Jiayang Fan:

In the next four to eight years, American children will be born in a country led by a vainglorious man who wishes to fit facts—and their future—into the convenient shape of his ego. But democracy, freedom of expression, and, above all, the right to truth are not antiquated pieties. They belong to citizens who can still make their voices heard, before resignation metastasizes into complacency, exhaustion into self-doubt. The struggle will be to maintain openness and tolerance as the norm, the values that our children absorb into their identities naturally—to be defended rather than be defensive about.

Empowering voice.

Kanye West, “Jesus Walks”:

We’re at war
We’re at war with terrorism, racism
But most of all We’re at war with ourselves

These words are more relevant now than ever.

Our little Xuân started daycare on Monday. The first day, the entire family dropped him off. I didn’t cry when a teacher held him for a few minutes. Then he realized she was holding on him for too long and started to bawl. He was doing fine when we came to pick him up. I have been dropping him off in the past two days and the old feeling came back. Even though I know he will be fine, it is still heartbreaking hearing him cry.

Last night before bedtime, I told Đán to use the bathroom. He replied, “I don’t need to go to the bathroom. My cu said he doesn’t need to go pee pee.” OK son, you’ve made the case.

In his latest NetFlix special, Brennan showcases with writing skills. His materials, divided into three categories (one-liner, emotional, and traditional), are clever, provocative, and honest. Brennan bares his soul when he talks about his personal stories including his battle with depression. A dark and beautiful performance.

Unlike the two gutless cowards, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan, the acting Attorney General Sally Yates defies the incompetent president. In a letter to Justice Department, she writes:

My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts.…

Consequently, for as long as I am the Acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the Executive Order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so.

Although she understood the result of her action, she has made a powerful statement. It takes courage, and even career, to stand up for justice and the people—something many men (including the two spineless GOP leaders) could not do.

In just two weeks, we have witnessed how the people had stood up to the incompetent president. The Women’s March trumped the inauguration. Do we need to see the photos again? The beautiful, hand-crafted pussyhats trumped the “Make America Great Again” red caps, which made in China.

While he was boasting that his Muslim ban was “working out very nicely—you see it in the airports,” the video of the airports showed chaotic scenes with protesters and lawyers.

Thanks to social media, organizing protests against the incompetent-in-chief is fast and effective. More crowds are to be expected in the nomination of the Supreme Court Justice, marches for science, protests for Tax Day, and fights for healthcare.

With the $20 million dollars raised in two days the ACLU, the people have demonstrated that no one, not even the president, is above the law.

Let’s keep the momentum going because the size of the crowd matters. The protesters get under his skin because they have stolen the limelight from him.

This is not even satirical. Andy Borowitz:

Calling it a “medical mystery of the first order,” scientists are baffled by the ability of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan to stand upright without the benefit of spines.

These two spineless cowards are an embarrassment for America.

How ironic is it that a malignant narcissistic who claimed to make America great again had brought out the greatness in America? His executive action was meant to divide us, but it united us instead. I am grateful to witness the support, particularly the lawyers working on the ground, for our Muslim families. One of the characteristics that makes America great is its diversity; therefore, an attack on one particular community is an attack on all of us. We must fight against bigotry. America is great when we are together. Not a damn demagogue can tear us apart.

George Mason President Ángel Cabrera:

At George Mason, hundreds of faculty, staff and students were born outside of the United States, including our Provost, our Vice President of Research, our Dean of Science, some of our most distinguished professors, and yours truly. Many of the most talented leaders, academics, humanitarians, and entrepreneurs to come out of Mason are immigrants.…

It is now more important than ever that we continue to be an example of civility and inclusion, a place where we can all thrive together regardless of where we come from. This is not only the defining characteristic of our university; it is the hallmark of American higher education.

I still put a diaper on Đán at night even though he’s already five years old. Unlike his older brother, Đán is a deep sleeper who loves to drink lots of ice cold water before going to bed. He can hold his water pretty well in four out of five nights. Each morning he would tell me that he did not pee in his diaper. This morning he told me the same thing even though his diaper was filled with urine. I relied, “Yes, if you are using alternative facts.”