First, Oct. 1 is President Carter's 91st Birthday. Feel free to send cards or letters to Jimmy Carter, Plains, GA, 31780 and don't worry that the folks in Plains, GA will be overwhelmed. I believe President Carter enjoys his relatively recent popularity, especially after years and years of political exile despite his almost endless list of good works. Jimmy Carter is living proof that no good deed goes unpunished.
I traveled to Plains, GA last weekend to join in the fun of the annual Plains Peanut Festival, the annual Carter Political Items Collectors Convention, and to join the Carters at Sunday School and worship at Maranatha Baptist Church. Carter showed absolutely no signs of his illness and darted around Plain's like an energetic man of maybe 60 years. He greeted runners at a 5K race in the morning. He presided over the Peanut Festival Parade. Amy and Jeff Carter were the Grand Marshalls of the parade. He signed about 1,000 books. In the evening he attended the CPIC Banquet where it was my honor to present him with a Resolution from the DC City Council commending him for his actions to help the citizens of DC and end taxation without representation in our nation's capitol. Carter and Rosalynn then spoke at length about life in the White House. Amy & Jeff were also at the dinner, as well as, of course, the beloved Rosalynn Carter. After dinner Carter returned home to confer with a foreign visitor, Prime Minister Morales from Boliva.
The next morning I awoke at 5:00 AM and arrived at Maranatha Baptist Church at 6:00 am. There were, already, about 200 folks in line. Before 8:00 am we were admitted to the church after screening by the Secret Service. There was a lot of fellowship among the Carter admirers in line. At 10:00 am Carter gave a brief talk about his recent activities. He has now had 3 treatments for brain cancer but will be delaying his fourth so that he can participate in a Habitat for Humanity Project in Nepal. President Carter is taking an experimental drug to boost his immune system. My understanding is that he is bypassing chemotherapy. He looked just great though was a bit tired at times. Carter then analyized several Bible verses from the Book of Matthew about how Christians should behave including respect for women. After the church service, President Carter and Rosalynn posed for pictures with visitors (from perhaps 25 states and 15 countries) for about 40 minutes.
I am so proud that I worked in Carter's 1976 campaign in 4 states at the ripe old age of 17 in 1976. This man is a constant inspiration. Despite political setbacks Carter has always lived up to the high standard for honesty he set when he was a political unknown. Under Jimmy Carter I was able to put myself through college -- it was much harder after the austerity imposed upon the lower middle class by Reagan. From the bottom of my heart and every brain cell in my head, thank you President Carter, Happy Birthday and remember, blessed are the Peacemakers.