In Praise of Goodness

Guest Opinion

By Greg Holmes | April 13, 2024

As I write this column, former president Jimmy Carter has been receiving hospice care for over a year at his home in South Georgia.

Whether you believe Carter was a “good” president or not most likely depends on your own political affiliation. It’s much easier to lump people in a party together and judge them one way or the other than to carefully consider each individual on their respective merits.

Like most, if not all presidents, Carter’s presidency was not without controversy. He was roundly criticized for his approach in dealing with inflation, the energy crisis, the war in Afghanistan, and the hostage crisis in Iran. Whether or not those criticisms of his actions were justified or not depends not only on one’s point of view but also how they are seen through the oft-clarifying perspective of time.

And then of course there was his controversial interview in 1976 with Playboy magazine. Carter, a devout Southern Baptist, talked at length about his view of humans being imperfect and his beliefs about God’s forgiveness. What was described by some in the media at the time was his “bombshell” admission that he had looked at women with “lust.” He went on to claim that he had “committed adultery many times in my heart.”

Carter of course was quoted out of context, but the damage in the public eye was done. Unlike several of his predecessors in the oval office and more to follow, he actually never had an affair. In fact, he was a loyal spouse to his wife Rosalynn, to whom he was married to for 77 years until her death last November. Both considered their relationship to be their “greatest achievement.”

Carter’s “sin” was hardly a moral error, but a political one: he was too honest. During his one term presidency he was committed to keeping his campaign promise of “I will never lie to you.” He often chose what he considered to be doing what was the right thing versus heeding advice and doing what was politically expedient. He took the long view toward problems and approached them with strong convictions.

Jimmy Carter was not a popular president. According to a Gallup poll taken soon after he left office in 1981, he had a low approval rating of just 34 percent. However, in a recent online survey of 156 presidential scholars, Carter ranked 22nd out of 45 presidents. In contrast, Biden received a ranking of 14th, whereas Trump ranked 45th.

Although his presidency was marked by controversy, his life after leaving office was seen by most as exemplary. In 1982, he and Rosalynn established the Carter Center with the mission of protecting human rights. He traveled worldwide conducting peace negotiations and helping monitor elections. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in 2002.

Another major goal of the Carter Center has been to eradicate infectious diseases and bring healthcare to the poor regions of the world. A major accomplishment in that regard has been the Center’s campaign to eliminate Guinea worm disease, a parasitic infection caused by drinking contaminated water. The disease affects low income communities in remote parts of Africa that do not have safe water to drink. The Carter Center trained 100,000 healthcare workers in the African villages to help treat the disease and to teach villagers how to prevent it. In addition, it delivered millions of water filters so people would not swallow the parasite.

The effort to rid the world of the Guinea worm disease has been an unqualified success. In 1986, the disease affected 3.5 million people in 21 countries. Today there are only 14 known cases worldwide.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter were also very involved with Habitat for Humanity. Beginning in 1984 until his admission to hospice last year, he has dedicated one week of every year to leading and helping build a project both here and abroad.

When all is said and done, Jimmy Carter will certainly be remembered as a good person. What qualities define a good person? First and foremost, good people are trustworthy because they are honest. You may not agree with what they say or do, but you rarely doubt their sincerity.

Good people are also compassionate, understanding, and practice forgiveness. They think about the welfare of others and advocate for actions to make the world a better place. Are good people perfect? Hardly. As the saying goes, “perfection is the enemy of the good.”

Now as we come face to face with an important election, I would argue that we choose candidates for local, state, and national offices that embody the characteristics of “goodness.” People whose actions reflect their beliefs in equality for all people instead of a privileged few. Candidates who practice non-violent communication instead of assaulting each other in the media and across the aisle. Individuals who believe in the axiom that “united we stand, divided we fall.”

Meanwhile, how would you rate your own goodness quotient? Do you truly care about other people? Are you helping your neighborhood, our state, the nation become a better place for all?

Greg Holmes lives and writes in Traverse City.