Freedom

The meaning of imprisonment is cruelly and satirically stretched in Freedom by Amy Waldman.  After eighty two prisoners, thought to be among the world's most barbarous terrorists, are abruptly cleared of their supposed crimes against the globe, the United States devises an innovative plan to assimilate them back into the world as "free" men.  A remote island in the South Pacific, appropriately given the name Freedom, is inaugurated, under the guidance of Richard Benson, as the new permanent home for the ex-prisoners.  These new residents of Freedom, primarily Arabic speaking Muslims, are each given their own house complete with contemporary comforts and accommodations.  They are provided with a library, restaurant, community center, and several other recreational opportunities, to the point where Freedom strongly resembles a retirement community.  Accustomed to years of confinement, solitude, and subordination, the eighty two residents struggle in adapting to their new home and liberties.  Benson assigns them occupations and attempts to organize group games, in an effort to boost the morale of the ex-prisoners and instill them with a sense of allegiance to Freedom.  The residents reject Benson's misguided and culturally biased initiatives, and instead resort to their devotion to Islam, much to the dismay of Benson.  It becomes evident that Freedom is viewed as a more tyrannical and mentally oppressive environment than the prison from which the prisoners came.  When Benson offers to fly their families to Freedom, the prisoners refuse, saying they "don't want their children breathing the air of Freedom."  Following the arrival of mail order brides, families begin to emerge on Freedom.  As suicide, murder, and teenage pregnancy become prevalent on Freedom, Benson, who is eventually reassigned, observes that Freedom has become remarkable similar to America.