Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis by Jimmy Carter
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Book Reviews of Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis
Book Review: A Respected Christian Gives our Nation a Much Needed Warning
Summary: 5 Stars
In this very readable, wide-ranging and meaty book, Ex-President Jimmy Carter, ruminates, and worries about the erosion of American values as the erosion continue to sink the nation into the quick sand of arrogant, corrupt, mean-spirited, short-sighted and politically motivated partisan leadership as practiced by both the present conservative government and current fundamentalist's Church leaders.
Taking on his own Baptist church and the Bush administration as the first and most obvious test case, Carter expresses more than just a little impatience with the self-righteous and arrogant hypocrisy of those who feel like their mere alignment with God is sufficient to make them and their beliefs "superior and right," and everyone else's "inferior and wrong." He notes that it was this very same set of attitudes, that forged an unholy marriage between church and state during the century of racial discrimination.
His present concern is that there are still those who want this marriage to continue to work and are busy using its license to twist our nation's morality and ideals into a narrow-minded channel where the "self-appointed, self-anointed, and self-selected "chosen few" can continue to ply their proven Neanderthalian brand of witchcraft in the name of "the lord" -- and do so in the post-Modern world.
The problem that worries Carter most is that this kind of "unholy mischief" has been raised to a whole new level, and has been expanded well beyond race and now infects both the church and our government at the highest levels -- so much so that it has begun to tear at the very foundation of the nation's institution, and is beginning to destabilize it at its very moral core.
Once a nation of freedom, equality, tolerance, peace and the last resort defenders of human rights everywhere - all qualities Jesus would have admired -- America has now become the nation that stifles freedoms at the slightest pretext, rolls back equality, practices "progress through war," and thumbs its nose at human rights.
The ex-President and devout Christian has a long list of the new anti-American evils being committed in the name of permanently welding God and country into a single potent unit despite that doing so would violate the very Constitution these pseudo-patriots and crypto-religionists profess to love and uphold.
That all true patriots are now beginning to see the outlines of their dirty work and have begun to sing from the same sheet of music should worry not just President Carter, but us all.
Five Stars.
Book Review: Our Endangered Values
Summary: 5 Stars
I agree with those reviewers who think all Americans should read this book. Since leaving the White House with a rather dismal accomplishment record, Jimmy Carter has established himself as the sage of Plains and a much sought after public figure. His work with Habitat for Humanity and the establishment of the Carter Center have brought much good to the world.
This book is a testimony to a man whose views speak of common sense and offers alarming insight into many problems facing modern day America. Many of these problems America has either created or helped bring upon itself. We are a people willing to allow our leaders to misguide us and who are often unaware that soe of the problems even exist. Both Democrats and Republicans share the blame, but recent White House leadership shoulders much of the responsibility for America's loss of status as a true leader in the world.
Our nation cannot "lead" just because we have bigger and more guns than anyone else. Iraqi insurgents are proving this to be true. We cannot lead if we fail to recognize the world is heading in one direction and we another. We cannot lead if our people do not realize fewer and fewer nations look up to us as champions of our own beliefs. We are not leaders if we fail to recognize "all men are created equal" or that there is only one God of all, not a separate God for America and another for everyone else.
Carter tries to show how his Christianity is in part responsible for our deplorable image in the developing world. The SOuthern Baptist Convention has hijacked American policy and ethics and corruted our image from campaigns if misinformation and the joining of church and state. Carter seeks a new course for his religion and the country in general. Unfortunately, he misses one point in his belief that if America just change its ways we may once again be the true leader of the world. He fails to understand that many countries do not want us to be their leader and will do anything to prevent it.
But still this is a well written and well thought out book. I found myself in either full or partial agreement with Carter on many of his points. He truely is an idol many should and could look up to if they only would take the time to read this and other works by Carter. He's the perfect example of how an ex-president should conduct himself. The is just simply a very, very good book.
Book Review: Carter lays out America's responsibility
Summary: 5 Stars
Former President Jimmy Carter writes from the heart and from his personal Christian upbringing regarding America's eroding values. As a Bible Teacher, he relates Biblical scripture to show what he feels is the way in correcting these failures. The way to correct this he explains is the same for Governments as individuals and that is by living the 'Golden Rule'..charity, benevolence, kindness, love. His arguments are directed at Government leaders, as well as the private sector, and do carry alot of validity. There are areas where our foreign policies have failed miserably and need addressing. Our environmental failures are numerous and the continual reliance on Dino fuel is raising some glaring questions. Corporate greed and the huge income disparity between the rich and poor is certainly creating problems. Morality is under fire and the more a nation becomes immoral the less it is able to defend itself. Jimmy Carter shines the spot light and gives much to think about. The consequences of these issues are not pleasant to think about and the difficult questions of what to do run foremost in the mind. American with all its' rights and values holds a unique position on the World's stage. The Constitution stands as the greatest safeguard for human rights. The importance of our Government setting correct policies for its' own citizens as well as to the World can't be over estimated. We really do need to keep a close eye on our elected officials. Carter feels that Government, with the help of the private sector, can do alot better than what is currently being done.
This book can be read in one sitting and some of the area are lightly skimmed over and could have used more analysis. I particularly enjoyed his personal insights and some of his interesting relationships with foreign leaders. Jimmy Carter is one individual that deserves respect for his integrity to his religious principles and for what his Center has done by way of helping diseased Countries. By using bipartisanship, and avoiding the problems of party politics, Carter hopes to pull America back from the edge. I found myself not agreeing with everything in here, but it is still a book worth reading and thinking about.
Book Review: This book is a must read
Summary: 5 Stars
President Carter is a truly insightful, intelligent, articulate man. I am a huge fan the man, so I may be a bit biased in my review.
With this admission, I would strongly recommend this book. So often "values" boil down to one or two hot button issues. President Carter broadens the discussion. This books discusses what are the true values of Americans and Christians.
If more of us had the understanding of President Carter the world would be a much better place. If the current administration had Carter's insights the United States would not be in the situation we are in.
Book Review: Not What You Think
Summary: 5 Stars
A frequent comment made in many reviews (all excellent, it seems to me) is, "It's not what you think." I have great regard for Jimmy Carter, but the book's title "put me off." Finally, however, with the frequency with which the reviews praised it, I thought that I must give it a try. And surprise: "It's Not What You Think." Do read it; you'll be pleasantly surprised.