Dear William, Daniel, Catherine, (and Michael & Baby Girl Y) (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),
After yesterday, today is a new day, and things are looking much better. The people of Baltimore took control of the situation, they stood between the trouble-makers and the police to insure that there would be no more violence, they started cleaning up, and the Maryland National Guard was activated to support the police in keeping the peace.
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- Hundreds of volunteers are cleaning up the wreckage left by rioters in the neighborhood where Freddie Gray was arrested.
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- Residents clean up, Tuesday, April 28, 2015, after an evening of riots following the funeral of Freddie Gray on Monday, in Baltimore.
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- Maryland National Guardsmen patrol near downtown office buildings, Tuesday, April 28, 2015, in Baltimore, a day following unrest that occurred after Freddie Gray’s funeral.
One mother became a national sensation when she spotted her son about to throw a rock at the police, and she ran out into the street and stopped him; all as the press was filming — she just may have saved his life; and she is considered by many to be a real hero.
These troubles in Baltimore are not just about police brutality; they are also about social injustice. They are not just about race discrimination — they are also about social discrimination. Poor people need jobs; poor people need housing; poor people need education; poor people need medical care; poor people need hope; and poor people need the means to stop being poor people.
Whatever you become in life, remember to do your part for the betterment of poor people — be that through your donations, and/or your expenditures, and/or your attitudes. Whatever your do; do something!
Today we also celebrate two birthdays — my nephew’s (Zak Kostro) and my cousin’s (Alicja Stegawska). To see the Family Tree that I prepared for you, so you can see how these two individuals relate to you, you will need to find what is most comfortable for you — for me, I clicked on the Family Tree (below this paragraph), and then, I set my Screen Zoom to 25%, then I clicked on the Family Tree again, and then I could comfortably read the names, and scroll right and left as needed. [Do not forget to readjust your Zoom back to 100% once you are finished looking at this Family Tree; otherwise, everything will look very strange on your computer monitro.] Can you find yourself in this Family Tree?
Looking at this Family Tree, you may wonder how you relate to the people who are on the same horizontal level as the three of you (I mean: Gavin Dzikowski; Garett Dzikowski; Andrew Dzikowski; Kevin Dziowski; Jack Dzikowski; James Dzikowski; Vincent Gatto; Agela Gatto; Lena Tymowska; Maksym Tymowski; Kayah Bittner; Borys Bittner; and Nina Stegawska) — well, they are your Third Cousins.
The three of you (William, Daniel and Catherine) are First Cousins to each other (the reason for that is because you are children of siblings — Mark, Richard and Margaret).
Children of First Cousins are Second Cousins to each other. Children of Second Cousins are Third Cousins to each other.
You probably have many more Third Cousins because this Family Tree is ONLY from the point of view of my Maternal Grandfather (Antoni Dzikowski). Other Family Trees could be created from the points of view of my Paternal Grandfather (Zygmunt Kostro); Babcia Krysia’s Grandparents; William’s Mom’s Grandparents; Daniel’s Dad’s Grandparents; and Catherine’s Mom’s Grandparents.
So, you see, each one of you is part of a very large family!
Love,
Dziadziuś Paweł.
