Part of why I like Jimmy Carter

[pecunium]

He lives his truth

I was too young to really appreciate him as a president, and he had a tough row to hoe (the fruits of the Vietnam War, and the economic backsnap from Nixon's price controls: the Defense Industry reacting to the reductions in spendings the both of those made practical, and needed. His willingness to engage in Detente, and the Rights attitude that only because of Nixon was he there at all). But his career post office, working with Habitat For Humanity, taking advantage of his bully pulpit to go out and do good works. It doesn't seem to me he is in it for the money, or the glory.

So he broke with his church.

I have been a practising Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world.

So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when th e convention's leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be "subservient" to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service. This was in conflict with my belief - confirmed in the holy scriptures - that we are all equal in the eyes of God...

At their most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.

The impact of these religious beliefs touches every aspect of our lives. They help explain why in many countries boys are educated before girls; why girls are told when and whom they must marry; and why many face enormous and unacceptable risks in pregnancy and childbirth because their basic health needs are not met.

Go, read the whole thing.

Comments

[voidampersand]

Good article. I'm forwarding it to friends. It's interesting how Carter is speaking on behalf of the Elders, a group founded by Nelson Mandela. I was thinking recently how Mandela is the only national leader, so far, to give up all his nuclear weapons (actual weapons, not just programs). And here's another thing where he's using his tremendous prestige and connections for the good of all.

Just a sec. Okay, as one would expect, the Elders have a website. Looks like a good group.

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

I read it, and have some discussion going on over in my LJ about it, but yes: powerful words from a good man.

Just FYI: you have Detene and not Detente.

DV

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

I've had the privilege of visiting the Carter center several times, and really admire him. This both thrills and saddens me. (Thrills, that he'd do it and saddens me, because needing to leave one's spiritual home is difficult and painful.)

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

Good on him! My conference (American Baptist) split from the Southern Baptists Convention in the '60s over the issue of civil rights.

[dianyla.livejournal.com]

This is heartening. I've often admired Jimmy Carter except for that last little niggling "oh, but he's a Southern Baptist" reservation.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

I never had that of him.

Even reading his correspondence with Steven Jay Gould on evolution was heartening. He isn't sure he can accept it, without a divine intervention, but he has... what for want of a better term, is a questing heart.

He looks for truths, and examines what he has, and then absorbs them. All the while with an incredible humilty.

Even when he disagrees, he is content to let those who don't see the truth, as he sees it, go their own way; so long as they aren't harming others.

It may be (though it is sad, and terrible to say) he was too good a man for the office. If I were pressed, I would probably name him one of the 300 "saints" said to wander the world and keep it in order.

[dianyla.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I should rephrase. It's more like "Gee, I like him so much, how can he be everything that he is and also be part of the SBC?"

Got a link to that dialog with Steven Jay Gould? I'd love to read that. Then again, I love almost everything I've read of Gould's.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

I suppose I've had that reaction burned out of me. That, and my awareness of his religiousness came later.

No, and I forget where I read it, it might have been in the collection of (of all things) book reviews Gould did. Sadly the things which come up in Google are appalling: actually, vile and apalling.

One of the things I am looking forward to (some day) is getting my copy of his magnum opus out of storage.

[dianyla.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's just as well you don't have the link. I should be diligently studying other things right now.

[maps-or-guitars.livejournal.com]

It's wonderful to find one's admiration confirmed in this way. I'm wondering: did the SBC just make the statement on subservience, or is it something that's been cooking for a long time?

[lexica510.livejournal.com]

It was June 1998 when the SBC passed a resolution telling women they should "graciously submit" to their husbands.

[maps-or-guitars.livejournal.com]

Hmm. That's a lot of time to be mulling it over... oh well, better late than never.

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

That's because on some level, maybe a non-institutional one, it can make sense for some people, in some ways. It is a very individual decision and has to do with lifestyle and attitude and the way you interpret those words. Or at least that is why I could think that is why it would take so long.

In other words, I could graciously submit to my husband, but would be horrified to be part of a church that preaches that.

[maps-or-guitars.livejournal.com]

Good thought.

Regrettably, it seems unavoidable that these issues get kicked up into the institutional sphere.

[writingortyping.livejournal.com]

It could also be that he was hoping to work from within to change or influence that decision on the part of the SBC leaders. Leaving can be dramatic, but staying can sometimes be more powerful in the long run.

Sometimes.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

We also (at least I, as a non-Baptist), don't know what recent changes in interpretation of that idea; or new restaments, might have affected how he felt about it.

[harimad.livejournal.com]

I believe he first said it in 2000 and the recent comments are further thoughts on the subject.

[aostara.livejournal.com]

He (and his fellow Elders) are inspirational, indeed! Thanks for sharing the link ;->

[wetdryvac.livejournal.com]

Thank-you for sharing that. It's a rare thing these days that makes me actually stand up and cheer. This? Yeah, Carter lives his truth and is public enough about it that he's doing good just by being him and speaking out. Very pleased to see.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

He has long been one of my (few, very few) heroes. Thanks for pointing this out.

[izzydesan.livejournal.com]

I've always like President Carter and this confirms why. He got a very raw deal during his Presidential tenure that I have always been sad about.

[fidelioscabinet.livejournal.com]

He is a Good Man; possibly too good a man to have done well as president.

[jonathankorman.livejournal.com]

Carter just keeps bringing the awesome.

I was amazed when a couple of years back he showed up (http://miniver.blogspot.com/2006/04/todays-question.html) on a bunch of conservative bloggers' Ten Worst Americans Ever lists. What is wrong with those people?

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

He has principles. He never bowed to them, nor bent the principles.

He has used his statute to further them, and they are at odds with the modern "Conservative" movement.

And he didn't love Saint Ronnie.

[jonathankorman.livejournal.com]

Aye.

Saint Ronnie

Apropos of that, I think they attribute contemporary Islamist terrorism to blowback from Carter policy; can't allow any of that to stick to Reagan.

[georgiamagnolia.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for posting this.

I love Jimmy Carter. I would have his UFO-seeing, peanut-growing, habitat-house building babies, if I could have babies that is. (and ya know, if he weren't already married and I wasn't a Pagan chick living in the Rockies)

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

He is our finest ex-President.

K.

[lorebubeck.livejournal.com]

Jimmy Carter continues to amaze me. He IS a saint. And one that is not sitting on his butt in his "twilight" years. Went to the elders page and sent a note thanking him (and them) for what he (and they) is doing. Really wonderful.

[editrx.livejournal.com]

There are few members of my family of whom I am proud; my cousin Jimmy is one of them. :)

[lwj2.livejournal.com]

I have (and probably will continue to) disagreed with many of Mr. Carter's policies.

I've also read his books -- he writes well, he inspires thought in his readers.

One of the things I admire most about Mr. Carter is that he sticks to his principles.