1/30/2024

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            Please listen to Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-6). He wants you to be cautious in your response to the drone attack that killed 3 American reservists in Jordan while they were asleep in their barracks. SWM is quoted as saying, “to the chicken hawks calling for war with Iran, you’re playing into the enemy’s hands & I’d like to see you send your sons & daughters to fight.” Given SWM’s military service in Iraq, he’s got street cred.

            As my Friend, Paul Sheldon, would say, “THERE IS NO MILITARY SOLUTION!” SWM warns, “You should never create more insurgents than you kill.”

            You can’t beat your enemies into submission. That’s why we’re still fighting the Civil War in this country. Gen R. E. Lee surrendered the Army of North VA to Grant at Appomattox, but that event did not cleanse the hearts & minds of the people. Many still hold on to the racial hierarchy that justified enslavement.

            It’s deeply troubling how that racist hierarchy continues to manifest itself. Eric Garcia (EG), a Mexican-American author trying to explain why his dad likes 45, says some Latinos suffer from status anxiety because they know that they inhabit a lower position than Anglos in the social hierarchy so they adhere to traditional gender norms as a way to maintain some dominance.

By the way EG also says, “most Latinos (especially males) don’t use the gender-neutral term “Latinx”… according to Pew Research Center, 14% of Latinas between 18 and 29 use the term, but only 1% of Latino men in the same age group use it.”

As you know, Latinos span the political spectrum, so don’t assume that the Spanish speakers you encounter on your trip to Miami today are your fans.

Please take a look at the video in the NYT today about Burmese artist San Zaw Htway whose spirit continues to inspire peaceful resistance. I love his words of wisdom, “Don’t answer harm with harm. You will surprise your enemy & he will back off.”

WINTA!

BYBS,