Jimmy’s legacy will forever guide Ukraine
He will always remind us that freedom, democracy, and human rights are values worth to fight for
In the last three years, Russia has taken many things from us Ukrainians, but so far, it has not been able to take away our intuition. Especially that sharp instinct of sensing who people truly are—their intentions, and the essence of those we deal with or reference.
Without knowing much about President Jimmy Carter—particularly since I was born six years after he left office—I’ve always had the best impressions of this great man who, sadly, left us yesterday. Somehow, my intuition about Jimmy was right.
I’ve always admired this kind man who completed his journey of one hundred years of life just hours ago. Even before diving deeper into his legacy, the fact that he wasn’t re-elected never struck me as a sign of weakness. Instead, it gave me a feeling of distinguished honesty.
A feeling that he was different from the average politician. For some reason, he didn’t seem to me to partake in the usual power games. He was someone courageous enough to stand by his values, choosing to remain firm against the pressures of the powerful interests that govern our nations and the world—interests that rarely align with the needs of ordinary people like most of us.
Maybe it was something in his manners or his politeness. His gestures always seemed true, sincere, and unforced. He smiled so frequently, something we don’t usually expect from someone holding one of the most challenging jobs in the world. In my innocent mind, I wondered: "how can someone relax and smile if they can’t sleep?"
When we examine the facts and his legacy, we not only confirm those feelings but also discover a moral leader for all time.
From his tenure in office to his life beyond it, he will always be remembered for his displays of courage, kindness, reason, physical and emotional energy, and, above all, an unwavering commitment to fundamental values: freedom, democracy, human rights, and the necessity of listening to those without a strong voice.
When we reflect on today’s political landscape and the distance we’ve traveled in these 40 or so years, it’s heartbreaking to see the abyss we’ve fallen into—especially when considering the politicians our nations now choose.
It’s not just politics. So many aspects of our societies have become fractured, with radicalized positions fueling conflict across the globe: in our families, cities, countries, and every continent. These divisions extend not only on the Middle East or other regions that dominate the news headlines.
Not only in this corner of the planet where I stand, from where I witness so much resilience and the commitment to the right of living according to our fundamental values.
These are the same values Jimmy Carter dedicated his life to defending—the same values for which millions of Ukrainians continue to fight and, tragically, for which many pay the ultimate price.
That’s why Ukraine honors the legacy of Jimmy Carter today. He is a guiding light for us, a symbol of what is worth fighting for, and a reminder that politics, when used for good, is the most powerful tool we have as a civilization.
Inspired by his legacy, we will fight for justice wherever it’s needed, for as long as we can, with everything we have.
Thank you, Jimmy.
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God Bless Jimmy Carter and God Bless President Zelenski and the people of Ukraine! Peace
Thank you for the homage you wrote for President Jimmy Carter. He may not have been flashy or garnered hysteria with his presence, but he did what he could fairly for “the people” honestly and with caring. We, the world, need leaders like him and I pray we cherish them when they are with us.