US: Former President Jimmy Carter Passes Away at 100

WASHINGTON: Former President Jimmy Carter, the 39th leader of the United States, passed away peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, on Sunday. He was 100 years old. The Carter Center announced the news, paying tribute to a man whose life was defined by service, compassion, and global impact. 

President Joe Biden celebrated Carter's legacy, labeling him a model of principle, faith, and humility. "To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life, study Jimmy Carter," said Biden, who pointed out how Carter was a person with courage, compassion, and strength.

As a tribute to Carter, the White House has decided that January 9 will be a day of national mourning. The public observances in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. will be followed by private interment at Plains, Georgia. Additional information regarding the state funeral, such as motorcade routes and other public events, will be announced by the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.

Jimmy Carter served from 1977 to 1981 and addressed very major foreign policy challenges in his administration. Carter lost the re-election bid in 1980 to Ronald Reagan, but he remains one of the most highly respected figures in international diplomacy and humanitarian efforts.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, which he received for his effort to promote human rights and resolve global conflicts. He managed to ease nuclear tensions between North and South Korea; he prevented a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiated ceasefires in Bosnia and Sudan.

Carter faced various health issues in his old age, including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. In February 2023, he opted for hospice care, which means that he chose comfort over any further medical treatment. His wife, Rosalynn Carter, died in November 2023 at the age of 96.

Carter is survived by his four children—Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy—along with 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Chip Carter, the former president's son, reflected on his father's impact: "My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together."

Carter, who earned respect for his humility and dedication to global peace, takes away a legacy that cannot be defined by his presidency alone. He was the most extended-living U.S. president, and all his life, he is the symbol of hope, a source of inspiration for a whole generation to live a useful life and be kind, but his values and the vision of a better world resound throughout the world now.

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