9/1/2020

My dear Friend & POTUS, DJT,

            How can it be September already? As Steve Miller says, “Time keeps on slippin, slippin into the future.” I wish I could fly like an eagle. Don’t you?

Today I learned a new word. It’s “Schadenfreude,” “experiencing joy from the trouble occasioned upon others.” Joel Cohen opined in the Forward that we are having an epidemic of it. He reminds us that it’s a sin. I agree. I keep writing these letters because it’s so tempting to express Schadenfreude these days. Let’s both pledge to avoid doing so.

            I understand that you are worried about a group of nefarious people flying around the country up to no good. To be exact, you told Laura Ingraham, “we had somebody get on a plane from a certain city this weekend, and it was almost completely loaded with thugs, wearing these dark uniforms, black uniforms, with gear and this and that.” She suggested that you might be succumbing to a conspiracy theory. Let me help you to let go of that particular concern. If a group of ne’re-do-wells were conniving to do some damage somewhere, I doubt that they’d make themselves so conspicuous. Folks on secret missions tend to keep a low profile. Right? So, you can let go of that particular concern. You have enough other things to worry about.

            If you must go to Kenosha today, I encourage you to speak with Jacob Blake’s family. Make it clear that you believe that the force used against him was excessive & that you are eager to see the police use better judgement. You can echo Jacob’s sister, Letetra Widman, when she calls on Black America to “fight, but not with violence and chaos. With self love.” That’s a message we all can use these days.

          Peace be with you,