DEAR EDITOR:

As a teenage immigrant of 76 years, I have watched presidential memorial ceremonies for nine presidents, starting with President Harry Truman. None has inspired me, uplifted my spirits and given me hope, as the memorial services for President Jimmy Carter, starting at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, ending at the National Cathedral, in Washington, D.C

All the five living presidents, their first ladies, and vice presidents, were there. No Democrats, no Republicans, just Americans, plus dignitaries from all over the world, paying tributes, and saying farewell to a great man, humanitarian, a world leader, an American president, Jimmy Carter, respected and loved by all. During the eulogies, I heard the words, “American values,” ” humility,” honesty,” “integrity,” “decency,” “character,” “compassion,” “empathy,” generosity,” and “love of humanity,” describing the life of President Jimmy Carter.

President Gerald Ford’s son talked about his father and President Carter as political rivals, but who became very close friends on their way back from Cairo, after attending the funeral service for President Anwar Sadat. They told each other that what disparaging things they said about each other was just political rhetoric, and did not reflect how well they really thought of each other; that they both shared the same American values. They promised that each would give the eulogy, upon the death of either. The Democrat, President Carter, gave the eulogy during the memorial service for a Republican, President Ford. Today, President Ford’s son read what his father had written. It was a moving eulogy. It transcended all political divides, and showed only the deep feelings, and friendship of two old, patriotic American presidents. The same happened long ago, between Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two political rivals, becoming close friends, even dying on the same day, July 4, 1826, at ages 90 and 83, respectively.

As I watched the attendees, I saw President Trump shaking hands with his “enemy,” his former Vice President Mike Pence. At the same time, President Obama and President Trump, sitting next to each other, talking a storm! They were laughing and having a good time. Overall, I saw America at its finest.

As a citizen and a voter, I want you, the politician, to know that I am not interested on how bad your opponent is, but rather on how good you are, based on: honesty, humility, integrity, character, values, leadership and loyalty, not to a party, or a person, but to the constitution of the United States of America. And, when your term “expires” on this earth, the citizens will use those terms in your eulogy. They will come to pay their respect, express their gratitude and say farewell to a leader, respected and loved, at home, and around the world.

RASHID ABDU, MD

Canfield