Dear Frank

Obviously none of us can do anything about the circumstances of our birth and heritage, but where we become complicit with oppressive forces is when we cultivate wilful ignorance.

Pain has a function, to alert us as to something being wrong, and that should motivate us to take action.

I currently have toothache and you can bet your bottom dollar yen or rupee, that I am very motivated to taking the prescribed three antibiotics a day on time, plus the paracetamol!

I think all of us just by 'virtue' of living in one of the settler colonial Empire states, is benefitting from those centuries long systemic injustices...So the question that arises for me, is in what ways can I pay back, in terms of hard cash, time, skills etc to those born into the exploited occupied regions of the world?

So for me, the Buddhist principle of 'right livilihood', was an important guide.

I hope to find a way of paying those writers for whom Stripe payments do not occur. Perhaps the writers living in stable and comfortable places , could each contribute say, £15 a month, and if ten people do that, the money can be divided up between those writers not receiving anything for their writing from the Medium God.

'Speaking difficult truths' is definitely a long-abiding commitment. Definitely not something I enjoy. It's like the side effects of taking antibiotics, waking up with a dry mouth and digestive issues in the middle of the night... like now ! But it has to be done, taking antibiotics for an infection, speaking difficult truths. The problem is that I just keep getting abandoned.