From: dks@MIT.EDU (dks) Newsgroups: alt.fan.dan-quayle Subject: Jimmy Carter: 'Greatness In Peace, Not War' Message-ID: <9207151044.AA03577@MIT.EDU> Date: 15 Jul 92 11:39:51 GMT Lines: 208 X-Received: by usenet.pa.dec.com; id AA18677; Wed, 15 Jul 92 03:45:03 -0700 X-Received: by inet-gw-1.pa.dec.com; id AA11324; Wed, 15 Jul 92 03:45:00 -0700 X-Received: from TMS-PORT-9.MIT.EDU by MIT.EDU with SMTPid AA03577; Wed, 15 Jul 92 06:44:13 EDT X-To: alt.fan.dan-quayle.usenet X-Command: Send_AEvt(doAutoForward) Hello! By popular request, here is Jimmy Carter's speech. Cheers, Dhanesh ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Former President Carter's Speech: 'Greatness In Peace, Not War' --- NEW YORK, July 14, 1992 Here is the prepared text of former President Carter's speech on Tuesday night to the Democratic National Convention: There is life after the White House - one that gives us a good perspective of what is happening in the world. Rosalynn and I help build a few habitat houses every year, but spend most of our active time at the Carter Center. We work with others, without regard to partisanship, to immunize the world's children and eradicate crippling diseases, to increase food grain production among starving people, and to address some of the most serious human rights violations. With experts and with dozens of college students, we monitor conflicts in the world. When appropriate, we seek to resolve them, either through direct mediation or the holding of free and democratic elections. We have visited more than 50 nations, in order to meet with political leaders, farmers, teachers, doctors and nurses, human rights activists, environmentalists and others who share our common concern about our world and its future. Americans and others see this as a unique time in history. The extraordinary policies of Gorbachev, Yeltsin, Havel, Walesa, and other heroes behind the Iron Curtain have made it possible for our historic commitment to democracy to prevail. But new freedom has been tempered with violence. In Eastern Europe and in other lands. We are now the only superpower, but we Americans do not feel triumphant, because neither we nor the people of other nations have realized our hopes for a new era of peace, the alleviation of suffering, or sustainable development. There are now 35 major wars in the world, the most in history. The suffering in these civil conflicts is indescribable, and largely ignored in the industrialized nations. The world cries out for peaceful resolution of conflict, but our country is seen as more warlike than peace-loving. We celebrated a great victory over tiny Grenada, and later invaded Panama, where hundreds of our friends were killed. We promoted and financed the Contra War that caused 35,000 casualties in Nicaragua. There are even second thoughts about the Gulf War, where Saddam Hussein still reigns supreme in Iraq, Kuwait is no closer to democracy, and the Kurds and other refugees endure terrible hardship. We American taxpayers now hear that we helped to finance the Iraqi War machine, both before and after the invasion of Kuwait. In none of these cases was Camp David or any other venue used to avoid conflict. Our country should seek greatness in peace, not war. All nations share our concern about the environment. Two months ago I was in Japan, working with leaders from every continent to prepare for the Earth Summit. There were hopes of success, but later, in Rio de Janeiro, we saw America embarrassed as other nations marshaled international forces for our collective well being. While our country stood out as the primary obstacle to a better world. This has got to change. The world is concerned about nuclear proliferation. Here again, the United States is the major obstacle to a worldwide comprehensive test ban. Our threats against Pakistan, North Korea, Iraq, and Libya have a somewhat hollow ring when our western deserts still shake with nuclear explosions. At the Carter Center we work with victims of oppression, and give support to human rights heroes. They all watch America, which used to set the most vivid standards of equality and h ope for minorities and for women. Lately, however, it seems that the forces of our own Justice Department and right-wing federal judges are in opposition to the basic rights of those who are oppressed. America should be the champion of civil rights at home and human rights throughout the world. The gap between rich and poor Americans has reached an all time high. A dwindling number of our neighbors have adequate health care, decent houses, job opportunities, safety in their home and streets, or hope for the future. The situation is getting worse. With federal funding slashed to the bone, there are now almost 10 times as many homeless people in Atlanta, Georgia, as there were when I left the White House. Violent crimes among juveniles have increased 300 percent in just the last five years. Their lack of hope for a better life seems to be equaled among America's leaders. Those in the White House, the Congress, governor's mansions, mayor's offices, corporate boardrooms, and university campuses have also come to doubt that anything they do can make a difference. I do not believe that the hopelessness is justified. I am increasingly concerned about the plight of families in our inner cities. We at the Carter Center have embarked on what we call the Atlanta Project. We want to prove that somewhere in God's world the suffering can be alleviated. We are marshaling public and private resources into a coordinated team, and giving maximum control of this effort to the people in need. Now, Atlanta is a wonderful city, prosperous, progressive, and blessed with good race relations. But there are two Atlantas. I've been governor and president of these same Georgia neighbors, but my recent visits among them have been an education for me. I have learned why many pregnant women will not seek prenatal care, why one-fourth of public housing apartments are boarded up and unused despite a long waiting list for occupancy. I've visited a middle school where the primary problem with young boys is that their measure of success is to own a semiautomatic weapon. I learned that the pregnancy rate was highest in the lower grades, because the pimps and drug pushers prefer sex with the little girls, who are cheaper, less able to defend themselves, and less likely to have AIDS. I've visited hut villages with homes the size of mini-buses, where one resident was teaching others to read, another had helped his neighbors build their houses. And they rotated the boiling of water from the street sewers and then shared it equally with the other families. They were not furnished running water or portable toilets, in hopes that they would move out of the neighborhood. This is a great city in America, not the slums of Haiti, Bangladesh, or Uganda. This has got to change. There are some who justify the harsh lives of the poor with claims that they are lazy, lack ambition, or care little about family values. These statements are false, either based on ignorance, on racism, or are deliberate attempts to divide Americans one from another for political gain. Rosalynn and I have gotten to know these poor people personally, both in the Atlanta Project and where volunteers work with families to build their decent homes. Given a chance for a better life, we find them to be just as ambitious, just as willing to work, and just as concerned about their children and grandchildren as we are. Within two weeks after moving into a new house, families that have not had high school graduates in three generations are choosing college for their children to attend. We Americans are proud of our country - the greatness of our achievements and the nobility of our ideals. But we have lost confidence in leaders, both Democrats and Republicans, whose goals are not clear or noble. And often seem to be shaped by political expediency and based on yesterday's public opinion polls. There is little evidence of cooperation in Washington as we struggle with domestic crises. The persistent underestimation of our citizens helps to explain why Americans are concerned about the future and alienated from the political system. But it is not the system that is at fault. With new leadership in Washington, confidence in our government can be restored. It is possible for the White House and Congress to work as a team. Sound budgets can be evolved. Our leaders can be truthful. Our nation can exalt peace as more noble than war. America can be the world's champion of human rights, of global environment, and nuclear non-proliferation. We can, once again, be the nation of freedom, progress, and hope - if we have a change in Washington. There is only one voice that can speak for America clearly and with conviction: The one from the White House. Our people will never forget the inspirational phrases of Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy - and the simple words of Harry Truman. Despite past differences, the president and Congress joined hands to address basic issues. We even welcomed sacrifice when we were asked as a united people to strive together for common goals. Americans represent every country on earth, different in language, religion, custom, and family values. But we are united as practical dreamers, who share common ideals of freedom. With good leadership, we can overcome any obstacle to reach our goals. Democrats have made a wise choice this year that can bring the needed change. I've known Bill Clinton for more than 15 years, as a friend and a fine governor - voted by his peers as the best of them all. This year he has endured - and survived - the false and misleading political attacks on his character. He is a man of honesty and integrity. He is the only candidate who can unite our government, heal our nation's wounds, face facts with courage, and marshal the American people to face a difficult future with hope and confidence. Knowing him well, Rosalynn and I were proud to vote for him in the Georgia primary, and we will work with President Bill Clinton when he is in the White House. ----------- End of text ------ Carter, 7/14/92 p.m. -------------------