The Common Good

“The common good consists of our shared values about what we owe one another as citizens who are bound together in the same society—the norms we voluntarily abide by and the ideals we seek to achieve.” 

— Robert Reich: The Common Good

 

Yet another giant has passed from this earth and though his 100-year-life-span is more celebration than tragic loss, still we would do well to pause and pay homage to Jimmy Carter. Though like every single human being on the planet he was not flawless, his impressive legacy of installing solar panels on the White House (which Reagan took off!), advocating for both Palestine and Israel to have their homeland, supporting Habitat for Humanity and working alongside volunteers and much, much more deserves our attention. 

 

The dynamic is so simple. Either we’re in it for our own glory and power and greed and wealth or we recognize that we are all joined together and should work tirelessly towards the idea of contributing to the common good. Just writing that sentence and thinking about what’s ahead brings tears to my eyes, as we have yet again given power to people who don’t give a rat’s ass about anybody but themselves. The notion of a common purpose is not even on their table and they scorn those who value it as weak. 

 

We had a moment of silence at the dinner table with the grandchildren and afterwards, shared some of the impressive achievements of a former U.S. President. They were respectfully silent and listening with engagement. I’ve spoken much here about my vow to educate the young, my peers, my elders (not many of them around), anyone who’s willing to listen to the reminder that we owe each other. If they forget, I’ll remind them of Jimmy Carter, Zakir Hussein and my friend Wolfgang Stange, all models of humanity who have left us in the past month. 

 

Meanwhile, I hope the collective funeral and memorial services for President Carter are as grand and glorious as he deserves and help remind us of what we clearly have forgotten. Thank you, sir, for your stellar service.