of my early departure.

Thank you all for visiting and sharing your thoughts.

I sent of a second postcard to my Guyana Peace Corps friends today. In the next three months, I plan on sending them a card every other week in memory of our times together one year ago. Here’s what the latest card said:

Dear Friends,

By this time last year, we were all being entertained by Hans saying, “Seriously dog, why do you have to be that way,” Anna learning how to hacky sack, Steve’s smurf-blue head from all of the sunscreen he had put on, people randomly falling out of those weak plastic chairs, a card game called Knaves, and all of the Banks beer our pitiful allowance would allow. As I like to say, “Good times, great oldies.”

We always had time to pass, and together, we found ways to entertain ourselves. I was amazed at Steve’s ability to make up new words to old songs, Patrick’s skill at negotiating free samples from the Banks brewery, Shannon’s ability to infect others with her giggle (I suppose my laugh had a similar effect), Darren’s stories about “This, that, and the other,” Russ’ luck of getting hit by a bus and walking away, Lisa’s frequent surfer-girl sayings, Tammy’s ability to stand in a field of mud without getting dirty, and countless other memories.

You each made an impact. I imagine you still do today. Keep it up, for you’ve got a friend in Norwalk, CT, pulling for you.

–Jason.Pearce.net

Interesting news. After reading Peace Corps Online’s “Protest at the Peace Corps” story, I placed a little post at the end telling others about my experience with the Peace Corps.” I wrote:

Guyana’s Country Director Earl Brown (2002 � 2004) has twice sent volunteers home for expressing their first amendment rights.

In August 2002, I was given early termination for promoting a better understanding of the Guyanese on the part of Americans via my personal Web site, audio diary, and photo album. Though the site was public at one point, I tried to appease the Peace Corps by adding passwords and other barriers of entry to protect my personal comments from others, to no avail.

In February 2003, two more volunteers were sent home due to a personal email sent to friends and family. Through forwarding, their message made it back to Guyana, their community, and the Peace Corps. Though private, their message wrongfully ended up reaching unexpected recipients and they were sent home because of it.

It’s disappointing that the Peace Corps strips volunteers of their right to freedom of expression via personal Web sites, private emails, online photo albums, and the many other ways that they might choose to communicate with friends and family. Volunteers cannot promote a better understanding of Americans if they are not permitted to behave and communicate as Americans.

My comments apparently attracted the attention of Hugh Pickens, publisher, of Peace Corps Online. Pickens sent me an email asking if he could do a follow-up story on First Amendment rights within the Peace Corps by featuring my case in next month’s issue. Here is what he wrote.

Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 22:20:36 EDT
Subject: Peace Corps Online

Dear Mr. Pearce,

I read the post you made on our Peace Corps Online web site regarding your Peace Corps termination and went to your web site to read the details. Your case raises some very interesting issues regarding free speech in the Peace Corps in the internet age that I think need to be discussed in the Returned Volunteer community.

I’d be interested in doing a follow up on our “Protest at the Peace Corps” story from this month’s issue and do a story based on your case for our next month’s issue. It seems to me that your case is not really a case of “political free speech” like we saw in the Dominican Republic but more akin to the Marjorie Michelmore post card case in Nigeria in 1961 that you can read about at:

http://www.peacecorpswriters.org/pages/0001/001pchist.html

What I’d like to do is present both sides of what happened in your case. I’d like to present the summary of your case from your point of view from your page at:

http://jason.pearce.net/peacecorps/cos/caseforappeal.html

and I’d like to present the Peace Corps’ point of view as summarized in the CD’s letter at:

http://jason.pearce.net/peacecorps/cos/memoregardingdeparture.html

Please let me know what you think about my idea.

Best Regards,

Hugh Pickens
Publisher, Peace Corps Online
Peru, 1970 - 73

I sent him an email this evening accepting his invitation and offered other suggestions as to how I can help him present a fair and informative story. I look forward to seeing how this all develops.

PeaceCorpsOnline.org, an Independent News Forum that is not affiliated with the US Peace Corps, recently posted an article that concerns first amendment rights by volunteers serving in the Peace Corps. Having been kicked out of the Peace Corps for exercising my rights by maintaining a personal Web site, audio diary, online photo albums, and Guyana RPCV listserve, I had great interest in this story. Here is a description of the story:

The story is about a group of sixty Peace Corps volunteers in the Dominican Republic who had planned a peace demonstration at the US Embassy against US policy in Iraq in March. Three days before the demonstration was scheduled, Peace Corps officials sent an e-mail to all volunteers warning that anyone taking part could face administrative separation. Fearful of being sent home, the vast majority who had planned to protest dropped out, and in the end, only three protesters showed up. Peace Corps investigated the case but found no grounds for discipline, which made co-organizer Andy Kauffman bitter that the larger march was suppressed. “We were basically silenced,” says Kauffman.

Should volunteers retain the same first amendment rights while serving overseas as they do as citizens living in the United States? Is it all right for Peace Corps Volunteers to protest US foreign policy if they do not identify themselves as volunteers? Should the Peace Corps spell out rights and responsibilities of new volunteers and have them sign a contract in which each volunteer acknowledges the conditions under which political expression can be made while serving as a volunteer? Read the story, make up your mind, and leave your comments.

I also wanted to add a new Peace Corps posting over the weekend, but failed to make the time. I will add that I mailed all of the remaining GUY10 volunteers a post card on Friday. The cover of the post card said “Dot-Com, Dot-Gone. Glad you are not a dot on the radar.” This is funny because Country Dictator Earl Brown used to always say “Now I don’t want any of you showing up on my radar.” Well, I must have been a huge blimp on his radar while I was there. I’m just glad the others have managed to fly lower than I ever did.

Here is the content of the postcard:

Dear Friends,

It’s been one year since we met and nine months since I’ve left; yet, I still find myself thinking about the whole experience often. I hope you are doing well and are happy with your assignment and community.

I’m now in Norwalk, CT (hour north of NYC), and am serving as director of operations for a Moroccan-owned Web development firm. Though I stay busy, I can’t imagine my work impacts others even half as much as your work does daily.

So consider this note a letter of praise and encouragement. I’m glad you are still there. You’ve made it halfway. And I wish I could have been there to enjoy it all with you.

Then again…I do get a hot shower every morning, I drive an Audi and curse at traffic, I catch all of the movies, I sometimes fall asleep on my couch watching HBO, and there is no saltfish in the house.

In the next three months, I plan on sending a few more of these cards everyone’s way, so keep a lookout for them.

–Jason.Pearce.net