Politics and religion aside - today I saw President Jimmy Carter at the Sunday School he teaches

[Sarah Ibarruri]

I had wanted to visit President Carter ever since I first heard he lived in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, and that he taught Sunday School at his church in Plains, which many people visit. (Sometimes it's so packed they have to put the overflow in another room and broadcast the teaching).

Well worth it. He's so much like every man, only brilliant and with an incredible memory. Doing great at 84. Sharp!

The whole area is old and preserved, two towns (Americus and Plains) old as they were during his childhood years. Antique shops all over. Restaurants with home cooking. A gorgeous old hotel in Americus that is probably haunted. (I always imagine these places are).

Anyway, a trip I'd recommend for everyone, but don't go without first contacting the church for the dates he teaches. He is not only active in Habitat for Humanity abroad and flies out constantly, but he's also involved in many other projects abroad, so he's often not in Plains.

His boyhood home, farm, his family's store, the outhouse are all still there preserved, and furnished. The high school where he and Rosalyn fell in love has been turned into a museum - so fascinating! Downtown Plains is just 4 stores, one of which is a souvenir store and another is a tiny hotel. That and 1 home cooking restaurant in Plains, and not much else. Oh yes, and secret service but they're not bothersome.

:hi:

[ShenandoahAspen]

1. Carter is an example of a great Christian.

He really makes me proud to be one. I only wish I had been alive during his Presidency (born two months into Ray-gun's first term).

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. He's amazing! For example....

... I'm not into all that Sunday school stuff, but he teaches so well, is so interesting and teaches in such an interesting manner (the man is brilliant), that it was even fascinating for me.

He talked about peace, the Southern Baptist Convention, the Middle East, and the Bible book called Numbers.

Oh, and he and Rosalyn hold hands after Sunday School and the service, and pose for pictures for all visitors, so the visitors can go home with a photo.

[DollyM]

3. Carter has really shone after he left office . . .

Sad to say but he really has done more good after he left office. I think that family kind of works that way though, what was his mother when she joined the Peace Core, in her 7o's or 80's I believe. They are just "late bloomers" in that family but when they bloom, they are amazing. Better late than never I say.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

5. There are plenty of writings about what Republicans did during his administration....

... to trash his administration. Meanwhile, if you compare his administration to any Repuke administration, he did, of course, much much better.

There was a full-fledged attempt to discredit him from the beginning. I forget which book discusses that in detail, but the sad, sad thing is that we all jumped on the Repugnican bandwagon of discrediting President Carter and kept repeating after the Repukes, "yes! yes, you Republicans are right!"

Sad when we Democrats join forces with Repugs.

[Stardust]

12. Who's this "we all" you're taking about. I've greatly admired Carter

since he appeared on the national political scene. I never once discredited him and I'm sure I'm not alone.

[havocmom]

8. Always figured 'President of USA' was just something he needed on his resume

so he could get his real life's work done. Read, shortly after he was out of office, that he had a lot of really gifted scientists and technicians who specialized in particular area's of the world. He could get into the door of various national leaders, make the case for how they could help feed their people. When Carter had them really listening, he could call the team in off the plane to come in and get the specifics to the people who could help locally.

Not a bad gig.

Great man, Jimmy Carter. Possibly one of the greatest of our age (if not THE greatest) President was just a way to get in position to really make a difference. He is too smart a man to have ever though the D.C. establishment would really let him do anything there to make real impact.

But he gave this nation some hope and honor back after the war in Southeast Asia and all the lies of the previous decade.

The fact that he finally felt compelled to leave the church he had been a member of all his life, because they had gone so far off the track says a lot about the Fundy Pol/Church partnership promoted by people like Falwell.

Jimmy Carter, and his lovely, kindly wife, Rosalynn have been a candle in the window for millions. Barack and Michelle Obama seem to be moving that message along rather well. I truly hope we, as a people, rise to their standard and earn the right to stand with them through good works.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

11. He's become one of my most admired men now that I've seen him....

I liked him before but now I'm totally AMAZED!

[DaveinJapan]

16. No worries, it was a crappy time for pretty much everyone

gas shortages, stress, hostages in Iran, and Carter the dour and sour President giving speeches that depressed everyone in their living rooms.

I wouldn't want to relive it, never mind regret being around.

Carter IS a great American, I would say, but as President he was uninspired to say the least.

[madokie]

17. He makes me proud to be an American

and I'm a non-religious person too, I say to each his own. But I was reading the other day that President Carter had parted ways with his old church, the Southern Baptist. I was raised in a Southern Baptist atmosphere, in fact the church my dad started and built back in the early '50s is still there and still having services today, or yesterday that is.

[ClayZ]

4. Oh, that sounds wonderful!

I want to go!

[Sarah Ibarruri]

7. Do go. You'll come back changed and amazed. OH and everything is free....

The boyhood home, farm, Sunday School, the visit to the Plains High School museum, etc. are all FREE. No charge at all. An amazing experience. Very awesome. Even the gorgeous 1800s hotel I keep saying is haunted, can be toured for free.

[madrchsod]

6. the best president we have ever had after he left office

when people want an example of a true believer in christ`s message, they need to go no futher than jimmy carter.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

10. If you get a chance to visit Plains, I promise you won't be disappointed....

He impressed me and like I said, I'm not a churchy type of person. :D

He relates the message of Christ to peace, explains why churches are often not teaching this message. He gave a summary, question and answer of the history of the Old Testament (since there were people there who didn't know much, like me), then he went into the teaching of the day which was very interesting!

[Laelth]

9. k&r for James Earl Carter, Jr. He continues to make me proud of my home. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[crikkett]

13. Cool. I thought he had quit the church over its stance against women's equality. n/t

[Bill McBlueState]

14. He left the Southern Baptist Convention

A quick search of the website of the church where he teaches reveals no institutional connection to the SBC.

[goclark]

15. I admire him so much nt