I liked your piece. You are very earnest and forthright in your positions. I respect that.

Hope is important. I agree, it's what gets us through the really bad times.

Plus, I am a huge sci-fi nerd from way back to the sixties. So, we have points of commonality.

Having said all that, the real reason I read your piece is your last name. Furtado is not a common name. I have heard it only once before in my life.

I went to grade school with a boy named Mike Furtado in San Jose California. I thought he might be your dad but now I'm thinking maybe grandfather.

It's a wildly off topic query and I apologize Like I said I only ever heard that name once before.