Greetings and happy New Year,
As I write this letter, I find interesting how the dead can cause one individual to be so petty during a time of so-called national observance of a former President. The President-Elect is complaining about the flag being flown at half-mast and I'm sure the same person will have something petty to say about January 9, 2025, being a National Day of Observance w/ all federal offices to be closed. He shouldn't have a problem with that since he's threatening downsizing government, but because it's not about him, he will have a problem.
As a sailor, I take great interest in Presidents who served in the navy. Before Carter there was RFK and George H. was shot down over enemy water and rescued by a submarine. RFK had his heroic moment in the Navy just as Carter did, but a movie has not been made of Carter's exploit. Let's just say he's more of National hero in Canada than here. So since we are here, and Carter now has the distinction of being the longest living former President, I want to remind people of the type of U.S. citizen we SHOULD be voting for. Imagine, many people who voted in 1976 around here including myself, which was my first election, voted Carter. Funny most people who voted for Carter then, if he had run today as Democrat, they would demonize him and vote for Trump. And the sad part of this conversation is that he won believing and working on things that Democrats are still trying to achieve. The only difference in the Party is diversity.
President Carter one term in office did this:
-Created the Dept. of Education
-As a Nuclear Physicist and trained nuclear engineer in the Navy, installed solar Panels to the White house roof, thereby constantly trying to promote renewable energy, (They were removed when Reagan came into office)
-Brokered the Camp David Accord between Begin (Israel) and Sadat (Egypt) which clearly due to his understanding of the biblical History and on-going conflict, still stands today. And, to prove how hard it was for these two men to come to an agreement, later on both men were assassinated by extremists in their own countries.
-began true diversity in his cabinet
-first to push for affirmative action programs and title IX
- His belief in abortion was the same as Rev. Billy Graham, which meant that decision is between God and that woman and life begins at first draw of breath.
- He tried to bolster social programs like Medicaid and social security
-understood that money in politics was even then getting out of hand
- Oh, by the way, even though there was equipment failure in his attempt to free the Hostages from Iran, history now shows that there were republican forces cutting deals with the Iranians to release after the 1980 election. (You can now fast forward to the seven-volume documentation of the Iran-Contra affair.)
- Finally, history will show him as the most spiritual, the most compassionate, the most dedicated individual as President whose legacy is truly astounding because of what he achieved after he left office. Now, compare that to what the President-Elect did when he left office. This is 2025, we have got be honest if we still believe in those values that Carter exemplified.
Orman Knox
Winona, Miss.
