Bob Cramer's Blog

With all the people dressed in suits walking on the Galloway campus on a spring-like morning in February, either the school had a radical makeover of its dress policy or something special was to happen.  The latter turned out to be the case with a former President of the United States set to be the fourth presenter in an incredibly impressive Galloway School Speaker Series, already having featured famed education reformer Michelle Rhee, living baseball legend Hank Aaron and our hometown media mogul Ted Turner.  Adding Jimmy Carter to the list raised the bar to incredible heights, forcing one to wonder where the Series goes from here: a sitting President perhaps, the Pope, or if we should be so lucky, the all present Justin Bieber.

With a cadre of at least 10 secret service agents and local support from the Atlanta police force, a safe and secure Galloway community united in the packed school gym full of students, parents, faculty and neighborhood guests to get a direct update from Mr. Carter on the work of the Carter Center.   Before taking the audience on an eye opening and gut checking tour of some horrific diseases facing people around the world, the audience was treated to a warm, touching and humorous introduction of Mr. Carter by his grandson, James Carter IV, a 1995 Galloway school graduate.  Noting that the school community was celebrating “fearlessness” this year, the young Mr. Carter recounted that he was exhibiting some of these qualities just being up there at the podium as in second grade he had given an oral report from underneath his desk. 

In his remarks, the President shared insights into a world totally unfamiliar to most of the audience.  Not mincing words, and providing at times extremely graphic descriptions of diseases’ impact, Mr. Carter talked of the Carter Center’s role in ridding entire villages and countries of Guinea Worm, Tracoma and Elephantiasis, three absolutely horrible conditions that with creativity, planning and resources can largely be eradicated.   Such steps include latrine building, the use of bed netting and access to known medicines, all on a massive scale: 1.5 million latrines have been built, 20 million bed nets have been provided and Merck and other drug companies have contributed millions of free pills, he said.  Mr. Carter also highlighted the complexity of getting resources to disease-impacted areas and the various ways he has used his influence to help government open access and open minds to curing these curable conditions.

Further, Mr. Carter shared thoughts about the conflict resolution work done through the Carter Center, leading to free elections in 34 countries, and in certain instances, helping to create brand new countries like in South Sudan.  He talked about his proudest accomplishments from serving in the White House, noting the strength and sustainability of the Camp David peace accords, even with the recent government shake up in Egypt.  He recounted his work in the tenuous Korean peninsula and pro-democracy changes he helped achieve in the Latin America.  He shared lessons that he learned from Admiral Rickover when he served in the Navy and told wonderful stories about his mother, Lillian, and growing up outside of Plains, GA, a community of 636 people and 11 churches. 

In closing, Mr. Carter spoke directly to Galloway students and all students everywhere to “make our nation a superpower”.  Not the superpower we normally think of “with a military that spends more than the next 20 countries combined”, but a superpower focused on “peace, justice, freedom, humility, service, forgiveness, compassion and love.”  He reminded us to not underestimate the qualities of people in impoverished lands as they are just like us in intellect and aspiration, and to work to insure that the “poorest people on earth have a rich life.”

With that, Mr. Carter was off to hear a song from early learning students, attend an award ceremony that evening, and a full slate of travel and projects in the weeks, months and years ahead.  His trademark smile in tack and the fortune of good health,  boundless energy and full-time Secret Service protection, Mr. Carter undoubtedly will continue to serve, lead and let his views be known; quite a man, quite a role model, not only for each of us but for the world.