Letters to My Daughter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 25, 2009 Statement by the President on Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha "Michelle and I would like to send our best wishes to all those performing Hajj this year, and to Muslims in America and around the world who are celebrating Eid-ul-Adha. The rituals of Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha both serve as reminders of the shared Abrahamic roots of three of the world's major religions. During Hajj, the world's largest and most diverse gathering, three million Muslims from all walks of life - including thousands of American Muslims - will stand in prayer on Mount Arafat. The following day, Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid-ul-Adha and distribute food to the less fortunate to commemorate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son out of obedience to God. This year, I am pleased that the Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with the Saudi Health Ministry to prevent and limit the spread of H1N1 during Hajj. Cooperating on combating H1N1 ...

In todays NYT article , the story of Sarah Gellert is proof of the importance of remaining positive in difficult times. Gellert, who lived through multiple wars, economic downturns, epidemics, deaths, divorce, and the rest of it, now describes everything as "wonderful." She probably described everything as wonderful in her youth as well. She was born in 1910, and has witnessed the problem of evil multiple times in her life. Yet she chooses to remain resolute. I find her extraordinary. I would like to share this story with my grandpa, who is quintessentially a pessimist, and may even personify the Problem of Evil himself. He loves to accuse everyone of wrong, refuses to apologize, and has no appreciation for anyone or anything. He is difficult to be with, especially when he badmouths people you love with no thought to consequence. I think I am going to create a list of articles for my Nani to read. I want to give her the gift of the internet, and write her a letter describing...

My room, my mind, and the rest of my world is slightly upside down. I have lost, regained, and then lost again my perspective. I am not sure what the source of the conflict is, but I have some ideas about how to solve the problem, even if I don't know what the source is, I believe I can treat the symptoms. Today I found a banana in my bed. I am not sure how many days the banana was there. I had a banana in my purse, and the purse on my bed, and the contents of my purse somehow between my sheets. Also on the bed were folded clothes that have not made it into their proper chest of drawers. I have papers to be filed. Notebooks and papers are piled up on every available surface, including my desk. A banana in my bed means something about my state of mind, physical and otherwise. I am going away this weekend, so everything must be perfect before I leave. Food cooked, house vacuumed, clothes washed, bathroom decent. And of course there is packing to do; studying to finish; overdue librar...