Finding our National ‘Absolutely Not’ in Greater Boston

from the personal realm to the national realm, the ideal time for “absolutely not” can easily be missed, but it also can be reestablished

Parenting and teaching are significant focuses of my work. Teachers and parents are authorities, and they are wise to exercise their authority thoughtfully. There are many opportunities to leave room for error, to allow children to find their own paths, and to discuss, compromise and see what develops. 

There is also a time for “absolutely not.” 

A good example of a time for “absolutely not” is when children hit. We can work with some poor negotiation skills, we can leave space for children to work out differences, however clumsily. But when children hit, it’s time for the adult in charge to say “absolutely not”, or their own version of it, and stop the behavior right away. Sometimes a behavior like hitting can start quietly in small ways, and we may not recognize it right away. However, missing the time for “absolutely not” doesn’t mean we can’t establish it once we realize it. In fact, it’s extra important that we do.

This brings me to the national realm. In the United States, our idea is that the people are the ultimate authority.  Clearly, our nation lives up to that idea to various degrees over time. I think we missed the initial right time for “absolutely not”. The introduction of masked federal agents should have provoked an “absolutely not” response from the people. Instead, it has taken the videoed killings of two American citizens in our streets to get us to pay attention and say “no.” And now, it becomes crystal clear that we absolutely cannot have armed, anonymous, masked federal agents on our streets or knocking on our doors. 

If and when they are seen in Greater Boston, I hope those of us who can risk doing so stop what we are doing, stand up to them, tell them clearly and non-violently, with our words and our presence “absolutely not!” We must do everything we can while remaining non-violent to make it clear that they are not welcome here in their masks, dressed and armed for war on the streets of America. ICE out now.