12/13/2023

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            Why the frown? Axios’ photo of your meeting with VOZ captured you with a furrowed brow & a disturbed face. Was it because VOZ was talking about the danger of his war devolving into bloody guerilla warfare? Is it because you are feeling stuck as the GOP has stipulated that Ukraine will only get aid if we close our borders? Were you pondering Hunter’s plight or the impeachment committee that’s getting under way? Whatever the case may be, the look on your face was unusual & gave me pause.

            I try to be mindful of my facial expression because I want to keep my cheek muscles strong so I can oblige my dad’s recommendation to “keep smiling.” According to Intermountain Health, when you smile, your brain releases neuropeptides that help fight off stress, endorphins that relieve pain & serotonin that energize, so even when I’m alone, I try to grin. I suspect you might do the same.

            It takes conscious effort to smile these days as the news is so disheartening. I woke up to a story on NPR, “Attacks on health care are on track to hit a record high in 2023”, which I had to turn off after hearing about how the Russians systematically killed Syrians in 2011. The story discusses the idea of “proportionality… if the harm done to civilians, medical professionals & patients is disproportionate to the military goals of an attack, it's not allowed.”

I know that you are grappling with how best to support Israel. Please continue to remind Bibi of “proportionality” so he can’t fool himself into thinking he’s abiding by international humanitarian law.

            It’s also hard to smile about the news from Burma that 2 journalists who write for Dawei Watch have been arrested as the junta continues their desperate effort to silence the people.

            I hope your meeting with the National Infrastructure Advisory Council goes well. Please help me understand why a Nigerian chairs the NAIC if it is a “national” council.

            BYBS,