PHOTO OF DAY: DAY OF OBSERVANCE
The flags at the Freeman Post Office are half staff — and there is no mail delivery or service today — as a way to honor President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on Dec. 29 at the age of 100. This National Day of Observance is being held in conjunction with the state funeral for the 39th commander in chief who is being remembered, not for his time in office, but for his humanitarian aid in the 40 years after his presidency ended.
Here is the editorial that appears in the Jan. 9 issue of The Courier.
Carter showed what it means to be better
The passing of President Jimmy Carter late last month provides the opportunity to reflect on a post-presidency well-lived — and an example for all.
When it comes to this country’s “greatest presidents,” Jimmy Carter isn’t anywhere near the top of the list.
But when it comes to this country’s greatest humanitarians, you will find few better.
Carter, whose post-presidency legacy shines far brighter than the single term he served as our 39th commander-in-chief (1977 to 1981), died Dec. 29 at the age of 100. He had spent nearly two years at home under hospice care.
Given a seemingly universal appreciation for the way Carter lived out his life post-presidency — specifically, the work he did with Habitat for Humanity — it’s not surprising that much has been said following his recent passing.
But, this week, The Courier is looking back on a column written by former publisher Tim L. Waltner that appeared in March of 2023, not long after the family announced that Carter would live out the rest of his days under hospice care. Here are some excerpts.
Most historians view Jimmy Carter’s legacy as not his four-year presidency but his four-decade post-presidency.
The recent announcement that Carter, who is 98, has entered hospice care has sparked considerable reflection about that legacy and his life. That includes me. And that includes reflecting on a 2019 visit to the Carter Center in Atlanta.
I was struck by his early years in the small town of Archery, Georgia. He was a minority; the community was predominantly African-American. Most of his childhood friends were African-American. In a 2015 interview, Carter noted, “of the five people, other than my own parents, who shaped my life, only two of them are white. The other three were African-Americans.”
Prior to visiting the Carter Center, I knew little about his four years as governor. So I was surprised to learn that as governor, Jimmy Carter helped launch the film industry in Georgia.
But the most significant revelation during the visit to the Carter Center was a deeper understanding of just how profound an impact Jimmy Carter and Carter Center have had in combatting the Guinea worm.
More than 26,000 villages have been affected and the Carter Center has been to every one of them.
With the help of partners, including the World Health Organization and the CDC, estimated Guinea worm cases have dropped by more than 99.99% to a record low of only 13 reported cases worldwide in 2022, the Carter Center announced last year.
It’s a cliché that Jimmy Carter is a better past-president than president.
But what strikes me is that there is a consistent thread that transcends time; Jimmy Carter has strived to be a decent human his entire life.
When he speaks or writes, he avoids bitterness or partisanship.
And while he unashamedly acknowledges his deeply held Christian faith, he finds a way to be inclusive rather than judgmental. Rather than impose his beliefs on others, he simply goes about living his faith.
“What are the things that you can’t see that are important?” he said. “I would say justice, truth, humility, service, compassion, love … they’re the guiding lights of a life.”
That’s a legacy worth celebrating — and emulating.
