… all around the town.
That’s where we cycled today.
April called out to us from Frederick Douglas Boulevard.
April encourages people to consider her religious beliefs, as we encourage them to consider our beliefs about human rights. Many of our principles are the same.
One aspect in which we differ is that we don’t blame external influences for the world’s evils. Human choices can be wrenchingly hard. But as Louis Armstrong said, “You don’t have to do a thing that’s bad unless you want to.”
Barrett told us that the cycling path was closed to our south. He saved us from having to backtrack. Much of the path is under repair; we weren’t warned at other points and met with several dead ends.
We returned home after 34 miles of sights, sounds, conversations, waves and cheers (“Sixteen thousand miles! Wow!” “Cool ride, man!”).
Jeffrey’s gourmet friend Alan invited him to opening day lunch at a neighborhood bagel and bialy shop. Alan spotted our Congressman, who wandered in to have a look.
Jeffrey asked Mr. Nadler whether he was willing to talk business for a moment.
“Sure!”
Jeffrey brought up three matters.
One is confidential.
Another was to thank Mr. Nadler for a quiet personal kindness he performed for a mutual friend.
The third concerns the Ride.
We want to wrap up the Capstone Ride on Ellis Island, where one of Jeffrey’s grandmothers landed after the 1905 Russian pogroms.
The Ride for Human Rights is linked to what Ellis Island has come to represent.
A bridge to the island, still in official use, was built in 1986 for a construction project. The bridge is closed to the public.
We’ve biked all over the USA.
We want to bike to Ellis Island too.
Over the bridge.
We are exceptional characters in an exceptional story.
We want an exception to be made for us.
Congressman Nadler sees no reason why the Park Service should not let us bike to the island. He said to contact his staff.
We have.
Stay tuned.