President Carter remembered as a champion for peace

Editor's note: Anthony Moretti, a special commentator for CGTN, is an associate professor at the Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, the U.S. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

The accolades throughout the U.S. and around the world affirm Jimmy Carter, who passed away aged 100 on Sunday, will be remembered as an honorable and kind man who pushed for peace at home and abroad.

The peace treaty Carter orchestrated between Egypt and Israel is often mentioned as the highlight of Carter's presidency. But he often spoke of another action he believed would also lead to lasting peace: establishing full bilateral relations with China. In one interview, he said, "I believed that the normalization of relations between China and the U.S. would advance the cause of peace in Asia and the world."

It has, although that reality is harder to see now, more than 40 years since Carter left office. Sadly, his successors have too often chosen not to follow his example and have therefore failed to foster peace with China and many other nations.

Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also an attitude, one that demands the government and people of another country be viewed with respect. Today, it is fair to question America's commitment to peace and whether it wants China to be a partner in making the world a better place. Reflecting on Carter's legacy, especially now, is prudent.

And what does that legacy entail?

First, Carter brokered peace deals in strife-ridden areas ranging from Bosnia to Ethiopia to Haiti, all accomplished after he left the White House. His efforts highlight how successive U.S. presidents have not prioritized peace; yes, leaders often talk of America's commitment to it, but the historical record of military aggression and interference in the affairs of other countries suggests the opposite.

Carter was also a champion of the underdog. He and his wife spent one week each year helping to build homes for the less fortunate. Although the national media turned these volunteer and service opportunities into a news story, Carter was not interested in the spotlight. He was concerned with rolling up his sleeves and getting a job done.

He was also ahead of his time in advocating for a safe environment. He had a set of solar panels placed on the White House roof while he was president. Sadly, his successor took them down. There is no doubt that if Carter had been president today that he would rally America to contribute to solving the climate crisis. And he would welcome the partnership with China in securing the environment remains safe for generations to come.

How different the world would be as we enter 2025 and how much stronger the U.S.-China bilateral relationship would be if Carter's firm belief in the power of peace, the value of cooperation and the joy of respect were demonstrated by Washington's political elite.

We must realize that the world would be a much safer place if American presidents remembered these words uttered by Carter: that we cannot be both the world's leading champion of peace and the world’s leading suppliers of the weapons of war.

Carter's lessons about peace also included a reminder of how small efforts, ones that rarely generate media attention, matter. Working with Habitat for Humanity in constructing homes has already been mentioned. But also remember that in a 2002 speech, he spoke of a program instituted by the Carter Center that trained 900 teachers in China to assist deaf or blind students. Why did that matter to him? He once said, "the measure of a society is found in how they treat their weakest and most helpless citizens."

In a 2018 editorial appearing in the Washington Post, Carter reminded his readers of the importance of peaceful engagement with China. He warned that Washington's misconceptions about the country and its determination to engage in a trade war threatened both nations and the larger world.

He concluded with these words: "In 1979, Deng Xiaoping and I knew we were advancing the cause of peace. While today's leaders face a different world, the cause of peace remains just as important. Leaders must bring new vision, courage and ingenuity to new challenges and opportunities, but I believe they also must accept our conviction that the United States and China need to build their futures together, for themselves and for humanity at large."

That vision was not realized in the six years between when he shared it and when he passed. One can hope that his legacy will lead U.S. leaders in 2025 and beyond to commit themselves to "bring new vision, courage and ingenuity" to the bilateral relationship.

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