The value of a good man

JIM RIDOLPHI

Contributing Columnist

Arecent conversation with friends reintroduced me to the cruelty of American public opinion when the topic of President Jimmy Carter arose.

The former president’s failing health evoked well wishes from all in my small circle, but when I offered my observation on Carter’s single term as president, it was met with a bitter reality I knew existed, but somehow naively hoped had evaporated in the years since he left office.

I had incorrectly, in their minds, identified the former president as one of the best men to hold the office in my life, and this seemed to evoke an almost defiant reaction from my small circle. A brief exchange left me wondering if the peanut farmer from rural Georgia had ever accomplished anything as my friends blamed him for everything from the Iran Hostage crisis to the gasoline shortage.

Even my feeble memory can recall difficult times during Carter’s presidency, including foreign and economic policy decisions where results fell short of expectations. And many viewed Carter’s dedication to his faith as a sort of a holier than thou elitism that irritated a large majority of voters.

It’s not that Americans mind being lectured, but they insisted on selecting who might be best to deliver messages on tough topics. Carter operated with a sense of good that was almost naïve in its approach, and he often credited his opponents with a far too compassionate view of right and wrong.

But, all of that is political and that’s not what I was referring to when I exclaimed my allegiance to the former president. I was speaking to his position as a human being, his undying dedication to truth and justice and a real commitment to peace on earth.

Years ago, I had written a column on then Governor Jimmy Carter’s speech to lawyers at a Law Day event at the University of Georgia. At the time, the young Georgian was in his third year of his first term as governor. Not only did he pinpoint the challenges of public service, he addressed the group with a bare bones sense of reality in a South still not fully recovered from segregation and reluctant to accept the reality of equality.

“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was perhaps despised by many in this room because he shook up our social structure that benefited us, and demanded simply that black citizens be treated the same as white citizens, wasn’t greeted with approbation and accolades by the Georgia Bar Association or the Alabama Bar Association. He was greeted with horror,” Carter told the stunned group. dent named Henry Boyer who loves all things elevators. Henry had his own table at the STEM Expo showing off his elevator paraphernalia, including several circuitry projects he has developed further since I last saw him. This was an awesome way to tap into a young person’s passion to explore a new subject.

“I don’t want to go on and on; I’m part of it. But the point I want to make to you is that we still have a long way to go. In every age or every year, we have a tendency to believe that we’ve come so far now, that there’s no way to improve the present system,” he continued in his address.

A man’s worth on this planet should surely be judged on the impact made on the lives touched, and Jimmy Carter reached quite a few in a variety of ways from all walks of life. Perhaps, those who are unwilling to give this man the credit he is due are obscured by the blurred vision of politics and the cruel reality of public opinion.

But, those lawyers in Athens left Carter’s speech that day in 1974 with a crystal clear understanding of the man from Plains, his commitment to the good of mankind and his willingness to admit and acknowledge their shortcomings.

The message of hope was impactful, and Americans decided to trust the instincts of this good man. Less than two years later, Carter was elected president.

Sometimes the simplest activities can bring such great joy. It was fantastic to see children happily playing with light and shadow as they held up objects or used their bodies to create images on a wall. It’s such a simple task, but I can definitely remember the joy when I was young of making shadow puppets, showing some activities are timeless.

In yet another room, students

Matters

From A6

Exchange. Bring clippings, rooted propagations or separated bulbs to share; planting topics will be taught briefly.

„ March 15: 10 a.m. 4H Youth Programs. Learning all about the types of projects and programs provided for youth by the Virginia Cooperative Extension — and discussion on an April intergenerational interview project between Community Matters and 4H.

„ March 21, 28 (and April 4, 11, 18) five-part series: 10 a.m. Art Exploration. Local artist and teacher Holly Smith leads us in learning about the stories, challenges and works of other artists. The five-part series will cover five different artists: Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Romare Barden, Lee Krasner and Andy Goldsworthy. Weekly we will build on what we learn with a project of our own.

„ March 22: 10 a.m. The HumbleBee Project. Ongoing project featured monthly. No-sew an-

Carmack

From A3

Powhatan County Attorney Tom Lacheney “that there was no criminal action being taken and the case was now in their hands to do as they deem appropriate.”

“It was determined that the Special Prosecutor should allow Ms. Carmack the opportunity to show evidence that she resided in district 5 within Powhatan County which she did immediately upon

WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS and parents used wet-erase markers, filter paper and water to learn about chromatography, which is the process for separating the components of a mixture. lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com

Whether it is breaking open geodes, playing with static electricity, talking with firefighters, creating music at the Beats Club table, studying movement with parachute drops and paper airplanes, or just building something fun and colorful with straws and connectors, our young people’s imagination and creativity must have been on overload.

It took a huge collaboration to pull this event off again, and my hats are off to the organizers, the volunteers and any sponsors who helped make it happen.

Sports Editor Robby Fletcher rfletcher@powhatantoday.com

Production Manager Denine D’Angelo ddangelo@mechlocal.com

Classifieds Cindy Adams cadams@mechlocal.com ti-pill fleece blankets are created and tagged which offers opportunity to socialize while doing good for others. Completed blankets are taken to Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and given to pediatric inpatients adjusting to the demands of their medical care and treatments. request,” Dunkum wrote in the short letter. “The Special Prosecutor is satisfied that Ms. Carmack is a bona fide resident of District 5 within Powhatan County.”

Powhatan today welcomes your Letters to the editor on topics of concern to you and the community. Letters, which should be no longer than 400 words, must include the name, address and telephone number of the author. the deadline is noon thethursday before publication, but letters may be held until the following week upon the editor’s discretion. the publisher or editor of Powhatan today reserves the right to edit or withhold from publication any letter for any reason whatsoever. once received, all letters become the possession of Powhatan today. Letters reflect the opinion of the author, not necessarily that of Powhatan today or its staff.

„ March 29: 10 a.m. Mingle with Minis. We’ll be visited by miniature horses for some mingling and Q/A outside. We’ll end our time with Powhatan Equine Rescue League inside learning all about minis and their amazing work with them.

Classes involving instruction or teaching are suitable for independent participation and begin at 10 a.m.; class size will be limited to those who arrive at 10 a.m. Expect inclement weather cancelation upon Powhatan Public School closings or delays. Topics are subject to change.

Contact program coordinator Jayne Lloyd 804-698-0438 or RAServices.PVA@gmail.com with suggestions about what you’d like to see offered as we expand active aging opportunities.

Carmack recently explained that she did move out of her former District 5 home and she temporarily moved to an apartment in District 1 while a different house she had rented in District 5 was being renovated. When the renovations were complete, she moved back to District 5, as she had always intended.