Betrayal
Mel Konner, a professor of anthropology at Emory University, was once Jimmy Carter's biggest fan. He never failed to defend the former president when someone attacked Carter. With the release of Carter's latest screed, however, Konner is not only no longer a fan, he now is actually afraid of the damage the former president is doing.
A former president whose legacy has rested on bringing about peace between Arabs and Jews has turned his back on that to become a partisan. A man whose Christian values made him see both sides in a tragic conflict has become blind to one side's suffering. A man who walked in paths of peace has now become an obstacle to peace.
For me, it means the loss of one of my greatest heroes. I have never allowed a snide remark about Jimmy Carter's "failed" presidency to pass without contradicting it. I have said countless times that he is the greatest former president, setting a new standard for that role.
I don't recognize Carter any more. I am afraid of him now, for myself and for my children. He has not just turned his back on the balance and fairness that all peacemaking depends on. He has become a spokesman for the enemies of my people. He has become an apologist for terrorists.
At this holiday season, Jews remember a time when our existence was threatened in our homeland; it is threatened again now. Christians remember the birth of a baby boy long dreamed of, to a Jewish mother who had to flee from terror to protect him. Jewish mothers shrink from terror in the same place today.
Read the whole thing. It is a damning indictment. Carter has damaged himself with this book. And his increasingly shrill defense of the book is doing even greater damage. He is addressing the important issues of the Middle East in a slanted and, in fact, anti-Semitic manner. When he loses strong supporters like Konner, he really has a problem. He's too arrogant to understand that, though.
UPDATE: Michael van der Galien, posting at The Moderate Voice, has some other thoughts on Carter and his book.
Politics, World news | Gaius Friday, 22 December , 2006
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Rhymes With Right — Friday, 22 December , 2006 @ 6:38 pm
By themarkman, Sunday, 24 December , 2006 @ 12:04 pm
It took this schmuck 26 years to realize what an abyssmal man Jimmy Carter is?
Why even bother to mention him without noting he has been educating (?) people this entire time?
Most of us realized what an ass Carter is and was during his presidency.