Donald Trump and Jimmy Carter reflect two sides of the American reality

Last week, Washington was witness to a stark study in contrasts: the solemn dignity involved in the nation’s farewell to former US president Jimmy Carter and the blustery antics accompanying president-elect Donald Trump’s impending return to the White House.

There couldn’t be any two men more different from each other. And as if to make that point, one day’s newspaper featured headlines that virtually screamed across the front page at each other. One read “Celebrating a ‘servant of the people’”, with the subhead, “As Carter arrived in Washington, many gather to honour his humility and decency”. On the other side, was the headline “Trump won’t rule out coercion to expand US map”, with the subhead, “He eyes Panama Canal and Greenland”.

In the same week that Americans were mourning the death of one former president who was praised for his service to others, his humility, honesty and commitment to peace, democracy and human rights, they were also awaiting the return of another former president who was threatening to use coercion to “take over” foreign countries and pardon hundreds of people convicted of the violent attempt to overturn the 2020 election result.

The Panama Canal story alone tells the story of the differences between the two men and their approaches to governance.

With Latin America in turmoil and many Panamanians growing restive with US control of the Canal Zone that not only cut their country in half, but also adversely affected their society in other ways, Carter realised that it was time to negotiate a deal that respected Panama’s sovereignty. Mr Trump, on the other hand, wants to renege on the treaty, asserting that the canal is “ours”, claiming that “we lost thousands of lives” building it. In fact, it is estimated that, while more than 25,000 Panamanians perished digging the canal, very few Americans died.

Additional contrasts between the two men would include: one was humble, the other always boastful; one devoted his life to others, the other is a narcissist; one said “I will never lie to you” (and fact-checkers were unable to identify a single one), while fact-checkers have identified 33,000 falsehoods told by the other in just four years; one attributed his successes to others, the other boastfully claims everything for himself; and one was born in a small southern town and after his term in office returned to that simple life until his final days, the other was born into wealth in New York city and has surrounded himself with the trappings of ostentatious excess.

While all of these differences between the two must be noted, there are some characteristics they share.

First and foremost is the fact that both were elected president as agents of change because, in their respective eras, both understood and responded to a perceived need in the public’s mood. Carter was elected while the nation was still reeling from the double traumas of the Vietnam War and the resignation of president Richard Nixon. He parlayed his simple rural style to establish himself as the antithesis of a typical politician. He was comfortable and steady and that’s what voters were craving back then.

For his part, Mr Trump understood that many voters had been unsettled by social, economic, political and cultural changes and were reeling from traumas, from 9/11 and the failed war in Iraq to the aftershocks of the economic collapse of 2008-2009. Voters were wary of typical politicians who either didn’t understand or didn’t care about just how angry and upset they were.

Carter promised honesty and an end to turbulence. Mr Trump promised to shake things up at whatever the cost.

There is another factor that unites these two former presidents: despite their obvious differences, they reflect two distinct sides of the American reality. The US is a nation capable of doing great and good things. It is also a nation that has shown itself to be capable of doing evil.

It has welcomed millions of refugees, provided humanitarian support to those suffering in the wake of catastrophic events, and has led efforts to support equality and human rights. At the same time, the nation was born with the original sin of slavery, continues to struggle with racism, still has a xenophobic streak that periodically rears its head, and has committed or aided and abetted war crimes in countries as far flung as Vietnam, Iraq, Cuba and Palestine.

Americans can never deny either of these sides of their nation’s history and “personality”, because in a real sense both are who they have been. And more importantly, both can be who they are today and who they can become in the future.

If Americans allow themselves to forget that the capacity for evil is always residing under the surface, they become vulnerable to its allure. At the same time, if they forget that they have the capacity to do good and great things, then they deny their ability to make things better and lose hope in their possibility to make change.

The fact that Carter’s funeral was just days away from Mr Trump’s inauguration has presented Americans with a choice and a challenge. Which path will they take, and which America will they become?