Peace Corps’ Post

As TOK teachers, we talk about helping our students think about the world in a nuanced way. But what do we actually mean by that? This Monday mini-lesson perfectly demonstrates what we mean by nuanced thinking. It's based on an article exploring a statue being put up in the UK to celebrate the work of the West African Squadron, who intercepted slave-trading ships in the 18th century, and freed the African men and women on board. Which all sounds perfectly laudable... but what is the political motivation behind the statue? What role does nationalism play? How comprehensive is the understanding of the history surrounding the actions of the West Africa Squadron - in particular, what happened to the people after they were were freed? How much is all this about a determination to view the UK's role in slavery purely in terms of ending it - rather than growing rich from it? As soon as you start asking these kind of questions, you start to see the agenda behind the stature, and you start to think in a nuanced way. It prompts us to ask big questions about how we explore and interact with the past, and what - if anything - the role of patriotism and nationalism should be when we try to construct an objective view of the past. (And then, of course, you can go even further - and start to question the perspective of the media source itself, and why they've chosen to cover this issue...) TOK is wonderful! #authenticcriticalthinking #toknewsletter #tokintherealworld

Narrative, or the elemental construction of story, shapes the way humans perceive and make sense of the stories we are told. In this document, I highlight how the American government and other powerful actors have utilized narrative and its elements to influence American public opinion in support of the institution of slavery and to generate widespread public support for escalating American military efforts in Iraq and Vietnam. Effective narrative storytelling creates what becomes remembered as human history. Those who understand this are those who create it.

Very happy to have been able to contribute to a new article examining the use of military language in white supremacist chatrooms and how the use of militaristic language can be weaponized. The results of the study indicate that military language is commonly used as a support amongst more radical themes such as white victimization, antisemitic conspiracies, and narratives of government betrayal. These themes allow for the structuring of a greater narrative network, connecting multiple meta-narratives that promote radical themes such as the vilification of outgroups and creating a sense of urgency and legitimacy to recruit and radicalize users to white supremacist ideals. https://lnkd.in/e9ihYgkX

Dive into the compelling journey of the Peace Corps with 'A Towering Task: The Story of the Peace Corps.' 🌍 Join us for a riveting exploration of its history and future. As acclaimed by Paul Theroux, Travel Writer & Novelist: 'It is the most coherent and satisfying documentary I know of the Peace Corps, and I can't imagine a better one.' Don't miss this eye-opening documentary! 🎬 Register here: https://loom.ly/QfR74pE #PeaceCorps #FilmScreening #AToweringTask"

The Real Narrative of Resistance: Rocks vs. Military Might We explore the contrasting perceptions of violence in conflict. While young Palestinians use rocks as symbols of resistance, military actions often escape scrutiny. Join our discussion on the implications of violence and its impact on society. #PalestinianYouth #Resistance #MilitaryConflict #SocialJustice #Violence #PeaceAdvocacy #MiddleEastPolitics #CulturalNarratives #ConflictResolution #HumanRights

🗣✏️ Religion and culture play a central role in shaping national identity in South Asia. Naming weapons along these lines helps political and military elites garner legitimacy for the country’s strategic posture, particularly from sections of the public with low literacy. full article: https://lnkd.in/dziP4WGq Tying weapons system names to South Asia’s historical memory and religious signifiers strengthens nationalistic sentiments, such as reinforcing the two-nation theory, contributing to the perilous notion of a “holy war,” and highlighting the importance of military preparedness. These naming conventions can foster bias against the adversary and diminish bilateral trust.

🌟 Victory Day - August 12 🌟 Celebrating the end of the Korean War and honoring those who served. A day of pride and remembrance. #ImmigrationLaw #LegalHelp #VisaAssistance #Citizenship #LegalAdvice #LegalSupport #LegalExpert #LegalGuidance #TrustTheExperts #LawyerUp

Always inspirational and educational to listen to Walter Busuttil on such important topics.

After a century of invisibility, we are finally bringing two important feminine figures of the International Committee of the Red Cross out of the shadow! Renée-Marguerite Frick-Cramer and Marguerite van Berchem both entered the Prisoners-of-war Agency in 1914 and have been highly influential in promoting the well-being of military and civilian populations during warfare and improving the ICRC's tracking information system. Yet they have been invisibilised in the masculine and patriarchal narratives that have dominated institutional and historical accounts of the ICRC. In our article with Dolores Martin Moruno, we analyse the rare archival records of their missions through a feminist perspective. This shows not only how their conceptions of care intersected with gender, class and race, but also the feelings of resentment they developed against their institution. #humanitarianhistory #genderhumanitarianism #ethicsofcare #ICRC

The psychological legacy of American slavery and racism continues to affect the modern professional military, despite strides towards equality. In this in-depth article, we argue that the military's current efforts are insufficient to counteract this legacy. We explore the historical context, analyze the shortcomings of existing measures, and propose novel, evidence-based strategies to create a more inclusive and equitable environment for all service members. Join the discussion on how we can build a stronger, unified force by addressing these critical issues head-on. https://lnkd.in/g-bBwBmR