5/8/2024

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            Sorry to miss our letter yesterday. Our dear friends from our SF days were here. They energized us & absorbed every ounce of our attention. Their visit was one of those magical moments, making the presence of a higher power palpable.

            I see that some Jewish profs are urging you NOT to sign the Antisemitism Awareness Act. Please follow their advice “to reject any effort to codify into federal law a definition of antisemitism that conflates antisemitism with criticism of the state of Israel.” I share their concern that the bill will, “delegitimize & silence Jewish Americans, among others (like me) who advocate for Palestinian human rights or otherwise criticize Israeli policies.”

            I want to feel free to express my concerns about a government based on religion & our support of their military. According to the NYT, “as of last year, the United States had provided $158.7 billion to Israel since its founding, the vast bulk of it, or $124.3 billion, for its military.” I want the freedom to continue to ask questions about that investment of my tax $$.

            I hope that you visit to Racine, WI, yesterday was a success. Whoever had the idea to go to the site of the failed FoxConn project was brilliant. I told 45 that project was misguided & I’m relieved it failed. I hope Microsoft has a better plan.

            As usual, I ask that you keep an eye on Burma. According to “roving reporter” Hannah Beech, “for the first time, the rebels claim control of more than half of Myanmar’s territory…(BUT) the resistance is, perhaps hopelessly, splintered (with) more than a dozen major armed ethnic groups vying for control over land & valuable natural resources.” When the dust settles, they will need help.

            BYBS,

            RCA