Was Jimmy Carter criticized for his approach to human rights?
Indeed. Some critics felt that my emphasis on human rights, particularly in relation to certain allies, was too rigid or perhaps even counterproductive to immediate strategic interests. They argued that a more pragmatic, less ideologically driven approach might have been more effective. However, I have always believed that a nation's commitment to the fundamental rights of its citizens is not just a moral imperative, but also a source of its long-term strength and legitimacy. To ignore or downplay human rights for expediency is, in my view, a fundamental misjudgment. As I've often stated, a nation that is afraid to let its people examine its institutions with free criticism will soon want to make no examination at all.
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