When Jimmy Carter was elected the 39^th President of the United States in 1977, I was preparing myself for my university years. I was in the prime of my life, was about to graduate from High School, and my social and civic conscience was experiencing its first great awakening.

 

At the time I was not nuanced in the great platforms of the Democratic and Republican parties – nor did I feel inclined to be. What I did feel, however, was an inclination to understand what was occurring in the Middle East – specifically in Israel.

  

For those of us growing up in the church, questions often arose as to the extent of Gods’ working in the world as it presently related to his chosen people of long ago. Was God still blessing Israel? Had the descendants of Abraham (who was not a Jew) lived in Jerusalem continuously from the earliest days of his time up through the ministry of Jesus and his disciples and on into today? Who were these Palestinian people and what was their gripe against Israel and the United States? And furthermore, why did so many people in the Middle East hold America in such an unfavorable way?

 

With the awakening of my social conscious there was, of necessity, the awakening of my political conscious too. With great interest I followed the peace initiatives of President Carter and was awed at his ability to bring together such divergent people and views as those represented by Israel and Egypt.

 

With great interest I watched the news and read the papers closely as I followed, as best I could, the meetings that were taking place at Camp David between Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. Eventually, in 1979, thanks to the tireless work of President Carter, the diplomatic relations between these two great nations, were once again normalized.

 

Since then, one of the most amazing things to me has been the steady and constant commitment that President Carter has maintained in working toward peace in the Middle East. From the time of his presidency up through today, Jimmy Carter has not wavered in his efforts at reconciliation. His knowledge of the issues and the politics often keeping them from being solved is second to none, and his willingness to speak forthrightly regarding the roadblocks to peace have been, and continue to be, both firm and fair.

 

Nowhere is this more on display than in his latest book, Palestine Peace Not Apartheid. As I entered this book I was amazed at what a quick read it was considering the incredible amount of detail and documentation it provides. Over and again I was struck by how blessed I was to receive something much more akin to a personal letter from the heart of the President versus some sterile rendering of fact upon fact.

 

His understanding of and compassion toward all sides involved is reinforced on every page. He does not seek to placate, offend nor withhold strong words where needed. His love for both Israelis and Palestinians is evident throughout.

 

Not surprisingly this book has caused no small amount of consternation from the various interests – particularly here in the U.S. I think most of us understand that anything we put in print that is not pro-Israel and contra-Palestinian invites such criticism, but there are issues much deeper than our “thin skins” that compel us to continue speaking and writing on the actual events and injustices taking place in the Middle East regardless of who is at fault. And there is much blame on all sides.

 

Repeatedly President Carter calls out the Palestinians for their violence against Israelis – and repeatedly he points out that this violence is often committed in the occupied territory of Palestine – the point being that Israel needs to honor repeated U.N. resolutions calling for their withdrawal and much of the violence would cease.

 

Maybe these issues are more meaningful to me because of the time I’ve spent walking the streets of Jerusalem or Bethlehem or Nazareth. Maybe it’s the thought of all of the beautiful Olive Trees that were destroyed – the one’s that surrounded the hillside of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ; trees that were destroyed by Israelis on Palestinian land that had been in some of their families for over a thousand years.

 

It could be that I’m drawn to this part of the world because I’ve been to the city of Christ’s birth that is now encircled by a wall with one entrance where Palestinian produce trucks are forced to sit and wait for as long as a week until their product is spoiled, only then gaining permission from Israeli guards to enter the city. Injustices such as this are easy rallying points.

 

Perhaps I’m drawn to the present conflict because the latest round of violence took place the day after I stood on the temple mount – the day before Ariel Sharon and some three hundred Israeli troops made, to the enragement of the Palestinians, their infamous “visit” there. I can still envision the masses gathering there for religious purposes. I am amazed to see such young soldiers with machine guns in one hand and electronic children’s games in the other. I remember pondering the insanity of it all.

 

Perhaps I’m drawn to this because of the discussions I’ve had with Jewish and Palestinian young people who affirm that they do not hate each other and that the hatred comes from their respective leaders at the top. Maybe I’m drawn to this topic because I fear that my country has addressed everything but the core problem of the Middle East – a fact that drives me to near exhaustion just contemplating the waste of it all.

 

If Presidents are to do anything, then certainly they are to pursue peace. This is so whether they are Republican or Democrat or Independent. To wield the power of a U.S. President and refuse to leverage it on behalf of the voiceless masses kept hostage in this ongoing nightmare called the Middle East is inexcusable.

 

Thankfully, there has been one U.S. President refusing to ignore this ongoing problem, and that President is Jimmy Carter. For this reason alone, he must be heard. His views must be considered. And his book is the place to start.

 

Get it. Read it. Begin discussion groups and then pray about what you can do to take action. Maybe it’s writing your local and state politicians. Maybe it’s giving a donation to The Carter Center or investigating how you can get involved in relieving some of the poverty of the people of the Middle East. Whatever it is, just get involved… you’ll be glad you did.

 

URL: http://www.presence.tv/cms/soc-carter-book.php

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