A WORD FOR THIS MOMENT

It has been some time since I have posted to this blog. I have been biding my time, and biting my tongue, trying to find a meaningful word to speak in the present moment. I see this moment as infused with intolerance, scapegoating, and mean-spiritedness, the very worst of the American tradition. If you doubt that I am right about this, consider this: in recent weeks, active duty US military troops have strung razor wire across the two new 30-foot walls at Friendship Park, the historic cross-border meeting place on the US-Mexico border:

Friendship Park -- where the US border walls meets the Pacific Ocean, April 25, 2025.

It will not surprise those of you who know of my longstanding commitment to this site that the only word to meet this moment is FRIENDSHIP. It may surprise you, though, that I have been practicing saying it in three languages -- Friendship, Amistad, Amitié. I have been saying it in French since having a lovely conversation with the organizer of this event, which took place on the border between Quebec and Vermont on March 8, 2025.

Meres Au Front, Quebec/Vermont border, March 8, 2025.

This image spoke very powerfully to me, because it reminded me of a simple truth: the peoples of North America are not enemies, but friends. Sadly, the present moment demands that we stand up for this simple truth.

For this reason I am joining with friends from across the US-Mexico and US-Canada borders to declare August 16, 2025 as a DAY OF INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP.  

On this day, we will mount creative demonstrations of cross-border friendship at locations along the length of both the US/Canada and US/Mexico borders – and at diplomatic consulates across the continent. We anticipate that dozens of sites will be activated that day with simple and beautiful demonstrations of friendship across borders.

There are several things you can do to begin to prepare for this important day:

• Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 16, 2025.  For now, just put “Friendship Day” – more details will be forthcoming soon.

• Tell your friends -- wherever they may live -- about this upcoming opportunity to display their friendship and solidarity across borders.

• Host  a site for this event – to learn more, COMPLETE THIS FORM and we will follow up with you. (ESPAÑOL)

• RSVP NOW for an online onboarding on either of these two dates:

  • Friday, May 23, 2025, 4:00 pm Pacific

  • Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 4:00 pm Pacific

Thank you in advance for pondering how you can demonstrate your solidarity with the cause of international friendship.  Linking our common interests can generate unexpected conversations, new relationships of solidarity, and new opportunities for advocacy on a range of issues, from trade, to cross-border commerce, to humane immigration enforcement, to respectful diplomatic relations. On International Friendship Day, we will pledge our commitment to the cause of international friendship, and we will ask our elected representatives to do the same.