11/13/2021

My Friend & POTUS, JRB,

After lamenting the lack of art at COP 26 in yesterday’s letter, today I saw a video of Little Amal, a giant puppet who trekked from Syria to England to dramatize the plight of child refugees. She met the Pope, encountered warm receptions & harsh rejections in various locales & paraded through Glasgow this week. The artists involved hoped their 5000-mile walk would help people understand each other, especially children who have to flee their homes. I hope you have included $$ for this kind of event in the BBB plan. Art heals.

            How are things at Camp David? Does it have a musty, smokey smell like my Gpa’s cabin in Northern WI. Since it’s chilly & rainy there, I hope you find some time to hang out by a roaring fire with Jill, et al.

            The sun is supposed to come out this PM & I am looking forward to riding my bike to the other side of town to check in with colleagues about various matters. Not only does my biking spare the air, it also ensures my sleep. A win-win.

            Thanks for extending an invitation to XJ for a virtual meeting on Mon. It’s time to get creative, bury the hatchet & cooperate with China. That’s the gist of A-M Slaughter’s suggestions in today’s NYT. I agree with her argument that we should “put people ahead of states” and “save the planet for humanity.” She asserts that we need some measures to gauge human flourishing & that these measures could be monitored by youth groups.

I know the Chinese students I have had over the years would love to team up with some American youth for such an endeavor. They all want the same thing -freedom, health & joy. Let’s stop positioning China as our rival & instead be Quakerly & see that of God in each & everyone, including XJ.

I’m sure the youth of Myanmar would welcome the opportunity to keep track of the conditions in their country.

            BYBS,