For the past several weeks my friend and Wounded Warrior Chris McClanathan has been fighting to save Romal, the interpreter he worked with while serving in Afghanistan. You can read about Chris and his mission here in the Chicago Tribune:

The US left thousands of Army interpreters in Afghanistan as it evacuated, but a local vet refuses to give up the fight to save his former comrade

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-chicago-veteran-interpreter-afghanistan-left-20210901-5v57orai2fgkzgzi5nfy4qxode-story.html

Sadly, despite Chris’s best efforts, Romal was unable to make it past the gates at Kabul International Airport has been left behind in Taliban controlled Afghanistan. Chris has not given up and continues his efforts to evacuate Romal and his family from Afghanistan.

He has setup a GoFundMe to help support Romal whenever he is able to leave Afghanistan. If you can, please donate to this good cause here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-romal-afghan-interpreter-left-behind

https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/22/asia/thailand-elephant-breaks-in-intl-hnk-scli/index.html

Dear Friends & Family.

This week I turn 40.

Marking the ticking of the clock has never been that important to me. I have traditionally marked it by “Dinging” or leveling up to the next age.

But there is no denying that 40 is a real milestone. The middle of the road (hopefully) and a time for reflection.

I am thankful for the continued health of my mother Khalida Maiwand-Azimi, my father Ali Azimi. My sister Sara, her son River.

I am thankful for an amazing career opportunity provided to me by my friend and colleague Cliff W. Gilmore. I am thankful for the friends that I have, for my allies and peers.

I am thankful for the work that I have been allowed to do in film and documentary and podcasting. And I look forward to the road ahead.

I am thankful for Marie and her family.

And if I may put forward one wish this year, it is that my friends and family think to donate to Marie’s younger sister Rodly Ricafort and her battle against breast cancer. You can find the GoFundMe link here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-rodly-ricafort-fight-breast-cancer

June 12, 1967. A United States Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia struck down all anti-intermarriage laws remaining in sixteen U.S. states. (Thank you Arnold Strong for the reminder. )

1967.

Can you imagine? And to think or claim, our great nation still doesn’t have more work to do in combating racism or promoting racial justice and equity.