ATLANTA, Georgia, Jan 3 (IPS) – A fire within the State Dining Room of the White House bearing the inscription: “Let only honest and wise men rule under this roof.” President John Adams wrote this in a letter to his wife Abigail in 1800.
Jimmy Carter was by all accounts a clever, fair and decent man – a person of deep religious faith who was also careful – some might say old-fashioned – about his rhetoric.
He was refreshingly honest, using the farm boy saying, “I’ll kick his ass!” against the Democratic primary opponent, Senator Edward Kennedy. Most reporters of the time thought this was too harsh and even obscene, so as a substitute they wrote, “I’ll beat his ass!”
Carter was honest. When asked by a reporter amid tales of the Kennedy brothers’ sexual indulgences if he had ever had lust in his heart, he replied simply: “Yes.” This is something no other politician would do. But it was easy for Carter to confess this because he held the Christian and Calvinist doctrine that “we are all sinners.”
Historians view his administration as a watershed within the fight for civil rights, especially within the South. As president, he negotiated the primary-ever peace agreement between Israel and the Arabs. In the years after his presidency, he made an impact all over the world as a humanitarian activist.
Civic virtue should be true to the unique conception of the American nation – favoring residents over government. Freedom and justice are the slogans of democracy, not blind obedience to politicians.
George Washington said, “There is an inseparable connection between virtue and happiness.” Lincoln counseled, “Anger against none… charity to all… firmness to the right.” Carter echoed these sentiments at his inauguration by making the promise of the biblical prophet Micah: “Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.”
There are two ways to acknowledge people as honest and clever – by their words and their actions. Carter told the reality straight – even when it was inconvenient or might hurt him. His politics were based on easy honesty, especially in his efforts to beat the endemic racism of the Old South.
President-elect Trump, then again, is legendary for the lies and slander crammed with insults that consistently flow from his mouth: “When someone hurts you, just go after them as fiercely and as brutally as you can…. When someone fucks you, fuck them back.” Trump’s brand, he said, means: “Power is the only true value.”
We teach our kids otherwise. “Be nice,” we at all times say. Sesame Street and first grade teachers criticize kids for ‘lack of civility’. Why cannot we demand a lot from our leaders?
Trump is a symptom of our society’s problems, not the reason behind them. Today, most of us tolerate swear words and vulgarisms that may scandalize our grandmothers. Trump is just riding the wave of indecency that’s already sweeping the general public.
Let’s restore civic virtues. Jimmy Carter will be the best example of private integrity amongst American leaders in our lifetime. Let him be your role model, not an empty, dingy suit who will soon be the following occupant of the White House.
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