“What’s that siren?!” I wondered as I turned to its direction from where I stood at the bus stop; there was a sudden hysteria as a convoy of Black Marias with heavily armed escort was making its way through the crowd that swarmed it. Then I heard the distressed voices of the incarcerated crying out to be free in the streets. They were all shirtless, bathed in their sweats and bundled together like sardines in the oven-like Black Marias.
Many stirred by compassion forced through the bars all they could lay their hands on: water, food, money…and the sight that weakened my spirit and made my shoulders drop was seeing how one of the prisoners held tightly with both hands a loaf of bread through the bars. There was deep darkness inside the Black Marias and all I could see and hear were nervous eyeballs and voices of men wailing as they were driven to where they would never go if they had their freedom especially on Christmas Eve.
On my way home that day, the event I just witnessed took control of my mind. I was overwhelmed by the display of compassion by my fellow countrymen as much as I was deeply concerned about the plight of the men in the Black Marias. They all belong to particular families and occupy conspicuous and significant roles of fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, cousins and nephews. Their Christmas wish and that of their respective families would be to celebrate Christmas and New Year together.
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My purpose for sharing this experience is for us to use the condition of these men to reflect on our lives. Yes, some of them could be guilty of the crimes they were accused of while others are innocent. Whatever the case, their fundamental human rights have been suspended and their lives are subjects to the dictates of the punitive laws of the country. They would give anything to walk the streets again as free men, something we all take for granted.
Finally, as 2021 fades into history like its predecessors, if you can read this, you most likely have your fundamental human rights intact. This is all that counts regardless whether you are sick or healthy; have money or not; achieved your goals for this year or not; you should be thankful because only the free can try again given the opportunities laden in 2022.
“Freedom is not the right to do as you please; it is the liberty to do as you ought.”-Anon
Wishing You a Prosperous New Year!