⚓ Welcome to Tidal Echoes

Series: “Youth Speaks Its Mind” (A republication of our hometown newspaper, The Suffolk County News, from 65 years ago)

Our history isn't just a timeline; it's a series of waves that shape who we are today. In this series, we revisit the bold voices of Sayville’s past. Today, we listen to Barbara Travis as she discusses the newly-formed Peace Corps and the necessity of international communication in 1961.

Originally published in The Suffolk County News on December 21st, 1961. Transcribed for the Sayville Alumni Association.

The Peace Corps and Global Understanding

By Barbara Travis, Sayville High School

Communication of ideas between people is a principal requisite to the improvement of international understanding. Sharing of experience, as the United States Peace Corps is doing, is an ideal communication.

At present, the Peace Corps has approximately 750 members, including about 400 already overseas. These Peace Corps workers are stationed in Chile, Columbia, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, St. Lucia and Tanganyika. The Peace Corpsmen are serving as teachers, surveyors, agricultural helpers, and public health aides. The initial overseas reaction has been friendly, outweighing the unfortunate postcard incident describing the “squalor” in Nigeria.

As shown by Burdick and Rederer in “The Ugly American,” some of our ambassadors are mere figureheads with little knowledge of the situation in the country where they are to be placed. A large portion of our foreign aid is involved in planning projects which some day may pay dividends, but at this time are beneficial only to the power and wealth of the country. The people need to see the results in order to fully appreciate and understand the aid given to them by the United States. The Peace Corps can do much to improve conditions in underdeveloped countries by taking a genuine interest in other peoples’ welfare and progress. This person-to-person aid will produce direct results beneficial to underdeveloped countries.

The Peace Corps, although it is still young, is playing a vital role in our foreign aid program. If the Peace Corps is successful, United States prestige overseas will be regained.

⚓ Cast Your Thoughts

How do these words from 1961 land today? Reflecting on Barbara Travis's insights:

• barbara references the "postcard incident" in nigeria—a real diplomatic firestorm in 1961. do you remember how this was discussed in school or at home?
• she mentions the influential book the ugly american. was this part of your curriculum or reading list when thinking about america's role in the world?
• the peace corps was very new in 1961. did you or any fellow sayville classmates feel inspired to join such programs during the kennedy era?