Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Jimmy Carter served as US president when Ukraine was not yet independent but the Ukrainian president recognized that “his heart stood firmly with us in our ongoing fight for freedom. We deeply appreciate his steadfast commitment to Christian faith and democratic values, as well as his unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s unprovoked aggression. Today, let us remember: peace matters, and the world must remain united in standing against those who threaten these values.”
I voted for Jimmy Carter twice, the first time in 1976 when I did not know him at all. I voted in condemnation of President Gerald Ford’s ignorance of or callous approach to Soviet domination of Eastern Europe. In 1980 I voted for President Jimmy Carter, after four years, recognizing him as clearly a unique politician with a moral backbone and principles, who was a champion of human rights and the first American president to discard the American global mantra of appeasement to wards the Russians. Here was a farmer from Georgia who saw right through the Russian soul. When Soviet Russia invaded Afghanistan President Carter manifested America’s disapproval by refusing to participate in the Olympiad in Moscow. Countries followed because America was the moral compass. That compass was Jimmy Carter.
There was also a specifically Ukrainian element in my praising President Carter. The names of Ukrainian political prisoners scientist Nina Strokata, philologist Viacheslav Karavansky and historian Valentyn Moroz come to mind. They were released from Soviet gulags and permitted to emigrate. There were other prominent non-Ukrainian dissidents who were released and exchanged. Many Soviet Jews benefited from President Carter’s principled and unwavering position as well.
Presidents Carter and Ronald Reagan did not bring down the Soviet Union, but they certainly were helpful in this regard. I respected Carter much more than Reagan because of his moral integrity. Reagan was an actor turned politician, duplicitous in his behavior and in the case of the Iranian hostages treasonous delaying the hostage release until after his election. But he was effective in dealing with the Soviets to some degree because he dealt with a reformer Gorbachev not idealistic, rather opportunistic.
The timing of President Carter’s death could not be more glaring as America is entering an era of unbridled amorality. Ironically, America’s attention is focused albeit briefly on Jimmy Carter, not only as President, but as a person who was a humanitarian, human rights’ activist, Nobel peace prize laureate. The flags in America fly at half mast at least until January 20, 2025 when the anti-Carter takes the oath of office. President-elect Donald Trump represents the complete nullification of Jimmy Carter. Trump was jealous of the baby Jesus on Christmas Day and is now jealous of President Carter as America and the world honor his memory.
To be fair, President Carter’s tenure was not a big success because of high inflation and interest rates. For that and other reasons his re-election was problematic. Nonetheless, the Carters, the President and his wife spent the rest of their long lives doing good, helping those less fortunate, monitoring human rights abuse and enabling peace throughout the world. Many of these good deeds have been long lived.
The best that can be said about the 39th president is that he spent his life following the guidance of his Lord and Redeemer. His legacy and lifestyle should serve as an example for all us and, in particular, for other political leaders. Unfortunately, among world leaders he was an exception and not the rule. It has become even worse.
January 8, 2025 Askold S. Lozynskyj