by Monica Lakhwani

Created on: April 15, 2009   Last Updated: April 18, 2009

Are people really free?

My husband and I came across a person with the same last name through the internet a few years ago. For many, this may not seem like a big deal but for us there are only a handful of people in the world with that surname. We got to know him, saw pictures of his wife and children, and through many phone conversations became friends. At this time and period in our country, this seems like a step we should not have taken. But sometimes you just have an inner feeling about people and know they have a genuine heart. He eventually visited our home when in America. He would share stories with us which were far beyond our imagination as our lives here in the United States were not comparable to his. For sake of privacy, I would like to use the name Sean when referring to him.

Sean lived in Pakistan and has been raised there all of his life. You see, many of those in India or nearby countries today came from what is now Pakistan. His father was a farmer and landowner; and built his life in that country raising his children to work with him and yet provided them with everything they could ever want. However, there was one thing that his father could not provide ... and that was total freedom. Freedom to pick up and go where they may.

You see, Sean is now in Pakistan married to his wife of fifteen plus years and has three children. He is unable to move out of the country with his belongings. He has visited the United States on many occasions as well as other countries. Sean would love to move his family out of Pakistan and settle in another place, but can't unless he leaves empty-handed. This means that Sean would have to leave behind years of his father's hard earned money and assets. They have acres of property they would be unable to sell. In the event they were to sell and take their earnings with them, they would be killed.

According to him, where would he go without financial stability. Sure if he were alone it would be another story, but he has a family to feed and children to think about. He mentions how his life there is okay as long as he does what is expected of him. I get the feeling that they live a double life for survival: who they truly are inside the home and who they need to be outside. Amidst the terrorism, we forget that there are lives in Pakistan similar to our own. These humans are kind, loving, compassionate and want the same things all of us do: a better life for themselves with peace and love...a chance to live life without fear!

Learn more about this author, Monica Lakhwani.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.