Freedom

I interned in the Philippines as a case manager for a refugee-protection agency. One of my favorite clients was preparing to leave for Canada. As I sat in the taxi with him, after finalizing his documents at the Bureau of Immigration, he expressed his nervousness to me. He was a very wealthy man. He owned several businesses and made more than enough to send both his girls, aged under 10, to international schools. He lived more than comfortably in the Philippines. So I asked him, "Then why are you choosing to leave?"

My question was very naive, but I was really curious, because I could never understand the true experience of not having any political rights as a privileged American citizen. Many people are just numbers, but he was stateless, meaning he wasn't really even alive. Of course, he wanted to go to have political rights.

He did mention, though, that although his friends told him how great Canada is, he wasn't sure for himself, because he has never been there. Therefore, how would he know if life there is actually "better," and really, that experience and definition is subjective. He had to go though. He had to make it to his final destination.....

but how did he know that Canada is forever his final destination? Is freedom bounded by borders? I don't think so....