He was the only president that defied the military-industrial complex (didn’t leave richer than when he came in -hear that Clinton and Obama) and wasn’t assassinated because he denounced Israel! A thoroughly decent man who lived by his words unlike Obama and Biden! He will be missed and eternally honored by those who see.
There will be many superfluous words spouted by the living presidents in the US, and leaders in the western countries, but they only say them because they feel obligated to do so; they hated Pres Carter for his morality, ethics, compassion, and social (yes socialism) values, nothing any of those who followed his presidency have. If Pres Carter was still president of the US we wouldn't be watching a criminal genocide continuing in Gaza, he would have halted the supply of weapons and bombs to the zionist land stealing entity. I could go on, but I just want to say, in ending, that I always respected Pres Carter for his honesty and moral character.
Yes, Jimmy Carter was a very good president and an extraordinary human being. And he was not afraid to state the obvious — Israel is an apartheid rogue terrorist state.
Thank you for this collection. I'm glad there was someone in his position giving his voice and credence to issues that are blasphemy for establishment politicians. I'm reminded of his television interview from 90s calling out the influence of AIPAC on Congress. Rest in (waging) peace, sir.
My primary recollection of Carter is that when he spoke, there was none of the political/ego centered crap that is the mainstay of most politicians. He spoke with directness, sincerity and intelligence. One of a kind. I think Obama could have done as well if he didn't have to confront, and adjust to, the near reflexive racism that confronted him every day.
I'm with him on Bernie Sanders. I think he is the only politician on the left that has the spine, independence, intelligence and character to lead the country to a more progressive and egalitarian future.
Jimmy Carter not only said good, he did good. He backed up the call for more renewable energy by putting solar panels on the White House roof. He rescued a nuclear plant from a melt-down. He negotiated peace in the Middle East (though fleeting). He returned the Canal Zone to its rightful owner, Panama. He set a standard for conduct and policy in public office that has been lived up to by painfully few presidents before or since. Unfortunately, he came at the end of a relatively progressive era that began with FDR, before the onset of the neo-conservative era that we are still struggling to get shed of.
I once lived near Plains Georgia. and share a close affinity with Jimmy Carter's views of just how corrupt the USA has become. That's why I removed myself and my family way far away from the USA borders.
Jimmy Carter was the most moral President alive and he will be lost from the moral compass of this nation. Yes he made some strategic mistakes and was pressured by the War Machine to go against the Iranian’s desire to liberate against a dictator. He failed to help the democratic movement in Iran when needed. But his national and international moral stands on many issues remains the beacon of lights. His environmental or international stands on human rights far outshines the warmongers come after him.
Most people don’t know this information. He was a descent honest human being. Such a great man so different from President elect. Thank you for paying tribute to him .
Jimmy Carter’s passing compels us to reflect deeply on the moral compromises that have shaped U.S. foreign policy across generations. While Carter is often remembered for his advocacy for peace and human rights, his administration continued policies that facilitated atrocities abroad, such as Indonesia’s brutal occupation of East Timor. These were not isolated tragedies but systematic massacres of unarmed civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. Entire villages were razed, and countless lives were destroyed in an effort to suppress the East Timorese struggle for self-determination. Despite full awareness of these atrocities, Carter’s administration supported Indonesia’s Suharto regime with arms and diplomatic cover, enabling what is now widely regarded as one of the most heinous acts of genocide in the late 20th century. An estimated 100,000–200,000 East Timorese—roughly one-third of the population—were killed.
This legacy of prioritizing geopolitical alliances over human dignity echoes painfully today in leaders who perpetuate similarly destructive policies. Yet even with this moral contradiction, I still hold deep respect for Jimmy Carter. I attended one of his speeches in 1982 at the University of Rochester and came away inspired by his intellect and moral clarity. I even owned signed copies of two of his books: Memoirs of a President, which offers an insightful and candid look into his presidency, and An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood, a beautifully written memoir about his early years growing up in Plains, Georgia. In the latter, Carter’s reflections on family, hard work, and community resonated deeply with me and revealed a man shaped by humility and service. His humanity, humility, and dedication to public service made him one of the most genuine and compassionate leaders I’ve encountered, and I still feel he was one of the best presidents of my lifetime—one of the best of the horror show that was to come decades later.
It was only years later, through the work of Noam Chomsky, that I learned about Carter’s role in enabling the massacres in East Timor. This revelation complicated my admiration for him and forced me to reckon with the moral contradictions that marked his presidency. Carter’s foreign policy, though rooted in Cold War pragmatism, prioritized alliances with repressive regimes like Indonesia’s Suharto over standing firmly for human rights. As Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories, poignantly stated: “If you go to a doctor because you have cancer and you’re diagnosed with just a fever, you have a big problem. It’s the same with people who are being genocided.” Mislabeling genocide as anything less than what it is—such as reducing it to a "humanitarian crisis"—not only trivializes the suffering of victims but also erases the intent and systematic nature of the crimes.
Still, Carter’s post-presidency work reflected the values he often struggled to fully embody in office. From eradicating Guinea worm disease to building affordable housing through Habitat for Humanity, he committed his later years to improving lives and advancing justice. His moral legacy is as complex as it is inspiring, showing both his profound strengths and the limitations of his presidency.
The 2024 election revealed the consequences of this disillusionment. Millions of 2020 Biden voters, appalled by performative empathy masking systemic injustices, stayed home. Their absence underscores a broader voter apathy born of decades of leadership unwilling to challenge the structures enabling war, inequality, and mass suffering. This is not a mystery—it is a direct response to leaders who refuse to speak truthfully about or act against atrocities.
Figures like Dick "Butcher" Cheney serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked power and disregard for human life. However, Carter’s contradictions and Harris’s alignment with genocidal policies reveal how deeply these patterns are embedded in American political life. To honor Carter’s legacy, we must demand more than hollow rhetoric. We must confront the systemic injustices that leaders like Cheney, Biden, and Harris perpetuate, ensuring that future generations do not inherit the same failures. Genocide must be named for what it is, and silence or euphemisms must no longer be acceptable.
Even with these complexities, Carter’s example stands apart. He was, and remains to me, a leader who demonstrated that even flawed men can strive for good—and, in doing so, leave the world a little better than they found it.
I'm also disappointed that he was able to go to his wife's funeral but couldn't manage to write or dictate a single thought about this genocide in Gaza over the last 14 months.
Before anyone jumps down my throat, I want to mention that Carter was friends with my father. They went to Divinity school together. So, I have always respected him. I just happen to have some doubts about him.
I always loved him, and I saw that interview long ago. I have complicated feelings about him, see my comment above. I have always believed he was a sincere Christian, but Chomsky's assessment of our presidents is compelling. It's really hard for me to justify to myself how I can still respect him. To be fair, some are worse war criminals than others.
He was the only president that defied the military-industrial complex (didn’t leave richer than when he came in -hear that Clinton and Obama) and wasn’t assassinated because he denounced Israel! A thoroughly decent man who lived by his words unlike Obama and Biden! He will be missed and eternally honored by those who see.
Thank you for these reminders of how independent he was. And he voted for Bernie Sanders, consistent with his ideals.
There will be many superfluous words spouted by the living presidents in the US, and leaders in the western countries, but they only say them because they feel obligated to do so; they hated Pres Carter for his morality, ethics, compassion, and social (yes socialism) values, nothing any of those who followed his presidency have. If Pres Carter was still president of the US we wouldn't be watching a criminal genocide continuing in Gaza, he would have halted the supply of weapons and bombs to the zionist land stealing entity. I could go on, but I just want to say, in ending, that I always respected Pres Carter for his honesty and moral character.
He tried to bring awareness of Palestinians atrocities. Very fine man. RIP
Yes, Jimmy Carter was a very good president and an extraordinary human being. And he was not afraid to state the obvious — Israel is an apartheid rogue terrorist state.
Thank you for this collection. I'm glad there was someone in his position giving his voice and credence to issues that are blasphemy for establishment politicians. I'm reminded of his television interview from 90s calling out the influence of AIPAC on Congress. Rest in (waging) peace, sir.
My primary recollection of Carter is that when he spoke, there was none of the political/ego centered crap that is the mainstay of most politicians. He spoke with directness, sincerity and intelligence. One of a kind. I think Obama could have done as well if he didn't have to confront, and adjust to, the near reflexive racism that confronted him every day.
I'm with him on Bernie Sanders. I think he is the only politician on the left that has the spine, independence, intelligence and character to lead the country to a more progressive and egalitarian future.
Jimmy Carter not only said good, he did good. He backed up the call for more renewable energy by putting solar panels on the White House roof. He rescued a nuclear plant from a melt-down. He negotiated peace in the Middle East (though fleeting). He returned the Canal Zone to its rightful owner, Panama. He set a standard for conduct and policy in public office that has been lived up to by painfully few presidents before or since. Unfortunately, he came at the end of a relatively progressive era that began with FDR, before the onset of the neo-conservative era that we are still struggling to get shed of.
May he rest in peace. I wish for the US a new Carter and not hundreds of Biden or Trump bigots
He always followed his moral compass with full integrity, an example for all presidents to come. May his memory be eternal.
I once lived near Plains Georgia. and share a close affinity with Jimmy Carter's views of just how corrupt the USA has become. That's why I removed myself and my family way far away from the USA borders.
Jimmy Carter was the most moral President alive and he will be lost from the moral compass of this nation. Yes he made some strategic mistakes and was pressured by the War Machine to go against the Iranian’s desire to liberate against a dictator. He failed to help the democratic movement in Iran when needed. But his national and international moral stands on many issues remains the beacon of lights. His environmental or international stands on human rights far outshines the warmongers come after him.
Most people don’t know this information. He was a descent honest human being. Such a great man so different from President elect. Thank you for paying tribute to him .
Thank you I have always admired Pres Carter. I remember the Iran hostage crisis and the way Regan played that....
Jimmy Carter’s passing compels us to reflect deeply on the moral compromises that have shaped U.S. foreign policy across generations. While Carter is often remembered for his advocacy for peace and human rights, his administration continued policies that facilitated atrocities abroad, such as Indonesia’s brutal occupation of East Timor. These were not isolated tragedies but systematic massacres of unarmed civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. Entire villages were razed, and countless lives were destroyed in an effort to suppress the East Timorese struggle for self-determination. Despite full awareness of these atrocities, Carter’s administration supported Indonesia’s Suharto regime with arms and diplomatic cover, enabling what is now widely regarded as one of the most heinous acts of genocide in the late 20th century. An estimated 100,000–200,000 East Timorese—roughly one-third of the population—were killed.
This legacy of prioritizing geopolitical alliances over human dignity echoes painfully today in leaders who perpetuate similarly destructive policies. Yet even with this moral contradiction, I still hold deep respect for Jimmy Carter. I attended one of his speeches in 1982 at the University of Rochester and came away inspired by his intellect and moral clarity. I even owned signed copies of two of his books: Memoirs of a President, which offers an insightful and candid look into his presidency, and An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood, a beautifully written memoir about his early years growing up in Plains, Georgia. In the latter, Carter’s reflections on family, hard work, and community resonated deeply with me and revealed a man shaped by humility and service. His humanity, humility, and dedication to public service made him one of the most genuine and compassionate leaders I’ve encountered, and I still feel he was one of the best presidents of my lifetime—one of the best of the horror show that was to come decades later.
It was only years later, through the work of Noam Chomsky, that I learned about Carter’s role in enabling the massacres in East Timor. This revelation complicated my admiration for him and forced me to reckon with the moral contradictions that marked his presidency. Carter’s foreign policy, though rooted in Cold War pragmatism, prioritized alliances with repressive regimes like Indonesia’s Suharto over standing firmly for human rights. As Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories, poignantly stated: “If you go to a doctor because you have cancer and you’re diagnosed with just a fever, you have a big problem. It’s the same with people who are being genocided.” Mislabeling genocide as anything less than what it is—such as reducing it to a "humanitarian crisis"—not only trivializes the suffering of victims but also erases the intent and systematic nature of the crimes.
Still, Carter’s post-presidency work reflected the values he often struggled to fully embody in office. From eradicating Guinea worm disease to building affordable housing through Habitat for Humanity, he committed his later years to improving lives and advancing justice. His moral legacy is as complex as it is inspiring, showing both his profound strengths and the limitations of his presidency.
The 2024 election revealed the consequences of this disillusionment. Millions of 2020 Biden voters, appalled by performative empathy masking systemic injustices, stayed home. Their absence underscores a broader voter apathy born of decades of leadership unwilling to challenge the structures enabling war, inequality, and mass suffering. This is not a mystery—it is a direct response to leaders who refuse to speak truthfully about or act against atrocities.
Figures like Dick "Butcher" Cheney serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked power and disregard for human life. However, Carter’s contradictions and Harris’s alignment with genocidal policies reveal how deeply these patterns are embedded in American political life. To honor Carter’s legacy, we must demand more than hollow rhetoric. We must confront the systemic injustices that leaders like Cheney, Biden, and Harris perpetuate, ensuring that future generations do not inherit the same failures. Genocide must be named for what it is, and silence or euphemisms must no longer be acceptable.
Even with these complexities, Carter’s example stands apart. He was, and remains to me, a leader who demonstrated that even flawed men can strive for good—and, in doing so, leave the world a little better than they found it.
It seems to me as though Carter was not necessarily the friend to Palestine everyone thought he was.
I watched "The Man From Plains" recently, which painted him in a very pro-Palestinean light.
I was very surprised afterwards by the things Noam Chomsky said in this interview (go to 3:29, where he talks first about President Ford):
https://youtu.be/5BXtgq0Nhsc?si=WrVp5QpGfLa5OYjd
I'm also disappointed that he was able to go to his wife's funeral but couldn't manage to write or dictate a single thought about this genocide in Gaza over the last 14 months.
Before anyone jumps down my throat, I want to mention that Carter was friends with my father. They went to Divinity school together. So, I have always respected him. I just happen to have some doubts about him.
I always loved him, and I saw that interview long ago. I have complicated feelings about him, see my comment above. I have always believed he was a sincere Christian, but Chomsky's assessment of our presidents is compelling. It's really hard for me to justify to myself how I can still respect him. To be fair, some are worse war criminals than others.