Saying No

Intelligently, in ways that reopen the gate to the future…

The challenge to say NO

In 2014, as part of that year’s Day of Remembrance of genocides and of prevention of crimes against humanity, Bernard Girard, a history teacher, questioned “the obedience of entire societies… and the inability of individuals to say no when they should have said so.”[1]

Much earlier Leo Tolstoy had written:

“One man does not assert the truth which he knows, because he feels himself bound to the people with whom he is engaged;

another, because the truth might deprive him of the profitable position by which he maintains his family;

a third, because he desires to attain reputation and authority, and then use them in the service of mankind;

a fourth, because he does not wish to destroy old sacred traditions;

a fifth, because he has no desire to offend people;

a sixth, because the expression of the truth would arouse persecution, and disturb the excellent social activity to which he has devoted himself…”[2]

Over a century later, the situation has gone much, much worse. Nowadays, everybody has become so busy, most often to try and make ends meet, while a few earn many…