Jimmy Carter, Man Ahead of His Time

New Series

I continue reading Jimmy Carter's White House Diary, an amazing look behind the scenes at a President's daily life.  There are many passages from this book which I see as important, even newsworthy.  While I don't agree with every initiative of Mr. Carter (the handling of deregulation comes to mind), I see Jimmy Carter as a man more of the 21st Century than the 20th.  

Today, I begin a new series highlighting key passages from this book, and offering side comments.  Today's excerpt concerns the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) which failed to gain approval of the necessary states. I'm not sure Jimmy Carter is exactly the last word on the role of women in culture, but his comment about the ERA is priceless, and valuable now.

The ultimate rejection of the amendment [ERA] to our Constitution was a great disappointment for Rosalynn and me, since we had supported it actively while I was governor and president.  Despite widespread public support for granting American women equal rights with men, some church leaders -- Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim -- opposed the amendment.  By exerting their influence, they probably made the difference.  The discrimination by male religious authorities, who erroneously claim it is the will of God, is one of the root causes of the worldwide abuse of women and girls.  

                                                                                      --  White House Diary, p. 254.