| The Detainee |
| By Amba Trett |
| |
|
|
| |
I had another one of those ridiculous dreams the other night. I only mention it here because as stupid as it really seems, it actually makes as much sense to me as some of the real life goings on around here. In this dream, for some reason I become acutely concerned about a famous political detainee in some far-flung foreign country. In his younger days the man had won world wide acclaim for his insights and writings about various issues. Since some of his comments annoyed the rulers of his country, he had been imprisoned years ago for refusing to moderate and express his views in a manner that was more acceptable to them. He is middle aged now and it appears that he is destined to spend the rest of his life behind bars, without the freedom to express and disseminate his humanitarian views. It seems to me that this man is more valuable to the world than I am, because people all over the globe still resonate to every word he has ever written. Yet here am I, free as a bird whistling in the wind, in a land that really has no use for me. At least, not very much use, as far as I can see. I might as well be behind bars myself. It occurs to me that if some kind of switch could be arranged so that I could take his place in jail in his country and he could come and live here, the world would be better served. After all, at eighty-four years of age the rest of my life in jail would not be as lengthy as his. And I feel that his world-acclaimed commentaries and the attention they would bring will be a greater blessing to the local scene than anything I can do. To me it seems like a win-win situation all around.
I manage to contact the far-flung foreign country and they are willing to engage in an exchange program that would rid them of the responsibility of “dealing with this notorious pest!” in their midst. Everything must be done in a proper manner though, through diplomatic procedures. Somehow the world press gets wind of things before I manage to alert the local authorities. St. Kitts and Nevis is suddenly inundated by the global media wanting all sorts of information. Even film companies are exploring possibilities of major projects in connection with the idea.
Finally I liaise with local government officials and they are furious that I have made overtures to a foreign power without their prior permission. They claim this makes them look small in the eyes of the outside world. Furthermore, they are adamant that they will not accept a foreign jailbird on our soil under any circumstances. They say they will not allow our pristine territory to become a trashcan for the refuse of foreign despots. They say I must be mad to suggest such things and demand that I surrender my passport at once. They even issue a directive preventing my departure from the island “until further notice!” And they apply to the local court for some sort of gag order preventing me from being interviewed or giving any kind of information to the media.
When pressed by the foreign press for some sort of explanation, the local authorities insist that no national can arrange to participate in international prison swaps except under the joint authority of The Attorney General, The Chief of Police, The Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a few other high positioned local officials. But first, they say, the matter must be brought up in parliament and thoroughly debated according to long established protocol and procedures. On top of all that, through the babbling of their voices I can hear the phrases “treasonous behaviour ... subversive activity ...” and, horror of horrors, the suggestion that I should now be thoroughly interrorgated (sic) to see if I have divulged any state secrets and then deported in disgrace, back to Canada where I was born. Let Canada become the dumping ground for unwanted or useless social commentators.
Through all of this hullaballoo I keep trying to make the point that I am sincerely trying to be helpful. I am only interested in making optimum use of various people’s abilities by rearranging the way they are situated, to better balance the social scales globally and... But I might just as well be talking to the wall for all the good that does. I can tell I’m not going anywhere with that argument. That’s just the way it’s always been around here. It seems that officials will seldom pay any attention to ideas that originate outside the orbit of a certain select few. Yet suddenly I am seized with a sort of missionary zeal and try to present my ideas more vigorously. I become so animated and agitated that the effort wakes me up just as I am about to fall out of bed. I sigh with frustration. There is nothing left for me to do except to get up and prepare myself for the start of a new day. So! What else is new? Should I expect an answer, or is that just a rhetorical Question? (Sigh) Still, I feel a strong affinity between myself and the detainee in that far-flung foreign country. But that’s ridiculous isn’t it! After all, as everybody knows, I’m just a dreamer. Oh well, zzzzzz..... |
