An Icon of Human Decency
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The President Jimmy Carter exhibit at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta, GA.
Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, served from 1977-1981 -- an ancient time now for our young readers but halcyon days for those who lived through it. He may not have been the most effective president but he led at a time of decency, courtesy, honor and civil bipartisanship in US politics. Remember those days?
It was after his presidency, however, that the full measure of Jimmy Carter's greatness emerged. From the time he left office at 56 years old until his last breath at 100 years old, he was an indefatigable fighter for democracy, human rights, international peace and economic development. He wrote multiple books, helped build houses with Habitat for Humanity, lectured, met with world leaders and basically showed the world what a real decent human being can be -- one who puts the greater good over and above self-interests, without the need for the trappings of high office.
Let's extol President Carter today; we may not see the likes of him again in the coming years.
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Positively Filipino has been unstinting in its coverage of the exemplary work of Filipino American nurses through our articles and webinars. It's gratifying to find out that even outside the US, Filipino nurses are winning accolades and positions of responsibility, as reported by our contributing writer, Jerome Babate who heads the Filipino Nursing Diaspora Network (FiND), in "2024: A Landmark Year for Filipino Nurses Globally."
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Much have been written about the [long-delayed] Congressional Medals of Honor that the US Congress has [finally] bestowed on Filipino World War II veterans but there's still one crucial benefit that has eluded them: getting their families who were left in the Philippines to the US. Seattle-based veterans' advocate Conrado (Sluggo) Rigor, Jr. describes the heartbreaking fate of Filipino vets who came to the US in their twilight years in "Forgotten Freedom Fighters."
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On the lighter side, how would you like your portrait done by an artist whose works are conversation pieces? PF Correspondent Rey de la Cruz writes about the portrait painter, Kim Canonigo.
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For a story that will leave you breathless with shock, check out our first link (from the New York Times) in our In The Know section below.
Read Agains:
January Is Fiesta Time Staff
How Filipinos Got Their Surnames by Penelope Flores
[Video of the Week] The Last Traditional Sailboat in the Philippines
In The Know
Private Bruno R. Orig: Medal of Honor
https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/orig/index.html?
On the Run, a Hit Man Gives One Last Confession
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/05/world/asia/philippines-hit-man-confession.html
Edgar Matobato ‘currently safe’ after fleeing Philippines
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/edgar-matobato-duterte-whistleblower-safe-after-fleeing-country/
Best Filipino Restaurants in Chicago
https://www.facebook.com/reel/430328429798233
Why Filipino restaurants go out of business; 2 chefs offer their insights (Part 1)
https://thefilam.net/archives/42493?fbclid
