Pop Culture References to the Peace Corps

Since the Peace Corps has inundated my life, I've been much more aware of references made to it in popular culture. I had Mr. and Mrs. Smith playing in the background tonight while I was scrapbooking, and I heard Angelina Jolie (Jane Smith) say "I was never in the Peace Corps." Thus began my quest to compile a few of them, with help from the National Peace Corps Association's facebook page.

My (very unscientifically reached) conclusion is that the Peace Corps is often sadly misrepresented as useless and ineffective, and its volunteers eccentric. However, the Peace Corps has been one of the U.S.'s most effective longterm foreign policies. I decline to comment on the character of volunteers, as Chris and I have encountered many people who've called us nuts when they hear about our plans.

Which brings me to another thing which is misrepresented in the media; the continent of Africa. The media is quick to report on the misfortunes that are befalling Africa; AIDS, cholera in Zimbabwe, genocide in Darfur, civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, mainstream media never reports on the positive happenings in Africa. Last year, Sierra Leone, after almost a decade of civil war, held its first peaceful, democratic elections without help from the UN. HIV and AIDS rates have fallen drastically in Uganda due to intervention by the government and effective education campaigns. In 2005, Liberia peacefully elected the first female head of state in all of Africa.

I had the great experience of visiting South Africa in 2007. South Africa too has had its share of tragedy; decades of apartheid and the murders of thousands of dissenters covered up by the white government. The South Africa I saw was the most beautiful place I've ever been, despite lingering prejudice and rates of crime. In her book Nine Hills to Nambakaha, based on her time as a PCV in the Cote D'Ivoire, Sarah Erdman describes Africa beautifully as "laughing yet troubled, strong yet crippled, and dancing."

And for good measure, here's an article I found in my searches concerning the lack of reporting on positive news in Africa.

Anyways, on to the pop culture references...

Animal House
Bluto: Christ. Seven years of college down the drain. Might as well join the f----n' Peace Corps.

Blood Diamond
the background: Danny, a mercenary smuggler, and Maddy, a journalist, meet at a bar in Sierra Leone in the midst of civil war.
Danny: Don’t tell me you’re here to make a difference.
Maddy: And you’re here to make a buck?
Danny: I’m here for lack of a better idea.
Maddy: That’s a shame.
Danny: Not really. Peace Corps types only stay around long enough to realize they’re not helping anyone. Government only wants to stay in power until they’ve stolen enough to go into exile somewhere else. And the rebels, they’re not sure they want to take over, otherwise they’d have to govern this mess. But TIA, right M’Ed?
Maddy: What’s TIA?
Danny: This Is Africa.

Family Guy
After his disastrous first day as a high school freshman, Chris asks Brian, the family's dog, for advice. Brian tells Chris about his time in the Peace Corps, and Chris decides to join and is sent to South America. There, Chris becomes popular and marries the chief's daughter. Chris' family joins him and his father, Peter, becomes known as the richest man. He exploits the natives, and Chris becomes angry. The family decides to leave and Chris reveals that he is a freshman to his wife. The natives chase and beat Chris with paddles, just as the upperclassmen at his high school did.

Frank Zappa - Who Needs the Peace Corps?
A satirical song about the laziness of people concerning issues in the 1960s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddZNSAYX8pk

Jumanji
the background: Alan has just been freed from the game after being stuck there in the jungle for 26 years, and runs into the street past a cop.
Policeman: You got some l.D.? Oh, let me guess, you left it in your other Tarzan outfit, right? Are you from around here?
Alan: I was! But I've been in Jumanji.
Judy: Indonesia. He was in the Peace Corps.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith
the background: John and Jane Smith have just figured out that they are both assasins hired to kill eachother, and are revealing other lies they have told throughout their marriage.
Jane: "I was never in the Peace Corps."
John: "Oh, I liked that about you."

Shallow Hal
After a fight with Hal, Rosemary decides to rejoin the Peace Corps. Hal shows up at her going away party, hours before she is to board the plane, to apologize. They make up and Hal reveals that he has joined the Peace Corps and will be joining her overseas.