As an Ex-President, Jimmy Carter Fought for Peace

Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. After retiring from office in 1981, he spent more than 42 years, the longest period of retirement in history.

Recent obituaries have always portrayed Carter as a decent and dedicated public servant. for a long time sunday school teacher People who built homes with Habitat for Humanity. He lived modestly, unlike his successors. didn’t make myself rich

But the story belies the quietly radical approach Mr. Carter took after becoming president. By advocating passionately for peace and taking an active bipartisan role in international diplomacy, Carter set time-honoured standards for how politicians can serve their people long after they leave office. As a former president, he advocated for peace more than most politicians do throughout their careers.

President Carter and his wife Rosalynn founded the Carter Center in 1982 with a clear mission to alleviate human suffering. The center “makes peace possible” by resolving global conflicts, promoting and monitoring human rights. More than 100 elections were held in almost 40 countries. cited by the Nobel Committee These efforts made Carter the first former U.S. president to win the Nobel Peace Prize. (Other presidents have received this award, but all while in office).

Mr. Carter’s commitment to peace made him the go-to envoy to North Korea for decades. In 1994, he and Rosalyn First people to cross the demilitarized zonePresident Carter then met with President Kim to defuse the nuclear tensions that were escalating at the time. He returned in 2010 to secure the release of American prisoners of war on behalf of the Obama administration. After North Korea specifically requested his attendance,. Even he I was offered to represent the Trump administration.But needless to say, they didn’t feature him.

In 2007, he co-founded Elders, a group of politicians committed to world peace and human rights, with former Irish President Mary Robinson, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and former South African President Nelson Mandela. Carter played a key role in the group’s first visit. sudan To draw attention to the war in Darfur. He then led a delegation to israel and palestine He supports a two-state solution and met with President Vladimir Putin in 2015. Russia We will discuss, among other things, the conflict in Ukraine.

Carter took a position that no American elected official, let alone a former president, would dare take. In his 2006 book, Palestine: peace, not apartheid, he accused Israel of human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territory. The book provoked anger – he faced this accusations of antisemitism, condemnation fromm leaders within their own party, and Resignation from Carter Center–But Carter stood firm. (Years later, Steve Berman, who led the resignation, would write a letter.) apologize To the president who did that. Mr. Carter responded with a handwritten note insisting that no apology was necessary, that he understood the reaction of his critics and that Mr. Berman would be welcomed back to the Center. )

Mr. Carter had no qualms about criticizing his successor. in 2016 new york times EditorialHe called on President Barack Obama to recognize a Palestinian state. he published another The year before, he criticized President Obama’s call for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to resign. In that article, he recalled his intervention when the United States withdrew its ambassador from Syria, and in doing so perfectly articulated his unique position in world diplomacy. Even when we were estranged, they still talked to me. ”

For 42 years, Jimmy Carter remained the quintessential elder statesman. At a time when former presidents are more likely to spend their days promoting themselves than the general welfare, Mr. Carter stands head and shoulders above the rest. Today’s leaders could learn from how he used his post-presidential power.

More will be written about Mr. Carter’s accomplishments in the coming days and weeks. His presidency and the decades he left office will also be discussed. Throughout his career, we must remember his fearlessness in the cause of peace and his faith in the democratic institutions he fought to protect. as he himself said“We see peace not as a dormant state, but as something to be fought for, including by winning armed conflicts.” The best way to honor Carter’s legacy is to Everywhere, they will do everything in their power to maintain peace for as long as possible.