8/25/2024

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            “What do you want me to do for you?” Matthew 20:32

That’s the Bible verse for the day that appeared in my “Draw the Circle” prayer journal. It was relevant to our conversation at the Yangon Friends Meeting where we were talking about how to help without taxing the receiver in some way. It came up because a Friend has started an effort to buy rehab equipment for the wounded Burmese refugees in Mae Sot, Thailand, & is frustrated that progress is so slow. Turns out helping folks can be hard to do. When you give someone a gift, unexpected consequences can ensue. It’s a challenge to figure out how to share one’s wealth, especially in a place, like Burma, where the need is so great.

            As we contemplate this challenge, I wonder how we can share the peace & prosperity of our nation with the rest of the world. Citizens are loathe to open our borders to all comers. I find it troubling that your new border policy requires that border agents no longer inquire whether migrants fear for their lives if they are returned home. Instead, asylum seekers have to bring it up on their own or must “manifest fear” in order to be accepted into the program. Those who may not speak English or understand the new rules have to be sobbing &/or shaking for agents to consider them asylum seekers. That doesn’t sit well with me.

            I need to get going to Davis where we will spend our Sunday doing errands, hanging out with our ELD & seeing folks at DFM.

I will end by referring to Simon Tisdall’s piece in the G today where he makes a strong case for why “the Myanmar emergency must be prioritised.”

            BYBS,