Jimmy Carter interview with Der Spiegel

[Regis Philbin]

Good grief... :rolleye2:

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,431793,00.html

[pinky]

I didn't see anything in there that I couldn't agree with. To me, the most important point was this:You never can be certain in advance that negotiations on difficult circumstances will be successful, but you can be certain in advance if you don't negotiate that your problem is going to continue and maybe even get worse.Too bad Junior only wants to take his bat and ball and go home.

[Annoyedlistner]

Carter: The fundamentalists believe they have a unique relationship with God, and that they and their ideas are God's ideas and God's premises on the particular issue. Therefore, by definition since they are speaking for God anyone who disagrees with them is inherently wrong. And the next step is: Those who disagree with them are inherently inferior, and in extreme cases -- as is the case with some fundamentalists around the world -- it makes your opponents sub-humans, so that their lives are not significant. Another thing is that a fundamentalist can't bring himself or herself to negotiate with people who disagree with them because the negotiating process itself is an indication of implied equality. And so this administration, for instance, has a policy of just refusing to talk to someone who is in strong disagreement with them -- which is also a radical departure from past history. So these are the kinds of things that cause me concern. And, of course, fundamentalists don't believe they can make mistakes, so when we permit the torture of prisoners in Guantanamo or Abu Ghraib, it's just impossible for a fundamentalist to admit that a mistake was made.

this really stuck out at me.

[pinky]

Me, too. Notice that he mentioned "fundamentalists around the world." As in, not just Americans.

[lions1mew]

Jimmy Carter is a true American, decent, thoughtful, kind, compassionate and very truthful in his views about what is going on in the country and the world. Bless his huge heart for helping people less fortunate than himself and continuing to speak out about what he believes is wrong.

He hit the nail on the head about fundamentalists. ALL of them, no matter what religion, are closed-minded, stubborn and dangerous.

It amazes me about Cuba. Why do we deal with Communist China and ignore Cuba? Because of something that occurred over 40 years ago? Wake up and realize that ALL people have a right to govern THEMSELVES. We can't be the political conscience of every living being on the planet. We have enough problems HERE at home that need to be dealt with first.

[pinky]

We refuse to deal with Cuba less for anything that happened 40 years ago than for securing the Cuban vote in Florida.

[Richard Tafoya]

Me, too. Notice that he mentioned "fundamentalists around the world." As in, not just Americans.
Religious fanaticism aligned with any faith is a threat to the peace of the world.

[Paulie]

Good grief... :rolleye2:

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,431793,00.html

I can't blame you for rolling your eyes over this, Regis. After all, Jimmy Carter came across as an intelligent, worldwise, well-spoken, open-minded, caring person who believes we should focus on what we have in common and try to work together to improve this world.

You're used to the egocentric, unintelligent, unilateral, failed leadership coming out of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW since January 20, 2001.

I can see where you'd be overwhelmed by the difference.

Paulie

[Paulie]

Oh, and may I add...

Jimmy Carter continues to add to his legacy as THE most influential former president in our history. What he has done, and continues to do, since the end of his presidency is amazing.

Paulie

[DoubleEdgeSword]

If you haven't read Jimmy Carter's book, Our Endangered Values, pick it up. Brilliant. But Richie, don't bother. It would just confuse you and drive you to madness.

[pinky]

Short trip.