May 2, 2025 7:29 am
Full News

Jimmy Carter’s Life: A Legacy of Lessons Beyond the Presidency

Jimmy Carter’s life didn’t end with his presidency. It has much to teach us. National mourning is a time for remembrance and reflection, allowing us to do so through a lens of patriotism, not politics, and from a posture of gratitude, not partisanship. This is where we are today as the nation learns of the passing of our 39th President, Jimmy Carter.

Though many on the right have criticized Jimmy Carter’s policies, we can still recognize and celebrate his willingness to step up and engage in public service to our nation through his military career as a naval officer and his political career as governor and state senator from Georgia, as well as president of the United States. We should also acknowledge the humanity behind this loss. Not only is America saying goodbye to a president, but behind the protocol and pageantry, the Carters are saying goodbye to a father, a grandfather, an uncle, and a friend to many who knew him personally.

This must be an especially difficult time for the Carter family as they said goodbye to Rosalynn in November of last year. The former first lady had been diagnosed with dementia and entered hospice care just two days prior to her passing. Surprisingly, President Carter entered hospice care in February 2023, but outlived his wife by more than a year. The Carters were married for 77 years – the longest presidential marriage in American history. They will be buried side by side on their property in Plains, Georgia, where they lived for more than 60 years. Though he was best known as president, Carter was most comfortable at home in Plains, rather than on the world stage. He lived a life which was simple, modest, and humble. He was deeply committed to faith, to family, and to living a life in service to others. He was actively involved in his church, teaching Sunday School, and immersing himself in both the Word of God, as well as the work of God here on earth. Some may be conflicted about how they think of Jimmy Carter upon his passing, and that is OK. Life is complicated and people are complex. No one’s life can be placed entirely on one side of a Good or Bad ledger. Thankfully so — for all of us. We can celebrate a selfless life devoted to others, and let history be the judge of Jimmy Carter’s final legacy. Our legacies are not written after we are gone but are written with every day of our lives.

He remained invested in global issues surrounding world peace and election integrity, often traveling to foreign countries to represent this passion. Yet Carter was most at ease in blue jeans, swinging a hammer alongside volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, building homes for those in need.

While he could have retired long ago and rested on his laurels of accomplishment, Carter chose to continue to use his platform and notoriety to bless others, doing so with his words, as well as his actions. In many ways he embodied the American spirit of generosity, selflessness, voluntarism, and reflected the true heart of America, which is abundantly found in small towns like Plains which dot this great nation.

In October 1986, when Carter’s presidential successor, Ronald Reagan, spoke at the dedication ceremony for the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, Reagan said, “None of us today need feel any urge, in the name of good will, to downplay our differences. On the contrary, in a certain sense, we can be proud of our differences, because they arise from good will itself — from love of country; for concern for the challenges of our time; from respect for, and yes, even outright enjoyment of, the democratic processes of disagreement and debate. Today our very differences attest to the greatness of our nation. For I can think of no other country on Earth where two political leaders could disagree so widely yet come together in mutual respect.”

The story of Jimmy Carter’s presidency has already been recorded for posterity – both the highs and the lows. Historians will ultimately determine his place and impact in the annals of history. Some of it will not be flattering. While he was alive, Carter himself knew what was being said about the malaise and decline of America under his leadership. He knew what would be said after he was gone too. Perhaps that’s why he worked so hard to create another aspect of his legacy after leaving the White House. It may actually be his later years which were most meaningful and will be most remembered. Ultimately, Jimmy Carter left this earth the way he wanted to – simply, humbly, quietly, surrounded by family and friends, secure in God’s love and salvation, having lived a long, full life in service to others. Perhaps, at its core, that’s what it truly means to have lived a great American life.

deepanwita martin

Related News
Trump, Macron, and Zelensky Hold Trilateral Talks in Paris Amid Notre-Dame Reopening
Public Works Ministry and Fire Service Find No Evidence of “Mirror Room” at Bangabandhu Memorial Building in Dhanmondi 32
Chief of Israel’s Shin Bet Intelligence Agency Announces Resignation
Tesla Recalls Over 46,000 Cybertrucks Amid Safety Concerns
Human Rights Council Advisory Committee to Hold 32nd Session in Geneva from December 16-20
Avengers Director Reveals Secret Talks Before MCU Comeback
Related Posts
Israel Conducts Airstrike Near Syrian Presidential Palace Amid Rising Tensions
Kashmir Attack: US Urges India to Avoid Broader Conflict
Pakistan Expands Military Presence Along Indian Border, Inducts Chinese Howitzers
India-Pakistan Trade Surpasses Official Records, Estimated at $10 Billion Annually
Exchange of Fire Continues for Eighth Consecutive Night Along India-Pakistan Border
US Expresses Support for India’s Right to Self-Defense
More News

US and UK Negotiate Bilateral Trade Agreement to Strengthen Economic Ties

On February 27, US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the United States and Britain are negotiating a bilateral trade agreement. This deal aims to avert US tariffs and bolster the already strong trading relationship between the two nations. “We’re going to have a great trade agreement,” Mr. Trump stated […]

Taliban-Led Afghanistan to Attend COP29 Climate Summit as Observers Amid Ongoing International Isolation

The Taliban-led government of Afghanistan will participate in the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, marking the first time Afghanistan has taken part in a global climate summit since the Taliban regained power in 2021. Although Afghanistan has repeatedly attempted to attend past COP conferences, its participation has been blocked, as the Taliban lacks official […]

IDF and ISA Neutralize Key Hamas Figures in Extensive Gaza Operations

On December 29, 2024, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the elimination of six Hamas terrorists who participated in the October 7 massacre in Israel. This significant operation was carried out jointly with the Israel Security Agency (ISA) in Gaza’s Jabaliya and Beit Lahia areas. The combined efforts resulted in the deaths of 14 terrorists, […]

Apple’s AI-Powered iPhone 16 Sees Varied Sales Across Markets

Apple’s latest iPhone 16 models are seeing mixed sales performances across different regions, and Apple CEO Tim Cook suggests that the company’s AI platform, Apple Intelligence, plays a significant role in this discrepancy. In a recent interview with CNBC, Cook highlighted that markets where Apple Intelligence has been rolled out are experiencing stronger iPhone 16 […]

Nearly 1,000 North Korean Soldiers Killed in Ukraine War

Nearly 1,000 North Korean soldiers have reportedly been killed in the ongoing Ukraine war, according to Western officials. They were killed while fighting against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s border region of Kursk, British media outlet BBC reported on Wednesday, January 22. Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. To strengthen its military, Pyongyang […]

Sarah Michelle Gellar Says No to I Know What You Did Sequel

Sarah Michelle Gellar has officially turned down the chance to reprise her iconic role as Helen Shivers in the upcoming legacy sequel to I Know What You Did Last Summer, despite persistent efforts by the film’s director. While original stars Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt are returning as Ray Bronson and Julie James, […]

Designate Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami as a Foreign Terrorist Organization

Michael Rubin Violent protesters in Bangladesh on Aug. 5 forced the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, the country’s longtime prime minister, Awami League politician, and daughter of Bangladesh’s founding father. After Sheikh Hasina fled for her life (she never technically resigned), the protesters appointed Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus to act as Bangladesh’s interim administrator. While […]

Justice Department Releases Special Counsel’s Final Report on Hunter Biden Investigation

The Justice Department has released special counsel David Weiss’ final report on his investigation into Hunter Biden. Weiss charged President Joe Biden’s son with firearm and tax crimes, and the younger Biden pleaded guilty ahead of his scheduled September trial. The outgoing president pardoned his son on Dec. 1, saying that “raw politics” had led […]

Academy Announces Major Changes and Key Dates for the 98th Oscars

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially released the awards rules and campaign promotional regulations for the 98th Oscars, airing live on ABC on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. Alongside the updated rules, the Academy also announced key dates for the 2025 awards season. One […]

Is Sheikh Hasina’s Comeback on the Horizon? Political Campaign Begins from Exile

Dhaka, Bangladesh – Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and leader of the Awami League, has been in exile since August 5, 2024, following a meticulously designed student uprising that led to a dramatic shift in the political landscape. In the wake of the protests, Dr. Muhammad Yunus captured power, forcing Hasina into […]