The more I read about this man, the more I find out just how much human misery has come about as a result of his actions. This brings me to my question: Why do people gush over this man? I am thinking about doing a 15 part series on the dictators who Carter has sidled up to. Disturbingly, many (left leaning) Christians point to this man as some model of compassion in leadership. I would suggest that this man's compassion (as best as I can define means talking nicely to dictators) is based on political ideological grounds that have been baptized as Christian.
Today, I point to Robert Mugabe a man of blood lust power. Did you know that Jimmy Carter and Andrew Young (UN Ambassador for the USA) supported this guy? Indeed, the elected moderate Bishop Muzorewa was seen as a Western stooge and a vestige of colonial rule even though he was duly elected in a free election. But because the Soviet and China funded and armed generals were not in the election, the lefties of the world cried foul (along with the other Marxist supported dictators of sub-Saharan Africa). Andrew Young liked the brutal junta men of Nkomo and Mugabe even calling them kind and gentle.
Here's the problem, Muzorewa was anti-Marxist. He was one of those people accused by the left of leading the world to war by being mean to communists. In this time of Detente, the group speak claimed the anti-Marxists were causing the Marxists to kill people. Basically, the Marxists were throwing their murderous tantrums because the mean older brother of Western Capitalism refused to let the Marxists have their time in the toy bin. So under immense pressure from the left, Muzorewa was overthrown and Mugabe put in place for life (you know democratically, like Castro).
So, now we have a new election in 2008 where Mugabe looses yet retains power. We have a Zimbabwe that cannot feed its people. We have a currency that is a joke which means hard assets are required for any sort of trade...which means no food because the new land policies have ruined farming and no one accepts Zim dollars. Thanks Jimmy! I am glad America has lost this value.
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5 comments:
I agree: Zimbabwe is a tragedy under Mugabe. I have a question (because I don't know the answer): When did Carter and Young support Mugabe? Recently or in the ancient past before Mugabe showed his true colours? And how did other world leaders respond to Mugabe in the same time period? Was there hope for and in Zimbabwe back then that Mugabe's thirst for greater power destroyed? Just wondering.
Marg:
The original election was held in 1979 during which time Mugabe and Nkomo used their armies to intimidate and kill people who went to polling stations. 100,000 troops were required to safeguard the first election. After US and western pressure the second election was held 6 months or so later. As of 2007, Carter still claims Mugabe is a good man gone bad. But I think his terrorist tactics in 1979 show that his true colors were always on display. He wanted power and control from the get go.
Hi Mac,
I think you are right that Mugabe was a disaster brewing from the beginning. But I respect Jimmy Carter even if he isn't right about everything (who is?). I saw something very recently that indicates he wasn't the only world leader who held out some hope that, after the struggle with the Smith regime, Mugabe's expressed intentions in the beginning to work for racial equality and democracy might work. Despite his early education in a religious school, Mugabe turned away and has turned bad and his hunger for power turned into a tragedy for everyone -- especially for Zimbabweans.
Marg:
I stand by my earlier assessment that the western leaders were opposed to Bishop Muzorewa because of his anti-Marxist positions. I don't understand Carter and others support of new Mugabe-inclusive elections as Muzorewa was clearly the man who sought peace and reconciliation by rejecting violence. In fact Mugabe and Nkomo took up arms and rejected the political solution when they could not compromise with the other parties involved. That seems to be a red-flag when Mugabe says he would work for reconciliation.
I am not judging Carter for his mistakes, I am judging Carter for his rhetoric of justice and human rights while consistently supporting people who do the opposite. His words do not match his actions, the same is true of Mugabe. I can speak a great 'justice' message, but if oppression follows in my wake, then I must assess and change my ways. Carter has never done such an assessment and has helped authoritarian governments (N Korea and Venezuela come to mind) maintain power into the 20th century. His arrogance is insulting when he only finds time to criticize the human rights violations of the USA.
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