Carter Deserves Better Than He Receives

Letter

Carter Deserves Better Than He Receives

, May 2, 2008

Re: Carter's Crusade for Peace Sows Seeds of Hope in Middle East

To the Editor:

Your article about Jimmy Carter was thorough and provocative. It's difficult for me to understand those who revile him for his efforts. As you pointed out, he's done more for Israel than anyone (Camp David), and now he seems at risk for accusations of bigotry! This astonishes me … the man was simply trying to accomplish a task that the State Department can't handle.

Although I'm no fan of Hamas, the group was democratically elected and must be included in peace negotiations. That Bush, Cheney, Condi, and our presidential candidates aren't able to comprehend this does not speak well for them.

Carter sympathizes with the plight of the Palestinians, and who can blame him? Are all humanitarians going to be labeled anti-Semites simply because they feel sorry for a people who are deprived of the basic necessities for living? Or because they don't believe in the goals of a "Greater Israel"? Can there be no discussion of this issue?

I, for one, find the situation heartbreaking, and the more coverage Jimmy Carter and his brave venture receive, the better off all of us will be.

Mary Coddington
Washington, D.C., April 25, 2008