10/13/2023

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            I continue to be depressed about the situations in Gaza & Burma. In both places innocent people are being bombed by the military. Children are dying & families have no place to go. Yesterday’s NYT had an opinion piece by Fadi Abu Shammalah who lives in the Khan Yunis refugee camp where he concluded, “The international community must immediately do everything in its power to ensure that my children — that all children in the region — are able to live in freedom, with dignity & safety. That is the only solution to the current horror show.” Parents from the internally displaced people (IDP) camp in Kachin State’s Munglai Hyket Village which was bombed by the junta this week could have written the same thing.

            In both places youth are being robbed of hope. As CNN stated, “The country remains mired in violence & instability. Many teenagers & fresh graduates, whose lives and ambitions have been upended by a conflict with no end in sight, have joined rebel groups to take the fight to the military.” This phenomenon is true in Gaza, Burma & in every refugee camp in the world. We need a new mentality that embraces the idea WINTA!

            On a brighter note, I’m excited to read about the hydrogen hubs you will be announcing today. Splitting water into H & O seems like a promising idea. I hope the IRS is able to figure out how to make the tax credit work so that climate change is averted rather than energy companies just making more profit.  

            As we dream our optimist fantasies, what do you think of the idea proposed in the CSM that “a centrist coalition from both parties (in the House) could come together to elect a consensus candidate.” Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick from PA-1 could be the guy. If he’s at your event today, you could float the idea.

            Please consider taking Amtrak the next time you go to Philly.

            BYBS,