Former President Jimmy Carter, as the longest-living president, will not escape history. This legend in his own time led a remarkable life.
And whatever Carter lacked during his presidential term, he more than made up for it in his personal life. As an exceptional humanitarian and humble servant of God, Carter cared deeply for others. His tireless work for Habitat for Humanity is his labor and legacy of love. After 100 years on this planet, God has other plans for Carter. No doubt, heaven is the next stop where he will be reunited with the love of his life, Rosalynn Carter.
May he rest in peace knowing that through his efforts the world is a better and kinder place.
— JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater, Florida
Carter inspired me
In 1976, I voted for the first time — for the peanut farmer, who would be part of the inspiration for my volunteer time as a master gardener. Life kept getting in the way of completing my service hours; Jimmy Carter kept at it, building homes with Habitat for Humanity and teaching Sunday school, among other great things this great man did — for he lived to help not only other Americans but also all the world.
Donald Trump has done nothing for the poor or anyone but himself (and occasionally his family).
We need more people like Carter. We need zero like Trump.
— Maja Ramírez, Chicago
True public service
Nice editorial summarizing the highs and lows of this special man’s life (“For Jimmy Carter, the presidency was prologue,” Dec. 30). We, especially as Americans, need to learn from his years and years of true public service.
So inspirational his legacy is to people of all faiths. His is a selfless example along with his lifelong, ideally matched Rosalynn. Remember their good works.
If only the incoming president and his proposed administration could be interested in helping humankind versus his own individual power. If only the new Congress with a Republican House and Senate could withstand refusing to confirm Donald Trump’s unquestionably ill-qualified folks.
Do our agencies deserve such disrupting nominations? Is this what the backing voters thought would happen?
We, as a people, can hopefully survive the coming four years. This I pray.
I lived through many administrations, from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Joe Biden, so I still have faith that my neighbors will realize they bought into a fearmonger out for himself, not them.
— Paul Dieterle, Wheaton
Jimmy Carter was everything as a president and a human being that Donald Trump is not.
— Alan Bergeson, Winfield
Invest in services
The new Cook County state’s attorney needs to understand that locking up everyone is expensive for the taxpayer.
This would be better — provide services to communities, mostly of color, that have been denied services and investments for so long.
Lori Lightfoot as mayor did invest in the South and West sides of Chicago. But that was an infusion of money after decades of the city ignoring the least among us. So much is needed so that young people see opportunities instead of gangs as the way to go forward.
When the city has ignored certain communities on the West and South sides, the redlined communities, no wonder that gangs have gone from all-white to mostly people of color.
Invest in services instead of seeking to putting people into jail.
— Janice Gintzler, Crestwood
Steele got a pass
When I read about Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele’s arrest after she crashed her car while driving under the influence and her abusively crude comments and refusal to cooperate with the arresting officers, I thought: I hope they throw the book at her.
Boy, was I wrong. A judge basically gave her a pass and handed her driver’s license back based on a technicality. Steele is due back in court in February, and I hope that the judge has had an opportunity to rethink her decision regarding Steele’s right to operate a motor vehicle.
— Michael Oakes, Chicago
What technicality?
Sometime ago, an acquaintance was cited for driving under the influence. It was a most demeaning experience. The loss of license requires finding alternative means of transportation because DUI classes must be attended. After completing the mandatory classes, partial driving privileges were restored with a provision. The offender must pay $1,500 for a breathing device installed in their vehicle. The driver then must breathe into the device. As long as the device detects no alcohol, the vehicle will start. Otherwise, it won’t. Further fines will also be assessed before the drivers license is reinstated.
Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele and her attorneys knew all of this. Fortunately for her, a technicality was discovered. Steele avoided the inconvenience of the DUI process.
Apparently, some people are a bit more special than others. We can now wonder what that technicality was and how often will it be applied to future DUIs.
— Joseph A. Murzanski, Orland Park
Honorable Marine vets
I have to point out the repeated mention of infamous people being ex-Marines or former Marines. For example, we have an individual in Chicago charged with murder described by the news media as a former Marine. In New York, we have Daniel Penny, who was recently found not guilty after coming to the aid of frightened people on a subway train. Lee Harvey Oswald, the assassin who murdered President John F. Kennedy, is often described as a former Marine.
It’s as if the Marine Corps are unleashing monsters on our country’s population. As a former Marine, I’d like to point out that those of us who have served our country in the Corps are a tad annoyed with the seemingly one-way coverage.
I thought I should point out some of us who never get the “ex” or “former” treatment. Former astronaut and Sen. John Glenn, soon-to-be Vice President JD Vance, journalist Dan Rather, actor Gene Hackman, Democratic strategist James Carville, evangelist Pat Robertson, actor Drew Carey, children’s TV star Bob Keeshan, and musical brothers Don and Phil Everly, just to name a few.
I won’t go into the thousands of decorated Marine heroes who never get a mention, but they are out there. Somehow, they go unnoticed.
— Bob Angone, Austin, Texas
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