The Senator scoffed. ‘Ma’am, you may be American, or half-American, or whatever you are. But nobody’s entitled to anything unless they make it themselves. Not even Americans.’
Placidia confronted him directly. ‘Senator. Americans are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Do you know what sort of life most Africans are entitled to?’
‘Tell me.’
‘Most are lucky if they survive childhood. Adult men get sucked into war, where they die. Adult women die giving birth.’
The Senator raised his eyebrows, unsure what to say.
Placidia didn’t relent. ‘And do you know what sort of liberty most African migrants enjoy?’ She barely waited for the Senator to reply. ‘None, Senator. There is no liberty of the mind because there is no proper education here. Not for migrants. There is no liberty of the soul because of the war and poverty. The new democratic regime of Libya talks about liberty, but really they just want us to obey them…’
‘OK, OK.’ The Senator waved his hand dismissively as he cut her off. ‘So Libya’s a shit place. We can agree on that. What do you want me to do about it?’
Placidia composed herself, reining back her anger. ‘Senator, you know when the US constitution was first written, it counted black men as worth only three-fifths of a white man?’
The Senator nodded. Although it was often brushed over in praiseful accounts of the founding fathers, Placidia was referring to a historical truth: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and the others had signed up to the ‘three-fifths’ compromise so that southern states weren’t over-represented in Congress. The paragraph was only removed from the constitution after the US Civil War, by the fourteenth amendment. ‘Correct, lady. And American women had no vote at all until 1920. So?’
‘So, Senator, you’ll agree with me, that everybody should count as one, and nobody as more than one?’ said Placidia, her face open, as if to pretend there was no trick in her words.
The Senator was sceptical, but didn’t want to argue the point. ‘Go on.’
‘So if an African migrant here in Libya dies, it’s just as much of a tragedy as if an American dies. If you can help these landless people, then you have a duty to, sir.’
The Senator looked down, paused for a moment, then shook his head. He sympathised with Placidia’s situation. He cared for the African migrants trapped in Libya, as he cared for people all around the world. But he couldn’t do much to help them. ‘Placidia, we can’t send US troops here. It wouldn’t work.’
She began quoting him. ‘“The laws of the land should reach beyond the sea” — your words, Senator.’
‘They are my words, yes,’ he admitted. ‘But that doesn’t mean we can help.’
‘I thought you’d say that,’ replied Placidia. ‘Which is why the only way for our people — these hard-working migrants — to get the life, liberty and happiness they deserve is…’ She paused before the punchline, making sure she held the Senator’s gaze as she delivered it. ‘Senator, for you to let them settle in the continental United States.’
The Senator raised his hands, as if to gesture what a ridiculous idea it was.
Myles, Dick and Juma all turned to Placidia, wondering how she would react.
Placidia faked a smile. ‘So that’s a “no”, then, Senator?’
‘Goddamn right it’s a “no”,’ confirmed Roosevelt. ‘The voters in the US would never allow it. Any elected official who proposed mass immigration into America would be kicked straight out of Congress.’ The Senator was half-laughing at the idea as he spoke.
Placidia nodded. She had anticipated this, too. ‘Then the US will have to be forced to live up to its duties, and to the Constitution of which it is so proud.’
‘Lady, you can’t force the United States to do anything.’
‘Yes I can. I will bring down the United States as the Roman Empire was brought down. Call it the last prophecy of Rome if you like: that the American Empire will share its fate.’
The Senator sat stunned.
Placidia rammed home her ultimatum. ‘Last chance: let our people settle in the continental USA, or your country is doomed.’
Seventeen
The Senator squinted in disbelief. He was becoming increasingly certain he was dealing with a crackpot. The only question was whether he should humour her or tell her straight. Being Sam Roosevelt, he had to tell her straight. ‘Lady, you’re mad.’
Placidia had obviously prepared for such a response. ‘Really, Senator? You accept that America was created with the Roman Republic in mind? That’s why the rule of law — a very Roman invention — was placed at the centre of the US Constitution. That’s why you sit in the Senate, modelled on the Roman Senate. That’s why you have the Capitol building, like the Roman Capitol, and a President who controls the armed forces like the Roman Emperor. That’s why you offer US citizenship as a prize, just as the Romans offered citizenship to the bravest foreign slaves and soldiers. That’s why you cleared the Native Americans from their land, like the Romans wiped out local tribes…’
‘Enough.’ The Senator raised his hand. He had met women like Placidia before. He hated their self-righteousness. ‘Nobody disputes that America was based on Rome,’ he acknowledged. ‘What makes you mad, ma’am, is that you think you can bring America down.’
‘You don’t think we can bring America down, Senator?’
‘No, I don’t. I reckon you could bring down some of our passenger jets. You might smuggle a few bombs into our country and kill some ordinary folks who are going about their business. That’s what terrorists like you do. But it barely scratches us. We lose more people in road accidents every single week than we have in all the terrorist attacks since — and including — 9/11.’
Placidia exhaled dismissively. The Senator clearly hadn’t got it. ‘I’m not talking about small bombs, or even big ones, Senator.’ This wasn’t terrorism, she explained. It was about making the United States stay true to its principles. Then she looked him squarely in the eye. ‘America is in decline.’
Sam Roosevelt jerked back his face. He raised an eyebrow, accepting that she may be half-right. He allowed her to continue.
‘You know America’s in decline, Senator. And the American people are starting to realise it too: most of them are working harder than their parents did just to get by. Many know their children will have less than they had. Just like Rome before it fell. So, to help America help itself, I’m threatening to speed up that decline until the United States stays true to its constitution.’
Myles shook his head. This was a different Placidia to the idealist young woman he had known at university. ‘You’re threatening to kill Americans if you don’t get your way?’ he said, trying to hide the disbelief from his voice.
‘Don’t you see, Myles: I’m trying to save people. I’m trying to save these poor people from Chad, Somalia, Sudan — all over Africa — so they can live peacefully in the US. And I’m trying to save Americans, too, to stop the country going the way of the Romans.’
‘And you’re doing that by threatening to kill people?’
Placidia’s face showed she was disappointed with Myles. ‘Don’t you remember what we learned together about the Roman Empire? Have you forgotten everything in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire? Everything you need to know about Rome is in that book — and if you want to save America, you should look at it again…’
Calmly, the Senator gestured to Myles that he should be quiet. Sam Roosevelt decided that if Placidia wanted to give a history lesson, he should let her. He invited her to speak.