A one-term president whose impact outlives him
San Francisco: Jimmy Carter passed away on Dec. 29. He lived an entire century. This is astonishing longevity, but particularly for a man who endured the enormous stress of a presidency, particularly one as tumultuous as the Carter presidential years. Carter brought humanity and morality to the office. Was it a winning foreign policy to use human rights as a basis for diplomacy? Probably not. But did it represent America’s ideals? Absolutely.
Carter — his Southern mannerisms and wide smile — was refreshing to millions of Americans after Richard Nixon’s Watergate crimes and the Vietnam War. He issued a controversial pardon to evaders of the Vietnam draft. But it needed to be done to move on from the horrors and divisions after the war. Carter was ahead of his time. A nuclear engineer, he emphasized the importance of renewable energy and understood the threat of climate change before the issue became so urgent. At a time when gays and lesbians were unable to gain government security clearances, Carter stood out for his early support of pro-gay legislation and his embrace of LGBTQ advocates.
He had political shortcomings. He could be insular and did not play the Washington glad-handing game very well. His decision to allow the shah of Iran into the U.S. during the Iranian Revolution likely resulted in the Iranian hostage crisis, which further undermined his presidency. I hope that Ronald Reagan and his team did not make a deal with Iran to hold the hostages until after the election, but from what I’ve read, I take it to be true. What a travesty. Carter paid a steep price for his goodness. Bruce Farrell Rosen
In contrast
Forest Hills: Just an observation regarding the integrity and character of a president: Carter was an Annapolis grad and an officer on a nuclear submarine (W couldn’t pronounce “nuclear”) and now we have draft-dodging President Bone Spurs. When was America great and led by a strong president, MAGAs? Stew Frimer
It shall continue
Manhattan: To Voicer David Kalin: I’m sure your letter will bring many responses, so I’m not sure mine will be printed but here goes: So sorry you dislike the anti-Trump letters here in Voice of the People. I proudly endorse Trump Derangement Syndrome, because it’s beyond argument that Donald Trump is a disgusting, horrid human being, totally unfit in every way possible to be president. He’s proved this in literally hundreds of ways, through words and actions, too many to enumerate. But I think it is possible to have TDS and be civil, because I do it every day, as I hope this letter demonstrates. You call the last four years with President Biden a disaster. Fine, many feel the same and voted that way. Trump won, so all those like me have to accept it, and we do. But don’t expect the vitriolic letters to VOP to stop, because Trump will not stop doing what he always does: act and speak terribly. Michael Udolf
Your turn
Freeport, LI: Voicer David Kalin has a valid point. We really should dial back the screeds about Donald Trump’s many shortcomings to make more room for letters of incredulous dejection from former MAGA supporters. Bob Sterner
Free to speak
Bayonne: To Voicer David Kalin: “Suck it up, buttercup”? I don’t think so. “Compassionate and accepting”? Yes, where it is deserved. No one is denying the election results and we are living with it. But that doesn’t mean we have to like it. And it certainly doesn’t take away our right to express ourselves. So maybe you should “suck it up, buttercup” and live with it ’cause we ain’t gonna stop! Marty Wolfson
Unacceptable
Matawan, N.J.: To Voicer David Kalin: You complained about people still trashing Trump. When was the last time a former game show host, convicted felon and QVC salesperson (have you bought his gold sneakers, $100 watch, $100 online trading cards, with a piece of his suit, or his Bible made in China, or other items) ran for president? So, “buttercup,” have you accepted that Trump lost the 2020 election yet? Will he want to be sworn in using his Chinese-made Bible, and will he schedule a commercial after his inauguration to sell them to you MAGA followers? Do any of you really believe he’s going to bring prices down after he increases the price of all imports when he tries to put through his tariffs? Did you people ever learn anything in school? Robert Wyshynski
He’ll get his
Dover, Del.: Voicer Robert Zatz says to get over it, the voters elected a known felon. The big fat liar won only by a slight margin, which was achieved by those uneducated voters who were willing to lower their standards and select a swindler criminal. The good thing is that he’s another lame duck who will finally be held accountable when his days as president are done. He only ran for office to avoid further prosecution, but that will return once he’s out! Chalky White
Upward suck
Lackawaxen, Pa.: Voicer Tom Saracco is right: “The welfare state consumes so many resources that nothing is left for the mentally ill.” About half of the average American’s taxes go to support corporate welfare. Reflect on the facts that during the pandemic, 99% of the world’s population became poorer while the top 1% doubled their wealth, and ask how that income transfer took place (Mr. T(reason) was the reason in this country, and soon may try it again). Does the Voicer really believe that people deliberately cause their poverty in order to become eligible for public entitlements? John A. MacKinnon
Dignity denied
Briarwood: The front page, “She died for a hickey” (Dec. 31), was so disrespectful. You have to think about her family and friends; how they feel when seeing that callous headline as they are grieving over her death. Most importantly, she was a compassionate caregiver to a violent ex-husband. More fitting would have been “Killed for her kindness.” Patricia Nuzzi
Righteous condemnation
Brooklyn: To Voicers Tamara Balin, Toby F. Block and Charles Tal: In my political activism, I do the best I can to “repair the world,” the admirable goal of which Balin speaks. Part of that endeavor is to speak out against atrocities, and Israel has much to answer for in that regard. Secondly, I am not wrong about Zionist oppression towards Palestinians. If any of these Voicers wants to understand the abhorrent realities of that conflict, I suggest they read Ta-Nehisi Coates’ essays on the subject. Any semi-moral person with a sense of decency would be appalled at Zionist transgressions. Lastly, as a descendant of 18th-century colonists who owned enslaved people and took land from Native Americans, I try hard to atone for the sins of my ancestors. Atonement is a big deal for me, and I do not take it lightly. So, Mr. Tal, I do have a right to weigh in on this issue. Nick Smith
U-conned again
Staten Island: Once again, I find myself writing to the Voice of the People about your sports section. I have asked this several times in the past: Why is it that you never put UConn women’s basketball listing in your sports calendar? On Wednesday, you had Nebraska State at University of Southern California and Michigan at UCLA, which are not local teams. I understand the listing of Seton Hall at Villanova University, as both teams could be considered local. In the past, you have listed many teams playing on the same day as UConn without mentioning UConn’s game. What gives? Do your sports staff have a bone to pick with UConn? Does Geno Auriemma choose not to have interviews with your staff? What is it? Michael Modafferi
Waiting game
St. Petersburg, Fla.: Hey Mets fans, relax. Your esteemed owner is only waiting to see the highest offer to Pete Alonso and then he’ll beat it by a few bucks. Then he’ll look like a hero and have saved himself from bidding against himself. Why offer Pete something more than he might pay by just waiting? Pretty smart, and makes himself loved even more. Bill Barrett
