The exchange 2

“ Well… we have you now and are closing in on you all.”
 
No response from the man across the desk. He is motionless and staring straight at the wall. No contact or recognition with the officer who has entered the room.
 
“ I can smell…erm.” starts to sniff and begins to smile ……” I can smell. …victory.”
 
He stares straight at the suspect. Who looks back. This is the first time he has been acknowledged and also been able to get a reaction. He smiles again, as he feels he is near.
 
“Well I do believe you are not the man you think you are…you see in our culture there is a feeling beyond oneself. It is called altruism and it enables a society like ours to function well. Not in your make-up is it?
No no no no. It would be too difficult for a man of limited intelligence and knowledge to think like that. You people are all stupid and one-dimensional. Everything is easy to reduce to someone else’s fault. But its not that simple we are all in this together. We have to share the blame as well.”
 
The man at the desk looks agitated and his eyes are fixed on the officer who he recognizes is trying to drag him in. But its his pride that is attacked now. This is not acceptable and also what is the point, as he will rot in a cell forever. I might as well go for it really…nothing to lose he thought.
 
“ You and your people feel its everybody in the Western world who are to blame. Yet you grew up here, were vaccinated to have a life here schooled and educated here. In your mother’s country you would have struggled to live. This is your repayment? We give you life in this liberal and open society. You try and met us with death. If that fair?”
 
Well,,,,I would respond but this officer likes the sound of his own voice too much. He has read some cultural pages in the Guardian and feels he understands. The arrogance of it, that the weakness of the west… sometimes it is too arrogant and dismissive of its gaps. It has them of course.
 
“ You seem to gloat…but there is one thing you have forgotten to read about in your understanding of culture.”
 
The officer turned around astonished but also happy that he had at last got a reaction and therefore successfully ‘cracked’ the suspect. His reputation was intact now. This made him smile more.
 
“Well… what is this you deem to find me worthy of a debate..well this will be interesting. Why are you against the society that made you. Are you not aware that you have had opportunity and options beyond your parents country. This was supposed to make you happy and part of this country. Some people would describe you as ungrateful and …well not worth keeping here.”
 
“ Some people you say… I think that is most people. I was born here and grew up here. But there is a flaw in your open and free society. It is not even and …ok... you have more choice… but there can be too much and the ‘wrong’ choice is often made. That is illustrative of the ‘converts’ we have recruited in prison. Your society that is open has let people down. It has left those who are not aware enough to make good choices. Also the class system you have here is not showing that everybody has the best opportunity. This society is not equal. It is not superior to any other society; it is different and creates the people who want to kill it. This problem is your very own. I am an illustration of that fact.”
 
“ Well… a very intelligent argument and it has some points. The recruits you hired in prison ran the operation and carried out the plants. who was behind this ?
 
“ Well the converts knew the risks…they are the soldiers on the ground.”
 
“But they did the donkey work and nothing else?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
 
Strike one that is the first nail in the coffin of the rest. The officer was growing more confident, but he was aware that this suspect as a very intelligent person. Not someone who could be brushed aside by simple logical engagement. This is why he as offended by the reference to ‘not being intelligent’. Of course he thinks he is superior to the Police.
 
“What is your problem with Britain? Do you not feel part of it…well clearly not… why all of this. I man...you are wearing a Manchester United shirt for fucks sake.”
 
“ It is a fault in the system. We have been oppressed in this country as we have been in the world. We have no power. We look different and therefore are not adaptable to the products of the west. For example… we are not in the market to buy Levi 501’s or razors are we? I hate Madonna and all that pious shit they call pop. The girls dress like they really have one thing on their minds. How can a sophisticate, intelligent culture express itself like that. Sex sells but it is everywhere…of course the sexual element is a base extinct and we are human beings intelligent of thinking beyond this. Yet you supply us all with this image of unthinking predictable twats. This is a system that creates contempt from within ….all the people who are fat, not right or look like Brat Pitt or Jennifer Aniston. Also they are not people who want to be famous for nothing like Jordan or that ugly woman… whatever her name is. It is a shame that you defend such a concept.”
 
“ Well…it is open and there are winners and losers … but the majority have freedom and wealth beyond what they need. It has given you opportunities to better yourself. It is your own fault that you have taken the wrong choices. Not anybody else’s. Am I really to blame for you being here now…really? It is a cheap argument. Under what you want we would have no choice. As for adverts they are not appealing to all and in a free society you are free to think about it or not. That is an enriching thing, a society that allows you to think and then choose. Of course some people do not think but choose. Those people end up here in front of me.”
 
“ Really…do you not feel that this society, that rejected me and my friends is my fault for being crap at choosing? What about being poor and racism, that stops you using the system to better yourself. How many Muslims are rich second generation immigrants? I will tell you… a hand full  but as for Indians and Kenyans there are hundreds of them. Why they are culturally better assimilated … they wear Levi and shave. Can you not see that? We are forgotten and pushed aside by this society so why should we embrace it and of course you now?”
 
This was interesting but the focus of the interrogation was being lost. However, the officer was being dragged into this debate. He felt he had a duty to defend democracy. This was an important concept that defined living in this country. This was important. He would try and incorporate this into gathering information as well.
 
“ Look… it is but an easy option to blame this culture and society for letting you down.. You could argue in a pluralist society, and in the process of multi-culturalism, you have not moved towards this culture in anyway and therefore marginalize yourself. This has resulted in racism being more effective a tool to push you down. There needs to be a movement from you as well to make this society work.”
 
 
“ Yes we…are the easy option now. That maybe correct but I was born here forgotten and discarded by this society. I grew up with only Muslims and white people would run a mile from me. I did not drink and therefore the pub, that cultural epicenter of Britain was not for me. I was excluded and there was not effort to create an area where I could integrate. Even in sport and especially cricket. Well you know what happened in Yorkshire. This society has faults and I am and will argue to you, but a product of this society."
 
Well...the officer thought, he has a point. The capitalist society as he said earlier has winners and losers. He was looking at a loser, But this person seems to really like being a loser. Did he choose to become one?
 
“Well you seemed to have a choice… studied at Cambridge and PPE could have done the footlights and been at the BBC or politics. What happened to you did you choose badly. Because if you did… is that all our fault… you know everyone who wears Levi jeans?”
 
He was met with silence. But this encouraged the narrator of the moment.
 
“ Politics and such a telegenic face could have made the differences of building bridges not trenches. You failed your religion and humanity as a result. You feel guilty and you blame society. Its faceless and everybody is to blame for your failed choice and failed life.”
 
“ What do you know about my religion? What do you honestly know?”
 
He knew this would draw a reaction. He smiled again. He was enjoying this too much and the ideology was becoming the battleground. It would not be long before his superior interrupted him. But he had to move this debate on.
 
“ Well I know that your religion is a peaceful and lawful religion. Such states gave us our number system. You have not followed the ancient society. It was thinking above the level of human reaction. You and your bent screwed up version of your religion has dragged it down in the gutter. You the brightest one of the lot, privileged, because as you know not everyone gets to Cambridge. You are but a reaction to the West. That’s all you are you are not religious. None of you are. That much I know.”
 
Met with silence.
 
“ I defend myself and my culture you just stand there and take my insults… you and your culture are weak.”
 
“Oh know that’s the beauty to take criticism and grow from it … what are you scared of… that you are all wrong?”
 
The door slams open and another officer comes in.
 
“As interesting as the conversion goes… this is not question time or a Sunday morning debate on Radio 4. Get out if you have lost the plot sergeant.”
 
“Sorry Sir.. but as you know when one has studied Theology, it is so wonderful when you can use it.”
 
“ Really… should have become a priest shouldn’t have you… but you’re not and this is not a church so get lost. I am taking over now thank you sergeant.”
 
The officer smiles again and leaves. He aims his smile to the person at they desk. He know felt he had gained his victory.  He stared back at the man behind the desk… he had is head in his hands. It was almost as if he knew now his choice was ‘bad’.