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MOST.  According to the New York Times, the rescue of the 12 boys in Thailand and their soccer coach from a partially-submerged cave system took “an amalgam of muscle and brainpower from around the world: 10,000 people, including 2,000 soldiers, 200 divers and representatives from 100 government agencies.”  All to reunite parents with their children. That’s how much family reunification matters. Or how much it should matter. To everyone.

NOW.  Let’s not lose the full scope of what happened in Thailand over the past two weeks.  Along with an incredible rescue, Thai Navy Seal Samarn Poonan lost his life while diving to transport oxygen to the soccer team deep in the cave.  It’s the ultimate sacrifice to give up one life for another; and while 12 families are being reunited this week, Poonan’s family is grieving. Or, maybe not.  Death in exchange for life has meaning. And purpose. And will never be forgotten. In gratitude...

LEAST.  In a country as divided as ours is right now, stories of nations uniting to achieve a common goal are as critical as ever.  Still, in my neighborhood, Black people kill Black people. And we traffic each other. Sell drugs to one another. And do everything, sometimes it seems, to hold each other back.  Why? If, for two weeks, the entire world can come together to save 12 innocent children in Thailand, it has to be possible for the 16 blocks that make up my ‘hood to let each other live and thrive and grow up to do something great.  Like save some strangers in Thailand.

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