39 Is Gone
His Example Endures
And can lead us home. Jimmy the President was easy to overlook. That is a tribute, not a criticism.
He served one term in office, from 1977 to 1981. I was too busy clawing my way into a good reputation and decent salary in my field to take notice of him or interest in the challenges he faced during his administration. I was not alone in paying him very little attention or respect.
A movie star beat him at the ballot box in 1980 and he left high office as quietly and honorably as he had occupied it. It was his encore act that distinguished his memory.
“While historians generally consider Carter a below-average president, his post-presidency activities have been universally praised, including his peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts.[529][530] The Independent wrote in 2009, "Carter is widely considered a better man than he was a president."[536] "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Carter
James Earl Carter Jr. personified George Herbert’s observation that “living well is the best revenge.” Jimmy did not allow the negative actions and opinions of others to define him. His conduct testified to his deep faith. He lived the precepts of his faith in office. He accepted defeat gracefully. Then he moved out and on. Thereafter, he thrived. He focused on living a happy, fulfilling, and useful life, rather sinking to a vindictive attitude or a vengeful speech.
I salute him. And have the presence of mind to miss now what I foolishly failed to value in its own time—decency.
I’m glad Jimmy got to vote for Kamala.
I’m relieved he will miss Trump’s second inaugural address. The first one, loosely entitled “American carnage” was, as George W. Bush told Bill Clinton at the time, “some weird shit.”
Trump has gotten older and even less attractive in the intervening eight years.
I will watch ceremonies celebrating Jimmy’s life.
Coverage of Trump’s infamous Day One? Not so much. I’m planning on taking a very purposeful mental health day—cold turkey off doom, gloom, and general despair.
Ditto, coverage of his $150 million of doubtless glamorous inauguration celebrations that evening. That’s a lot of entertainment funding lost to the purpose of the common welfare. In a vaguely obscene version of Dancing with the Stars, obsequious and self-serving persons with deep pockets will circle a very corrupt old man like moths to a flame. Many will die for getting too close. No, I don’t intend to watch fat cats prance and preen, wheel and deal, and use their $250K event ticket for a chance to shake the hand or kiss the ring of the Master of the Mob. As this glitz robs the news of content and worth, marginalized persons of various ages, colors, genders, and ethnicities will go hungry. And some number of habitats will not be able to be built to shelter unhoused humanity.
I’m no socialist. I don’t begrudge the process of enjoying the fruits of one’s own efforts. The good Lord knows I relish and treasure the present level of comfort 63 years in the labor force now afford me. I am profoundly grateful to be alive and well at 82.
I just cannot get on board with Project 2025. Or the guy who plans to unleash it upon our land. Trump the Shock Jock can’t dance for shit. I’m not going to watch him try.
Good-bye, Jimmy. In your later years, you wore a red hat message of commitment and service. 45 adopted its work message as a campaign prop. 47 wears it now to cover his thinning hair and deteriorating intellect. Your red work hat inspired. His lies. He most surely is not of or really for We the People.
May your example call forth another good, humble, and well-meaning leader to heal the wounds and calm the chaos Shock Jock 47 cannot resist inflicting.
What a touching tribute and eulogy for President Carter, humanitarian Carter, and a steady example of decency... every day. The example he showed us was this: Do the decent thing and that's not always the easy choice, don't lie, stick with your fitness habits, love unconditionally, and always think of others and find a way to serve them, instead of wasting a life on me, me, me, me.