24 GILLESPIE / DE BEAUVOIR

 "God Bless America" and that's what I've found. You Americans are
 very patriotic. You wear your flag in clothing. It's not a bad thing. I
 find it's very good. You know why? You all have an identity. It's taught
 here. When I was in school, we were taught certain things. In terms of
 fighting for your country no, 'cause we don't have that experience.
 That's why Americans are so patriotic. When they fight for their country,
 they come home and they feel good. So I think that's a part of it. "I've
 been to war." We don't have that. I take independence to mean that
 you are devoid or cut off from certain things. We still have to call on
 the crown for certain things. The Privy Council. You have this. You
 have that. There are things that are still legally bound.
 There is a case going on. I'm suing the police. Right now. I'm not
 supposed to talk about it. I went to court. Based on my appearance,
 on my looks, on my voice, he [the magistrate] found everything with
 me wrong. He started to question me and I had laryngitis that day and
 my voice was like a whisper. So he is like, "what is wrong with your
 voice?" So I said, "pardon me sir, but I'm just talking, but I have
 laryngitis. I found out that he was going through the case and I was
 waiting. So he said, "Were you born with that voice?" I said, "Frankly
 sir, none of us are born speaking. The whole courtroom laughed out.
 He felt bad. He didn't expect me to say that. Then he said, "Your gender
 is also determined at birth." "Sir, what does my gender have to do
 with this case?" "I see here, you were speeding one hundred miles.
 Why is this?"
 And this went on for five minutes. So then he said well he's not sure
 how to address me. "However you choose, I'll answer." He said, "all
 right then. Stand sir." He read me the thing and asked me how I
 pleaded He asked me if I had an attorney. I said, no. The fine was
 $1000.00 or imprisonment. He said, "anyway, step down."
 The man wanted to send me up to Glendairy [the main prison in
 Barbados] for four days on remand. I had to call a lawyer. I was in a
 cell for four hours at Central Police Station. Police came and escorted
 me with gloves on. I was walked across the courtyard. People take my
 picture. Put me upstairs. Well, they put me by myself There were
 criminals next to me, hardened criminals. I was wondering why this
 was happening to me. All I could do was pray. Pray and trust the Lord
 to deliver me like Daniel in the lion's den and I got out with a fine of
 $500.00. Remember, he said it was $1000.00. Can't respect this country
 because of what they've done to me. I am not independent. I am not
 free. So I have no independence here. People never understand that.
 I'm not free. So I don't identify with anything that they do. When it
 comes to independence or waving the flag, I am not a free person. As