Essential Estrogen

There are times, I think, when providing information to readers in the fastest way possible is the best route. Today was not one of those times. When the subject to be covered is extremely complex or invokes strong emotion it must lend itself to more thoughtful reporting.

Shannon Thomas, president of the University Lecture Committee which brought former President Jimmy Carter to Iowa City, said she hoped the day would “provoke thoughts and actions” which would lend to “peaceful activism.” To that end, I believe I’d be doing you a disservice if I provided a blow-by-blow running commentary as if I were attending a basketball game.

Throughout the evening I was personally most surprised by the conversational quality of Pres. Carter’s speech. I’d grown so accustomed to the deliberate stammering speeches delivered by Pres. Clinton and perfected by Pres. Bush that I’d forgotten what it sounded like when applause stopped a speech. His speech clocked at roughly 30 minutes and was stopped 19 times for applause. (The question and answer period which followed was also roughly 30 minutes and led to 13 more instances of applause.)

Another very heartening aspect of the evening was to watch as Carter and his supporters from so many years ago were reunited. While I was not one of the original Iowans from that time, I was able to meet with others like myself who had their first Presidential political experience with then Gov. Carter.

The third compelling thing about the evening was the protesting. Actually, I’d be more correct to say the most compelling thing was the crowd’s reaction to the protestors who passed out literature outside the venues. While I watched – and I did make a point of observing outside of Carver before the main public show – there were no incidents between those going inside to hear the lecture and those outside passing literature. I’m very happy to say that more than half of those handed literature outside of the venue turned and verbally thanked the person for it. Afterward some put the paper in a pocket or bag… a few others dropped it in nearby trash cans.

As for "Palestine: Peace Not Aparthaid" the book itself, like the speaker, is conversationally appealing. It reads just as Carter speaks, direct and simple. For all of its complex subject matter, the book is delightfully easy to read.

While I make no premise as to my understanding of Israeli and Palestinian relations (because I have very little), I do find it difficult to believe that Pres. Carter has done something out of line by writing this book.

First, during his lecture, Carter insisted that for there to be peace in the region, the United States “must once again assume the role of honest broker.” That is, Carter believes we must have leaders in our Federal government who are not perceived as offering preferential treatment to either party.

Second, Carter’s own faith background requires him to lift up and protect Israel. Throughout the lecture, he gave voice to his wishes for a “peaceful and secure” Israel built on “justice and righteousness.” At one point he said that current policies are “leading toward an immoral outcome.”

Finally, it would make no sense for a man who built his public life on human rights and possible peace in the Middle East to toss away what he himself perceives as his legacy and/or gift to leave the world.

At the end of the night, however, the book summary provided by Carter – and that’s really all his rehearsed remarks amounted to – was not what people discussed on the way out of Carver Hawkeye Arena. The substance of the night for many, it seems, came as a part of the question and answer session.

“The United States government should raise high the banner of human rights instead of being branded as the perpetrator of Abu Ghraib prison,” said Carter in one of his more direct blows to the Bush administration.

From faith-based initiatives to energy independence to Katrina to current racial tensions to the lack of military service within the ranks of the current administration, Carter left few sore spots untouched.

As those in attendance made their way up from the seats, around the arena and into the parking lots, one phrase from the question and answer period was quoted repeatedly: “Any change in the existing policies would be an improvement.”

While this particular sentence was stated by Carter before he went into a more lengthy answer about energy conservation and independence, it seemed to be the primary mantra of the evening for many.