4/18/2022

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            A couple of quick things. Since I am preoccupied today about getting my taxes in the mail, I don’t have the bandwidth to write you my usual letter. Since I am a creature of habit, I feel that I must write you something, so here goes.

First, Charles Blow, opining in the NYT, shares my concern that you are not noisy enough. In lamenting your poor standing in the polls, he claims that the American public, “wants a show and a showman to distract from its misery. Biden is not that. And he is being punished for not being a huckster.” He goes on to write, “Republicans are using white parental fear, particularly the fears of white moms, worried about harm coming to their children, to attract suburban white women and get them to the polls.”

The latest version of this GOP fear mongering is FL’s refusal to adopt 11 math textbooks because they “incorporate prohibited topics or unsolicited strategies, including CRT.” I have not had time to investigate what counts as CRT in a math text, but when I do, I’ll let you know. Textbook authors tend to shy away from anything too progressive, so I’m curious to know more.

            Second, Robin Sears’ piece in the Toronto Star got my attention & I hope it will get yours. He suggested, “As we celebrate the achievements of the Ukrainian defence forces, trying to keep the flow of aid and arms to them robust and unbroken, perhaps we could spare a thought and some assistance for the brave citizens of Myanmar.” My preference would be to offer humanitarian aid rather than weapons, but at least you could make some noise about our brethren in Burma.

            Lest you misjudge me, I am not a noisy person, myself. I tend to have difficulties with verbal competition & wait my turn to speak. But I am not a politician. Since you have chosen that profession, it’s time that you learn some new techniques so you can win over the hearts of those moms who are worried about their kids.

            BYBS,

            RCA