Reflections on citizenship, democracy, literature, and contemporary American life. Serious book reviews, social satire, and comedy not for everyone.
Ben East’s nonfiction debut recounts how JFK’s bold experiment shaped diplomatic careers and influenced modern American diplomacy.
The figures highlighted here tracked looted antiquities after the invasion of Iraq, re-established diplomacy in Afghanistan after 9/11, and secured village infrastructure while war raged in Vietnam. As hostages in Iran, they maintained diplomatic discipline to bridge a volatile cultural divide. These are individuals of deep courage and conviction, whether integrating a southern U.S. high school or finding comfort in African village beliefs to cope with personal tragedy.
Read, Listen, Watch
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Sixty-five years ago today, March 1, 1961, President Kennedy signed the Executive Order that created a Peace Corps within the Department of State.
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I talked extensively about development issues afflicting Honduras. But first I had to develop the reputation for being a true friend of the country and its people. -Ambassador Frank Almaguer
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You Peace Corps people know so much more about the country than most of our politicians do. -attributed to Honduran President Carlos Roberto Flores
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Time to head to the Pacific Islands and see what Peace Corps lawyers were up to in Micronesia in 1966.
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Profiles in Service: Peace Corps Roots in American Diplomacy is now available and I’m reviving the practice of sharing memorable stories from the collection.
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This episode of SoftPower/FulStories, uncharacteristically in-the-moment, offers two hopeful voices paddling calmly, sanely, purposefully, across our current river of despair. The American dream ain’t dead.
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The screenplay will be a pistol report, a gunshot echoing across the naked landscape of America’s mythic past and shattered future. Rebuilt. Enduring.
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Light progresses stingily now: pm stretches a minute a day from Jan 3-27, the sun’s arrival steady at 7:27 each morning from Jan 1-11.
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“Happy New Year.” A simple admonition, a statement of hope and promise, but also of purpose. A happy year won’t just occur. You must make it occur.
Ben East Books 