I just finished reading Animal Farm, only the second book I’ve managed to complete since I arrived almost two weeks ago. Wow, what a read!
Although I thought 1984 was one of the most prophetic books written, I now see Animal Farm clearly takes the cake. From the constant slashing and burning of the constitution to the mythical terrorism plotted by Snowball — the book parallels the current administration’s war on civil liberties and the fear fueled by the specter of Osama Bin Laden.
Just as Boxer was betrayed by Napolean and taken to slaughter once he had eclipsed his productive years — so too are people betrayed by our very own government. Since arriving in Dublin, I’ve heard two such tales — one more harrowing than the other.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised hearing treacherous stories about our government in a federal prison, but these tales did not come from my fellow inmates but the employees themselves.
Yesterday afternoon I was called in to receive a check-up on my health, and I began making conversation with the P.A. Upon learning her story of how she came to work here, tears began to well up in my eyes.
You see, Ms. Anderson (not her real name) never planned to be a prison doctor. Her first career involved mental health work treating indigent people in an urban environment. A stressful and exhausting career that she couldn’t continue after being injured.
After that, she entered a program through the federal government to retrain as a physicians assistant. As part of that program, she agreed to work treating migrant workers. However, upon completing her training, she was told that she would actually be working here in this prison. After protesting this betrayel, she was informed that she could either work in the prison or join the population. She chose the former and seems to be making the most of it.
The other tale is a common one, and a story I’ve heard many times before: combat vet faithfully serves his country, develops rash due to Anthrax vaccine, and then he’s told that the only health coverage he’s guaranteed is a semi-annual dental screening.
How’s that for a wake-up call?