July 28, 2008 - 10:56 PM.

James Earl Carter Jr.

I am reading a book published 10 years ago by Douglas Brinkley, "The Unfinished Presidency," about Jimmy Carter during the years 1980-1997. So inspiring.

I've always rather idolized the 39th US President; he's well famous within his own country for his work building homes for those in need through Habitat for Humanity, etc. But apparently he has done, and still does at age 85, so much more -- spearheading efforts to completely eradicate various tropical diseases, championing human rights everywhere, monitoring elections on site, mentoring elected leaders in countries where democracy is struggling to take root.

In a single decade he was personally responsible for the release of well over 50,000 political prisoners just by writing letters (persistently in some cases) to other world leaders and asking them to let people go.

After reading in this heavy book each day, I get up and run around my house working like a woman possessed. I can't be lazy in the face of the efforts of this little peanut farmer to save the very soul of the world.

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