7/5/2024

My Dear POTUS, JRB,

            How was your 4th? You seemed cheerful as you began your remarks to the military folks at the BBQ. Being a math educator, I love what you said about 1% keeping the other 99% safe. I also love when you talked about how we are founded on “an idea, not ethnicity, not geography, not on anything else, on the idea” that we are all equal. As usual content was spot on!

It’s too bad that so many people are ignoring the content & instead are looking for every time you use the wrong word or have a miscue. I’d go nuts if folks were doing that to me, because I misspeak all the time. Unfortunately, the more uptight you get about it, the worse it becomes.

Did you enjoy the pyrotechnics? I was able to see three different fireworks displays from my living room, & felt dissonance each time at the awfulness & awefullness of the spectacles. Fireworks are awful because they evoke “bombs bursting in air” & in so doing glorify war. They’re “awe-full” because seeing the balls for fire flying up, exploding into bright sparkles cascading down makes me say, “wow.” Another yin-yang, paradoxical pair of responses that leave me wondering how life can be so full of beauty & suffering at the same time.

            I hope you are your best self today at your event at  Sherman Middle School in Madison, WI & in your interview with George Stephanopoulos. Remember to take deep breaths & repeat our mantra, “Now, Now, Now.” Keep calm & keep smiling.

            My daily read of the news from Burma continues to be troubling. Today the AP reports fierce fighting in northeastern Shan state, which borders China, Laos & Thailand. The ethnic militias claim to have encircled the strategically important city of Lashio. “The TNLA claims to have already captured more than 30 army outposts, & to now control the western part of Mogok, whose ruby mines make it a lucrative target.”

Perhaps a call with XP about bringing peace to the region would help.

            BYBS,