Our Endangered Values: America s Moral Crisis
Book Reviewed
by James M. Dunn,
Professor of Christianity and Public Policy Wake Forest University Divinity School
Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis.
by Jimmy Carter,
(New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005).
Miz Lillian," President Carter`s mother dutifully but cordially met a reporter at her front door. Jimmy
was running for President, telling Americans, "I`ll never lie to you."
The reporter, some sort of Yankee, tested mother Carter`s patience. "Hasn`t Jimmy Carter ever lied," he asked.
Oh, maybe little white lies," Mrs. Carter responded. "What`s a white lie?" he pushed.
"Oh, you know," she said, "like the one I told when I greeted you just now: `It`s so good to see you.`"
"Jimmy Carter telling the truth" might suffice for a review of this book. That says it.
Yet, facts, the truth, unknown or at least undigested by most folks, shock and surprise when set out so simply, clearly, and matter-of-factly. With calm courage Jimmy Carter surveys the damage done by political and religious fundamentalism.
Why is Mr. Carter`s detailed indictment so hard for many Americans to believe? Several factors obtain. The electorate is invincibly, dumbfoundingly ignorant! When it comes to elementary civics, government, politics, economics, world affairs, and even geography, "we the people" know more about The Simpsons and American Idol than we know about our civic duties. (Really, check it out) Then, the reports of national media are watered down andcolored by the corporate owners of those outlets.
There is no Walter Cronkite anymore. Both political parties are so dependent upon campaign contributions of the rich and powerful, so besieged by lobbyists (more that 80 for every member of Congress), it`s hard to govern. Finally, the fact that one party rules all three branches of government has occasioned remarkable abuse—ignoring time limits on votes, failing to have hearings on proposed legislation, banning the minority in conference committees. etc. ad nauseam.
Whatever has endangered our values, it is high time that every American who can read, read Jimmy Carter telling the truth. If one cannot read, have it read to him or her.
Wise man, Garry Wills, is right in his assessment of Carter`s perspective. He says, "Carter is an old fashioned Baptist, the kind that follows the lead of the great Baptist Roger Williams—that is, he is the firmest of believers in the separation of church and state." Wills goes on, however, to escape the pitfalls of unbelieving secularism and fanatical fundamentalism, in interpreting Jimmy Carter.
"None of us," says Wills in the New Your Review of Books, professes a separation of morality and politics." Wills and Carter affirm that believers "derive many if not most of their moral insights from their beliefs, they must mingle religion and politics, without equating the two."
Exactly right—mingle without merging!
This veteran participant observer of religion and politics is struck with the accuracy of Mr. Carter`s analyses.
He begins with an affirmation of his own life-shaping faith (16-29). It is biblical in the best sense: it relies on biblical authority, is formed by an experience of God`s grace, knows the leadership of the Holy Spirit, is tested by the fellowship of believers, cares about sharing the good news, and practices a stewardship of influence and resources.
Here is a brilliant, worldly man who is not simply on some spiritual "head trip." He makes it clear that current fundamentalism is an alternative set of beliefs to biblical Christianity. The dead letter of the law distances fundamentalism from vital faith. Carter observes that fundamentalists often have some sort of sex problem or collective insecurity that calls forth a focus on abortion, pornography, homosexuality, and other remotely related issues (65-68).
He sets out a compelling case against capital punishment. "Since you have violated `thou shalt not kill,` I`ll just kill you" (79-85).
His eloquent appeal for human rights is frightening in his descriptions of bloody abuses around the world (116- 133). He points out the absurdity of a failed but budget-busting "Star Wars" missile defense.
He graphically pictures a "war on terror" that has become history`s greatest terror producing war. He goes on to make a strong case for universal health care, the environment (164-177), gun control, and checks on ram pant militarism. Boldly he clocks some of the most irresponsible, counterproductive, and incompetent acts of the present administration. Hear him. He has been there.
The frequent and insightful stories and illustrations from Mr. Carter`s own experience are a treasure. The reader is fortunate, indeed, to have this eye-witness-account. Jimmy Carter`s words have added weight because of his meaningful, giving life.
Carter`s book incarnates the very name of this journal: Christian Ethics Today. What a survey! I always say: "I`m a Jimmy Carter, Bill Moyers, Barbara Jordan Baptist." How about you?
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