^{VALE JIMMY CARTER – Passes at 100 years of age. A life well lived.}

^{When Jimmy Carter was elected President of the USA in 1976, I was in Kabul, Afghanistan, and watched the election result from the American centre downtown. It was detached from the American embassy, so anyone could visit it – even Aussies!}

^{A big crowd gathered inside as we all waited for the winner to be declared. As I had been travelling for nearly a year, I hadn’t followed the American election closely, and was quite curious about this dark horse ‘peanut farmer’. But there was a lot of optimism at the American centre, and his election was greeted with joy and excitement. It was quite a party atmosphere.}

^{One of the first things he did on taking over the Presidency was to pardon all Vietnam draft dodgers. He also quickly created a national energy policy including conservation, price control, and new technologies. It seemed a bright future, but various events internationally and at home stymied his Presidency.}

^{At the same time, a bright future also seemed ahead for Afghanistan. I moved around the cities fairly freely, although cautiously, I would try to have a male companion by my side when outside of my hotel. The University was thriving, with both male and female students. Women were covered, but did have careers.}

^{I met one Afghan woman working at the main telephone office. She had previously been nursing in Scotland, and had returned home because Afghanistan seemed to have a good future. And she had faith in that future.}

^{Sadly, Afghanistan was actually nearing the end of what was called its golden era – “a hub of innovation, modernity, progressive ideas, and urban living, representing tolerant times for both the country and Southwest Asia in the 1960s and ’70s.”}

^{By the end of 1979, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, and we all know what happened from there.}

^{Carter’s Presidency did not extend to a second term – there was a lot of conflict with Congress, stifling the things he wanted to do. Shades of what’s happening in South Korea today! Other major factors internationally and at home also played a role.}

^{But he did go on to be a true and dedicated International statesman. Simply, I think – the right President at the wrong time. A thoughtful, intelligent man with good intentions.}

^{People were kind to me in Afghanistan -some when out of their way to safeguard me – I often think of them, and wonder what happened to them in the tremulous years since.}