E-mail to PC Director Aaron Williams

Subject: Not junkmail; from a member and friend of Peace Corps
To:
Cc: awilliams@peacecorps.gov
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 6:17 AM

Dear Director Williams:

You might have received my letter, or my e-mail. I hope you take a moment to read my e-mail.

Greetings from Uganda! I am a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uganda. Uganda has been my home for the last seven and half months. I love my new home and am really grateful to all Americans for sending me here.

The purpose of this e-mail is to bring to your attention the unprecedented removal of Larry Brown from duty, our country director, who came to Uganda a month before we did. I am writing this e-mail on behalf of the volunteers from my group who came in February of 2009 (including my husband, Erik Jarrett, who is serving with me) and all other staff members and friends of Peace Corps who learned about this serious issue through volunteers’ efforts to get Peace Corps DC to give PC Uganda another chance to grow under Larry Brown’s diverse experience, knowledge, and leadership.

We were shocked by Peace Corps DC’s decision to remove Larry Brown from duty. We cannot understand why someone who is really motivated in bringing positive measures to strengthen PC Uganda was fired without warning. Larry Brown embodies all qualities that personifies an exemplary citizen and an extraordinary country director.

Larry cared about all Peace Corps Volunteers and staff members dearly. I felt I had a paternal figure who watched out for both my husband and me in Uganda. When my husband and I voiced concerns over the security of our house that was in sub-standard conditions before we came, Larry supported us in our choice to make our current residence fit Peace Corps standards of safety.

I believe that Larry’s termination from duty was motivated by unfair reasons, especially since no staff member in Peace Corps Uganda, or Peace Corps DC can give us a reason for his termination. His termination has brought much chaos in PC Uganda.

Many of us were affected drastically that we chose to write to you. We are all concerned by such an undemocratic action taken by an organization that we care for so much.

All I am asking is for you to investigate this serious issue that happened before you came to office. Even though this incident happened before you came, you have the power to change the decision that has disrupted so many lives. Please feel free to come to Uganda and ask us about our feelings (or give us an explanation behind this unfair decision) which no one in PC DC has bothered to do. I’m more than happy (and would be grateful) to have a conference call with you, or meet you in person in Uganda (or DC) to discuss this matter. I also hope you invite other PCV’s in Uganda who have been sending you e-mails.

From listening to your address to PC community on PC connected, I get the impression that you care about PC and the developing world. Please make the right choice by giving back Larry Brown to Ugandans and Americans.

As a naturalized citizen of the United States, I’m an American by choice. One reason I became a US citizen was to serve in the Peace Corps. Another reason I became a US citizen was because I felt the United States does a better job (than my former country of citizenship, India) in implementing the democratic ideals that I hold so dear to my heart. As a proponent of democracy and someone who loves the US and Peace Corps, I hope you give us another chance to grow under Larry’s leadership and give back to our country and the world.

Thank you for your efforts in making Peace Corps a stronger organization.

Sincerely,
Anjali P Jarrett
PC Uganda
2009-2011

PS: I plan to post this e-mail on my blog with the letter I send to President Obama concerning this matter. If you’re interested in seeing that letter, please let me know.
Anjali Jarrett

You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. (Mohandas Gandhi)

Amor Vincit Omnia: a short tribute for hope

He asked them

to get along

they killed him

He asked them

to love another

they killed him

She asked them

for another chance

they killed her

He wanted change

they called him names

He made change

they fired him

They   kill the Prophets

kill the Just

kill the Truth

But what the Prophets say

Live

what the Just say

Live

Love never ceases to live

transforms

endures

many forms

In the beginning, there was love

In the end, amor vincit omnia

love conquers all.

Don’t lose your faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; a few dirty drops will not make the ocean dirty (Mahatma Gandhi)

Dear President Obama:

Greetings from Uganda! I hope this note finds you well.

I am a Peace Corps Volunteer.  I am writing this letter to bring an action taken by Peace Corps Washington to your attention. You might be under enormous stress to make some positive reform in our nation’s health care, but I hope you take a few moments to see the gravity of what is happening in Peace Corps Uganda.

Larry Brown, our outstanding country director, was removed from duty.  Citing the Privacy Act, the current (acting) country director cannot disclose why he was terminated from duty.  Last week when I contacted his wife, she told me that he did not know the reason behind his removal from duty.  When I visited them, I got the same answer from him.

I find PC Washington’s decision to remove Larry Brown from duty disturbing.  Larry Brown, a former professor from Harvard and Assistant Peace Corps Director under President Carter, is an exceptional individual.  His love for PC Uganda, PCV’s, and Uganda is clearly visible when one pays attention to how quickly he gained the trust of PCV’s and Ugandans.

In the last seven months, Larry turned PC Uganda into a strong post as he increased the number of volunteers in Uganda.  PC Uganda had not only grown in number but had also transformed into a great family.

Larry Brown and his wife were an incredible support system for us.  A few weeks before he was removed from duty, his wife and he hosted a pride dinner, where all volunteers were invited, at their residence.  His wife and he supported gay and lesbian volunteers in a country where homosexuality is openly condemned in the media.  I feel honored to have known a country director who supported my fellow volunteers.  When my husband and I decided to repair the house before we moved to site to make it more safe and secure, Larry was very supportive of our choice.

Many volunteers and I are confused why PC Washington chose to remove a person from duty when he is really good at what he does.

All I am asking is for you to take a few moments to urge Mr. Aaron Williams to evaluate what happened.  Even though Mr. Williams might be overwhelmed by his responsibilities as the new PC Director, I believe he should give Larry a fair chance because I believe he was removed from duty for the wrong reasons.  If Aaron Williams does not at least hold an investigation, we would never know what happened in Washington.

A man who dedicated his life to leveling the playing field would never know why he was let go by the American government.  As a young American voter I feel my faith in our system is tested through this unjust action by PC DC.  I hope you choose to renew my hope in our system by urging Mr. Williams to give PC Uganda another chance to grow under Larry Brown’s diverse experience, knowledge and leadership.

Thank you for your efforts in making America a better place.

Sincerely,

Anjali Jarrett

PCV Uganda

2009-2011

The spirit of democracy cannot be imposed from without. It has to come from within. (Mahatma Gandhi)

The brown man’s complex

A few days ago I was at a supermarket.  Waiting at the counter for my turn to pay for the 500 mL Dairy Fresh strawberry yogurt.  As soon as the South Asian supermarket lady saw me, she acknowledged my presence and focused her attention from her musoga customer to me.  Not knowing how to effectively divert her attention, I told her we would be back at the counter with the tray of eggs we forgot to get.  After wandering the three aisles and looking at things we didn’t need to get, we picked up a tray of eggs and an additional tray to enclose the eggs in.

We were back at the counter, right next to the same musoga man, with the tray of eggs.  Next to the same musoga man, a South Asian man stood eying me and spitting out the monstrous amounts of shillings the supermarket lady owed him for the FIDO chocolate bars and FIDO strawberry & vanilla 250 mL and 500 mL of ice cream he just delivered.

I turned to Fractal and told him my increasing discomfort of the brown man’s indiscreet staring.  With the same intensity as the FOB brown people in America stare.  The kind of stare that non-verbally demands attention for a fellow brown being.  His pumping testosterone.  And his switching attention from Fractal to me.  Back to Fractal.  Me.  Curious prodding why the white man was standing so close to a brown woman.

At the counter as we were paying for the eggs we asked the supermarket lady if she could recommend a way to transport 24 eggs in Fractal’s backpack.  She suggested placing the 24 eggs, sandwiched between the yellow and purple egg trays, in a plastic bag before Fractal packs them in his backpack.  The brown man eyes were still changing focus from Fractal to me.  Back to Fractal.  Me.

The musoga man suggested tying the four corners of the sandwiched egg cartons before placing it in the white plastic bag.  As soon as the musoga man offered his suggestion, the brown man retorted that it would never work.  He said Fractal should hold the tray of eggs in his hands and carry it home. Maybe, in a box.  The sandwiched tray of eggs sits on Fractal’s hands while his legs pedal his Apollo all the eight kilometers to the village.

We asked the supermarket lady if she had ties to secure the sandwiched ova package.  She grabbed another white plastic bag and ripped it open.  The musoga man helped tear the ripped bag into long strips of white plastic while the brown man shook his head.  We threaded the strips into the corners of the sandwiched yellow and purple ova package while the brown man said “it would never work” again.

While Fractal placed the package in his backpack, I proceeded to the other side of the store to grab 2 FIDO chocolate bars for Fractal and me.  As he searched his backpack for the shillings, I ate my ice cream bar.  As he paid for the purple tray of eggs, the yellow tray, and the two FIDO chocolate bars, I opened his FIDO, went outside and ate his chocolate bar. More brown people in a white Toyoto Corono saw me.  Honk.  HONK.  HONNNNK.

Seeing that Fractal seemed slightly annoyed that I would gorge on his bar, I explained that his FIDO chocolate bar was melting.  I went back to the other side of the store to grab another one.  A jeans-clad and stripped buttoned down shirt musoga man and his black trouser counterpart stood between the FIDO chocolate bar and me.  Excuse me.  No response.  Excuse me, I mean move out of the way please.  Oh, said the jeans man.  He moved five inches away.  I grabbed a FIDO chocolate bar.  Excuse me.  No response.  Excuse me.  Oh, said the jeans man.  He moved four inches away.

Back at the counter, the brown man explained that his ice cream should be eaten quickly.  As Fractal took the bar away from me before I tried rescuing another FIDO chocolate bar, I thanked the musoga man.  Webale nyo. For his creative thinking.  The brown man shook his head.  We waved goodbye to the supermarket lady.  Sukriyah for her service.  Fractal ate his FIDO chocolate bar.  Said he had only one.  I had two.  I responded that I was saving that bar from dropping on the floor and wasting away.

We biked home to the village.  Under the same sky.  That protects the brown man and his black brother while his other brown brethren celebrates their 63rd Independence from the white man’s world an ocean away.

Building Bridges

“Speak when you are angry–and you will make the best speech you’ll ever regret.” (Laurence J. Peter)

Many people are guilty of speech under the influence of ANGER.  On numerous occasions I’ve opened my mandible and allowed words to come out my mouth while my inhibitions were lowered under the influence of ANGER.  After  some time has passed, I would analyze the situation and the response till I feel I should be diagnosed with OCD.  In the end I would tell myself that I could have saved a few brain cells if I could just remember to slow my tongue before my cerebrum processed the consequences of the words.  Speaking under the influence of anger is like trying to walk while one’s drunk.

On the other hand, choosing one’s words carefully requires tact and forethought.   While a person is infuriated, if there’s something that could remind him/her of the dire consequences of words or actions, so the impulsiveness to respond is delayed, then perhaps we can avoid burning bridges.

Using fewer sharp words aid in the building bridges among various people around the planet.  Back home in the USA, people take special pride in making direct comments.  Comments that tell another exactly how they feel.  Well, maybe, too direct.  The directness in sharing one’s opinions, beliefs, or feelings is not appreciated in every culture in the world.  People in these parts use caution to avoid breaking bridges.  Perhaps that’s something one needs in every relationship: professional or personal.  Relationships are not forever, so perhaps we need to take care of them like we should maintain a nation’s bridges.