Jennifer Meeropol is the granddaughter of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg and the daughter of RFC Founder, Robert Meeropol. Jenn became the Executive Director of the RFC on September 1, 2013. Prior posts on this page were written by Robert (unless otherwise noted), and represent his opinions, which are not necessarily shared by the RFC.In mid-summer every year I can’t help thinking back to 1990 because in July and August of that year I was busily (some might say frantically) planning to launch the RFC. Last year at this time, as our 20th anniversary approached, I posted a blog about how I initiated the RFC. I’m recycling that blog today because people regularly ask me how I put the RFC together. Also, Out on a Limb Together has gained many new readers since last year. Moreover, I believe it is useful information that could benefit anyone who is about to embark on a project.
We received the following email last week from the family of an RFC beneficiary:
“Emma [pseudonym] received a grant this cycle [for summer camp] and while I plan to get around to a formal thank you note I wanted to drop you a message while the thought was in my mind.
Yesterday I asked Emma how she was doing with her worries (worries are the legacy of the FBI raids last [fall]). She said, ‘My worries are fine, camp … makes me forget all about them. Thank you, for helping Emma leave her worries behind for awhile.”
I received the following comment to a blog I posted two weeks ago:
“As a long time supporter of the RFC and an admirer of you personally, I am writing to ask you to publicly come out in opposition to the horrific situation in occupied Palestine. I suspect you understand the situation there well, bet you follow it and in your heart understand the nature of settler colonialist Israel and it's apartheid and ethnic cleansing practices.
Independence Day is behind us, but I’m still thinking about patriotism. Perhaps given the circumstances of my life that’s hardly surprising. In this country we expend plenty of energy debating what constitutes patriotism, but precious little time discussing its efficacy.
Last week I joined the Advisory Board of the Bradley Manning Support Network. I sought them out not only because it is a honor to join a Board that includes Medea Benjamin of Code Pink, as well as Daniel Ellsberg of Pentagon Papers fame, and filmmaker Michael Moore, among others, but also because I believe it is imperative for as many people as possible to raise their voices in support of Manning.