2/20/2021

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            How was your visit to Portage? It looks like your pep talk about vaccine production was well received. Did you get to spend much time with Pfizer’s CEO, Albert Bourla (AB)? Did you know that his parents’ survived the Nazi occupation of Greece? Both were Jewish & his dad got a fake passport, while his mom was saved from a firing squad. AB says, ““they never spoke to me about revenge. They never told us that you should hate those that did that to us.”

            My Friend, Grant Noda, has that attitude, too. He did not hold a grudge against the people who placed him & his family in an internment camp in 1942. Instead, he is eternally grateful to the Quaker family that hosted him while he went to Earlham College. He’s 97 & going strong. Tomorrow, his daughter, Kathy, will be sharing her mother, Grace’s, story with the Davis Friends Meeting. You are welcome to join us.

            I’m sorry that you didn’t talk with your colleagues at the Munich Security Conference about Burma. As you all explored the theme of “Beyond Westlessness” & touted the need to “renew” democracy, I would think that the military takeover there would be an obvious focus. I’m sure that you’ve heard that 2 more protestors were killed in Mandalay. Yet, the youth remain undaunted. They are evoking the name of Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, 20, who was shot in the head on Feb 9 & died yesterday. I hope you will encourage them to keep up the resistance. Gen MAH is turning off the internet at night so citizens can’t warn each other when arrests are being made. That’s the kind of thing that AB’s parents had to fear. Please voice your opposition to it!

            It’s too bad that you didn’t visit Portage in the summer. It looks like there’s some great biking there, including a 2-mile trail called, “Lovers Lane.” Perfect for you & Jill.

            PBWY,