The Honor of My Life - Joe

Dear Mr. Neal,

Thank you for writing to me.  It has been the honor of my life to serve as your President.  I have been blessed with the love and support of the American people, and I am grateful to know that I earned yours.  

We have come so far since my inauguration.  Today, we have the strongest economy in the world.  We have restored our democratic alliances, and the American people are safer because of it.  We are rebuilding our Nation, bringing manufacturing back, and leading the world in science and innovation.  More Americans have health care today than ever before.  And I was proud to sign the most significant climate law in history.  America remains the most powerful idea:  that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives.  That idea is stronger than any one of us, and while we’ve never fully lived up to it, we’ve never walked away from it either.  I know that we will not walk away from it now.

I believe our country is at an inflection point—one of those rare moments in history when the decisions we make now will determine the fate of our Nation and the world for decades to come.  We just have to remember who we are:  We’re the United States of America, and there is nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together.  Thank you, and God bless you.  

 

Keep the faith, 

 

 

Fire Reef

11^th November 2020

Dear Governor Newsom,

I’ve been a resident of the great state of California all my life and watching the wildfires burn is of growing concern. I sheltered in place but was almost trapped in my home by the smoke and ash. For now the economy is faltering and the tourists that make up much of the California economy are gone, but they will return, and we want them to find something better when they come around again.

Then I look at the burnt out buildings on the news and see the fire scorched husks of cars and ask myself if there isn’t something that can be done with the aftermath to lessen the likelihood or severity of the next fire. At very least some plan to help California pay for it all could be found in the wreckage of homes and businesses.

Then it came to me that not all of the state’s forests are susceptible to fire, they are all subject to climate change, but some grow where fire cannot reach. I write of our kelp forests which are of the fastest growing variety. Unlike a forest of trees, the kelp forests need something like stone or brick to anchor them in place. A burnt out chimney may not be of use to a new home, but it can provide habitat for sea creatures, and aid the kelp that will fight global warming. 

It would come to me that in the wake of the fires we have burnt out bricks that would go to the landfill. These could be used to expand our natural reef system and build the forests of kelp or at very least stop beach erosion. A large memorial reef could be planned with the burnt materials of lost homes and cars. This would benefit our environment, commercial fishing, and tourist trade. 

The fires have become a way of life here in California. We have come to accept that they will get worse every year. We need to prevent them as best we can, fight them as efficiently as possible, and heal stronger than before. After all, who would take a vacation in a state where the sun is blotted out with smoke?

Just a suggestion,

 

Richard Leland Neal