…Benjamin Banneker came to mind as I pondered your complex relationship with the African American community. I encourage you to add him to the the 244 individuals named in the 2021 executive order for the National Garden of American Heroes.

…You could follow Pope Leo’s advice which he shared in this year’s Lent message where he invited us to consider "a very practical & frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend & hurt our neighbor. ..

…Did I miss a WH proclamation about Washington’s Birthday? Your statements about POTUS 1 suggest you aren’t that impressed by him. …

…V-day can traumatize children, especially when the gender-conformity/heteronormative/romantic aspects are emphasized…

… Laphet is a “symbol of national unity, as it combines tea leaves grown in Myanmar's hilly regions with oil & fried beans produced in the plains, representing harmony among the country's diverse regions & ethnic communities.” I love the idea that tea salad reminds people of the diversity of their country…

Today is Union Day in Burma where the junta is celebrating the 1947 Panglong Conference described by textbooks as the event that brought together the country’s diverse multi-ethnic groups to form a united & ultimately independent nation…

… Most Americans know that depending on coal is a road to ruin. They won’t be charmed by Coalie…

…Whatever the case may be, the Canadians  learned from GH how to put their “elbows up” after they’ve been checked. Best to stop messing with them….

…The Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara(BP) could be helpful in this regard. He’s leading his fellow monks in the 2300 mile Walk for Peace that has gone viral on Facebook….

… the Winter Olympics start today & I hope you will send a shout out to the athletes who spread love among people by loving what they do & being their best…

…I hope Rep Jonathan Jackson(JLJ) had a chance to share his faith. I assume he inherited some of his dad’s skills as a preacher…

…Finally, the only paper that included a front page article about your meeting yesterday with Colombia Pres. Gustavo Petro yesterday was El Nuevo Herald, the paper for the Cuban refugees living in South Florida. …

..Has the snow in DC gotten ugly yet? …

…Speaking of BB, did you hear his acceptance speech last night at the Grammys? I loved the part when he said, “The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. So please, we need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love. We don't hate them.” …

…Here in Sacto, at least a thousand high schoolers marched around our governmental buildings yesterday carrying the flags of their parents’ homelands & demanding an end to ICE’s aggressions…