February 20, 2003
OK, close your eyes.
Wait, not yet. You can't read this if you close your eyes. Get somebody to read this to you. While your eyes are closed. OK? You can imagine this, instead of reading it.
Got somebody? Good.
This almost sounds like fun, right? Well, it isn't. Sorry. It's not supposed to be. I'm going to ask you to imagine things that aren't really fun. Not at all.
You're sitting in a 1.8 meter by 2.4 meter space. That's hard for most people in the United States to imagine. The 1.8 meters is the distance you have to move sideways. That's a little less than 6 feet. From side to side. Are you six feet tall? Not quite? Are you five feet tall? A little more? Keep these measurements in mind while you think about this space.
The 2.4 meters is what you have to stand up in. That's almost 8 feet. That's better, since you probably aren't 8 feet tall. I just stood up in my living room. It's probably 10 feet tall, maybe more. Cathedral ceilings and such are way higher. Where I work, in a converted eighteenth century cannon factory, there's at least 15 feet of space. I can move around and not have to think about the ceiling and how high it is.
The walls are wire mesh. Chicken wire, is the first thing I thought of. Not a lot of privacy, for all the things you have to do. For personal duties, you've got a bucket. Not sure of the size. Not sure how often it's emptied.
You can take a shower every day, maybe two, (these are described as "opportunities," so there might be some latitude as to whether they actually happen.) You've got "personal time," maybe for prayer, or other things, although prayer is probably you're best chance for contacting the outside world. There are three meals: A breakfast of "bread, cream cheese, an orange, a pastry, a roll, a bottle of water." Lunch, "typically a box of cereal, two cereal bars, a packet of peanuts, one packet crisps, one packet raisins, a bottle of water." And dinner, "typically white rice, red beans, a banana, bread, a bottle of water."
Hey. At least there's rice and beans to provide some protein.
Other than that, there's exercise, a doctor visit if you're feeling under the weather (the weather being between 72 degrees at night and 82 during the day). You've got a copy of the Koran, and an extra towel to serve as a prayer mat, which you'll no doubt use five times a day. You can write a letter under supervision (all pens collected afterwards!).
I'm not going to discuss why you're here, what particular crime you've committed, what unimaginable alliance of Allah and Satan have led you to this point. Maybe you're guilty; maybe not. I'm not a prosecutor. I'm a reluctant witness.
OK, open your eyes. Feel better?
I have no idea what people in this situation might feel like. But this makes sense, I guess.
eric 9:16 PM
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