Jimmy Carter...

This morning, we had an early breakfast because Jimmy Carter was signing his new book Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis at the book store and he wanted to address the Corps and eat with us.

He entered and there was a fanfare and some other pomp associated with former Presidents and then he spoke to us breifly. As soon as possible, I threw on my jacket and bolted out of the messhall to get to the bookstore as I have a second hour class and had to be at the front of the line in order to get him to sign in time to make class. When I got there, I was the second cadet...but there were about thirty officers (most of whom are teachers here) all of whom had three or more books. One had ten in her hands...bitch.

When I finally got to the head of the line, President Carter said, "Thanks for coming down," and gave me a very genuine smile and some man with a camera took a picture of me.
I look forward to reading this book as I've read some of his others. This one, it seems, is far more political than any other, with chapter titles like, "Worshiping the Prince of Peace, or Preemptive War?" "Attacking Terrorism, Not Human Rights?" "Would Jesus Approve Abortions and the Death Penalty?" and "The Distortion of American Foreign Policy."

Sure, he wasn't the greatest modern President, but his character is unimpugnable. Moreover, it's nice to hear a religious point of view that is tempered with common sense, history and faith instead of dogma.