RE: The Latin American Report # 502

"...a dynamic that really hurts me..."

I deeply empathize, and encourage you to reconsider your context so that such apparently unavoidable environmental variables do not cause you suffering. I have learned the hard way that pain isn't suffering, but rather how we view the pain that determines whether we suffer therefrom or not. I hope you do not view my remark here as inconsiderate, because I mean it to point out that your joy in life can be unmitigated by suffering from this circumstance, to apprise you that you are empowered in this specific to yourself determine how you view the matter, and whether you suffer from it, or revel in it.

Taxing remittances is directly contrary to the claimed purpose of humanitarian aid. DOGE's claimed purpose is to oppose by shutting down USAID, etc., and prevent such contradiction. It's actually a tax imposed on needy families pulling themselves up by their bootstraps. In my view it demonstrates a pathological disregard for civil society and the power of merit to overcome hardship, an inhuman and inhumane attempt to extract money from substantial streams of transactions no less malevolent than taxing emergency room surgeries, donations of food to food banks, or any other humanitarian endeavor. It's as if AI was tasked with seeking new sources of revenue, because of that inhuman dearth of conscience. I find it unconscionable.

Regarding the accident with the Mexican ship striking the Brooklyn Bridge, in the video I saw the tugboat appeared to be dragging the ship backwards towards the bridge. I am incredulous that is what actually happened, because any pilot so blatantly causing such an incident so publicly would be practically volunteering to spend the rest of their lives in prison. Do you know if the Cuauhtémoc was under tow at the time? River pilots are required to control ships in such places, and I am aware a tug drew the ship from it's berth, but no affirmative confirmation indicates it was still under tow when the accident occurred I have found.

Thanks!

Hello friend. Thank you always for taking the time to read and reflect so generously on my content.

I appreciate your thoughtful distinction between pain and suffering. Reframing pain is a powerful inner resource for sure. I just know that something feels wrong in these dynamics I see around me, whether it’s coming from the political regime or these very colleagues. Sometimes I think they could do more, other times I feel like the context is swallowing them whole.

Regarding the issue of taxing remittances, I fully agree with you. As for the incident involving the Cuauhtémoc, I hadn’t seen the footage you refer to. Indeed, I haven’t dived deep into the details yet. I know something went out of control, lives were lost, and there’s a lot of debate about the maneuvers involved. I’ll try to look further into the incident. Thanks again for your sound, and always welcome feedback.