The Washington County Democratic Party joins our fellow Americans in mourning the passing of former President and lifelong humanitarian Jimmy Carter. All across our country, tributes are being raised to the legacy left behind by this principled leader, and rightly so, because he lived a life of service that left an indelible mark on the lives of others.
From humble beginnings through his long post-presidency, Mr. Carter’s contributions to the American tapestry, and democracies worldwide, are well known and will be the topic of memorials and eulogies in the days to come. Many of those lauding Mr. Carter in speech and print will note his compassion for people everywhere, his accomplishments, and the example he set.
In the shadow of the Watergate scandal, Jimmy Carter brought renewed hope and revitalized the promise and future of American democracy. During his term, he kept that vision through many successes and challenges. And, after the presidency, the Carters – Jimmy and Rosalynn – redefined what it means to serve and elevate their countrymen.
And so, Americans take the torch of democracy left to us and venture into the very real threats and challenges to freedom that our nation now faces. As Mr. Carter said in the closing remarks of his Nobel Prize acceptance speech: “The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices.”
