3/17/2021

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            I wish that I could use all 2000 characters of my letter musing about Saint Patty’s Day, your Irish roots and my 50-year-old Aran Fisherman’s sweater, but events of the day surmount such pleasantries. Perhaps tomorrow I can share what I learned about shamrocks & the Irish housing crisis.

            My ruminations about Ireland were interrupted when I found the news about the shootings of Asian-American women in GA in the WP. For the past few weeks, I have known that my Japanese-American Friend was alarmed by the assaults on Asian-Americans. Stop AAPI Hate has recorded 3,795 so far. Today’s news brought this situation to the forefront. I am left wondering what kind of hate dwells in the soul of the young man who did this. I am left hoping we can figure out how to keep a gun out of the hands of troubled people like him & how we can uplift our Asian-American neighbors so they don’t have to live in fear.

            I am sorry you were not able to attend our Meeting for Sufferings last night. We had 41 people on the call from all over the world. A Friend who fled Iran during its revolution reminded us to hold ALL involved in the Light – those committing violence as well as their victims. We worried that the that the arson at the Chinese factories in Hlaing Thaya on Sunday would escalate the situation. We sat together in silence, waiting for some guidance. A way will eventually open & we stand ready to support a new beginning in Burma.

            As you spread the word about our “recovery,” please keep Myanmar in your thoughts & prayers.

            HYITL,