10/12/2022

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            I am finding less time for these letters. I hope you don’t mind that other matters take priority. Today my schedule includes meetings with various individuals. I will do my best to make a contribution.

            I am jealous of your trip to CO today. I saw a story from Channel 5, KOAA News, about it reporting that you will be designating Mt Hale, a National Monument. I hope you get a chance to meet Francis Lovvett, the 100-year-old vet of the 10th Mt Division who is eager to have Mt Hale protected. He shared the profound effect that his service had on him noting, “There's something about being part of these natural surroundings. That just makes you better if you survived it, because it's not kind always, but it's always appreciated.”

            Have you done any outdoor camping in the snow? It’s invigorating! Someday I’ll tell you about the time that I hiked in the Mahoosuc Mts in ME with 13-year-olds in 2 feet of snow. We ended up bivouacking just below tree line. The kids had no idea how dangerous the situation was.

            Speaking of dangerous, the NYT reports, “Myanmar is now one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists. …57 reporters are in prison there, according to the Detained Myanmar Journalists Group compared to 51 imprisoned in China.” According to 1 brave young Burmese writer, “It is not easy to fight a gun with a pen, but I need to keep doing it.”

            Please express your appreciation to the reporters who cover your activities & encourage them to keep Burma on the front page until democracy & freedom of the press is restored there. Please also express your concern that Aung Sun Suu Kyi has been condemned to another 3 years increasing her total sentence to 26 years.

            BYBS,