8/21/2024

JRB,

            Have you called BHO to thank him for his speech last night where he called you his “brother” & “friend?” Certainly, you can forgive him since he did such a great job of singing your praises that the crowd erupted in their “Thank You Joe” chant.

            How are things at the ranch in Santa Ynez? It’s going to be 90 today. It’s the hottest day in the forecast this week, so a trip to the beach is definitely in order. Can you ride a bike there?

            The over-80 crowd needs you to show the world that seniors can balance, pedal & steer. Donning your bathing suit to brave the chilly waters of the Pacific would be even more impressive. According to the CSM, ageism is on the rise & is the “last acceptable prejudice.” It comes from age segregation as well as our pop culture which profits from selling anti-aging products. The worst aspect of ageism is that our elderly have internalized the bias & are prone to think of themselves as less than.

            I see the effects of this in my mom who battles the stigma of being 90 every minute of her day. She’s a warrior, ready to fight anyone who condescends to her. Her resistance to the stereotypes associated with the elderly could take a toll on her health & well-being. I look forward to the day when we can let go of our assumptions & biases related to age.

            Please consider marking the 7th anniversary of the Rohingya pogrom in Burma which started on August 25, 2017, when the military launched a widespread & systematic assault on Rohingya villages after an armed group calling itself the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army carried out deadly attacks on police posts. According to Amnesty International, the Rohingya are once again having to flee as they now “are caught in the middle of intensifying conflict in Rakhine State between the Arakan Army & the junta, which has forcefully conscripted Rohingya to fight on its side.”

            BYBS,