311 DAYS WITHOUT FREEDOM
When Shane, Sarah and Josh requested that we celebrate our freedom for them to mark 300 days of their detainment, I so wanted to honour it. It was the first time in 300 days that we had a direct request from them. The first time we were able to mark their detainment in a way that we knew they wanted. The first time we could communicate a request from them to the world.
And what they wanted communicates to the world just what kind of people they are. Even after more than 300 days of separation from their loved ones and almost total isolation from the world, they want others to live the freedom they don’t have. I’ve certainly been more acutely aware of my freedom than ever before since their capture and detainment on July 31, 2009. At the same time, it has been impossible to feel free and it will continue to be until they are all free.
The loss of freedom I notice the most is my inability to communicate directly with Josh, someone I was with for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 4 months just weeks before his capture. Someone I talked to face to face every day, multiple times a day for 4 months, and then kept in touch with by email, online chatting and facebook up until 2 days before his capture. Now not only can I not communicate with him in any of these ways that we all take for granted, but he can’t communicate with anyone other than Sarah and Shane. He can’t call anyone, not even his mother, father or brother. He can’t email, text, tweet, chat with, or facebook message anyone. Letters sent to him are screened and he doesn’t receive them all. He has only had one opportunity, through his mother’s recent visit, to hear what is being done to fight for his freedom. He has not yet had one opportunity to meet with his lawyer. He can not plea for his own freedom, tell his story, ask for, or what I imagine is even more difficult for him, give support. So I do it for him. Face to face and by email, text message, online chat, twitter and facebook. Every day, multiple times a day, with as many people as I can.
About the author
Kenyan-born Canadian global mental health policy researcher and Free the Hikers campaign co-founder (for my beloved brother Josh)
| Print article | This entry was posted by Farah on June 8, 2010 at 4:06 AM, and is filed under 300 DAYS, ACTIVITIES & EVENTS, FREEDOM, FYI, REFLECTIONS. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Pingback: Tweets that mention 311 DAYS WITHOUT FREEDOM -- Topsy.com