We are witnessing the passing of an American President, a man whose term in office was a time of great changes in this country. Carter did his best to be a uniter but the fault lines between the rule of law and the rule of thuggery ran too deep. A man whose life and actions have exemplified dedication to principles of equality and fairness, concern and kindness, is remembered mainly as a weakling and a fool.
Since his time we have been made weak, and fooled, by a school of lies. We gratefully elect leaders who lie to us, who make us feel strong while stealing our time, our wealth, and our faith. It isn't any wonder that after a generation of lies we look on actual truth as people waking from a dream.
The teachers in the school of lies are experts at turning words upside-down. Strength means fear. Security means uncertainty. What they call truth is a tissue of lies so flimsy that it requires billions of dollars of our money for support- the "war on terror" being the latest example.
40 years of lies- from voodoo economics to the Wall Street bail-out- have served one purpose. That purpose has been to concentrate wealth and power in the hands of the most wealthy and powerful. They talk of the evils of class warfare, while robbing from the lower and middle classes. To increase the profits of their war machine they foment unrest around the world, and to maintain the use of fossil fuels they destroy our planet.
President Carter has made a difference in this world, but he has been only one man. His ideals of Christian humility and service should embarrass the so-called moralists who wish to lead us- but this won't happen on its own. We must take the truth, the actual truth, and turn it back on them.