4/17/2021

My Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            What are your thoughts about gems? I noticed that Jill’s jewels are quite modest so I assume you are like me & believe that the world would be better off without Tiffany & Cartier. Gemstones are on my mind today because I was looking up Magok, Myanmar & discovered that it has the best rubies in the world. The military has been profiting from the Burmese gem trade for decades so best to not buy pigeon blood rubies. Better yet eschew fancy stones altogether. It’s ok for Jill to keep her diamond studded “Mom” charm because it’s so small. Her costume pearls set a wonderful example for the jewelry lovers of America, so you can get her some more of those for Mother’s day.

            It looks like you had a nice conversation with PM Suga Yoshihide yesterday. I hope you discussed Myanmar & thought about what more you can do to promote peace there. In case you need some ideas, Zin Mar Aung, provided several in his Op-Ed in today’s NYT. One of which is to assist with refugees. Please get busy with that. Even though welcoming huddled masses into the US might be only “wanly popular” as Phillip Bump writes in the WP, it is the right thing to do. We should, at least, put the word out that any Burmese soldier or policeman that defects can come here.

            I think you could do more to help our elderly citizens to understand why we need more immigrants. 40% of those caring for old folks in FL, NY, CA & NJ are foreign born. The agency that I am working with to find some care for my husband can’t find anyone. I know that there are plenty of kind people in dire straits in Burma, Syria & Nicaragua who would welcome the opportunity to help us. Please start talking up the benefits of immigration, NOW!

            BYBS,