Each of us must rededicate ourselves to serving the common good. We are a community. Our individual Fates are linked; our futures intertwined; and if we act in that knowledge and in that spirit together, as the Bible says: "We can move mountains."
Interpretation
We should focus on serving the greater good as a united community.
This quote emphasizes the importance of collective effort and shared responsibility in serving the common good. Jimmy Carter suggests that our individual lives are interconnected and that by recognizing this connection and working together, we can achieve great things, akin to the biblical idea that faith and unity can enable us to overcome significant challenges.
In practice
In a speech about local community initiatives, one could reference this quote to inspire collective action among citizens.
Acknowledging the physical realities of our planet does not mean a dismal future of endless sacrifice. In fact, acknowledging these realities is the first step in dealing with them. We can meet the resource problems of the world - water, food, minerals, farmlands, forests, overpopulation, pollution - if we tackle them with courage and foresight.
The preeminent obstacle to peace is Israel's colonization of Palestine.
I would say the biggest handicap we have right now is some nutcases in our country that don't believe in global warming. I think they are going to change their position because of pressure from individuals, because the evidence of the ravages of global warming is already there.
If I were president, I'd be very glad to see the Palestinians have a nation recognized by the United Nations. There's no downside to it.
My understanding of racial discrimination as a child was highly distorted because the most prominent man in Archery was an African-American bishop. When he came home from up north, where he was in charge of A.M.E. churches in five states, it was front-page news. He was the most successful man in my life.
Our American values are not luxuries but necessities, not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself. Our common vision of a free and just society is our greatest source of cohesion at home and strength abroad, greater than the bounty of our material blessings.
A community which refuses to welcome - whether through fear, weariness, insecurity, a desire to cling to comfort, or just because it is fed up with visitors - is dying spiritually.
Where there is not community, trust, respect, ethical behavior are difficult for the young to learn and for the old to maintain.
We urgently need to bring to our communities the limitless capacity to love, serve, and create for and with each other. We urgently need to bring the neighbor back into our hoods, not only in our inner cities but also in our suburbs, our gated communities, on Main Street and Wall Street, and on Ivy League campuses.
When we accept dismissive judgments of our community we stop having generous hope for it. We cease to be capable of serving its best interests.
Business, labor and civil society organizations have skills and resources that are vital in helping to build a more robust global community.
The key to community is the acceptance, in fact the celebration of our individual and cultural differences. It is also the key to world peace
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