Letters From Friends and Family

These excerpts were taken from letters or emails that I received from friends and family back home. Their support was greatly appreciated.

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 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 website. 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 website. 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 email. 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.