4/9/2022

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

Someday I will read the WP story about the brain of a carpet cleaner in DC who speaks 24 languages. I look forward to finding out what the criteria is for “speaking” a language – is it uttering a few words, being able to ask about where to find the bathroom, carrying on a conversation for at least 5 minutes or discussing politics for an hour?

I understand that you know some French – would you say you “speak” it?

I am digressing, but one more thought on this matter, don’t you think this country would be a better place if we were all multi-lingual? I think it would help us to see the ways in which language shapes our thinking & that speakers of languages other than English (LOTEs) can offer a diversity of ideas because of this. It might make us more welcoming of refugees, which would be nice.

As we ponder language, words, sentences, etc, I will take the opportunity to encourage you to MAKE MORE NOISE!!! HI Sen Brian Schatz agrees with me. According to the WP he says,  “We have to scream from the rooftops, because this is a battle for the free world now.” He made some noise on the Sen floor on Th “derid(ing Josh Hawley’s) call for Austin to resign as ludicrous grandstanding.” It was quite something.

We both need to read a new book by Dan Pfeiffer that explains the “loudness” gap & why you need to amp up the volume. You had 0, that’s right zero, mentions in the NYT & G today. That is unacceptable.

As you start to make more noise, please call attention to Burma. The Irawaddy reports that the Indian government are enforcing draconian measures to oppress the Chin people on the Burma/India border, who would love to rule themselves. Send out a shout out to them to let them know they are not forgotten. It would be great if you could say this in Chin. Now that would get some attention!!!!

BYBS,