Table and Four Chairs

During the years of my lifetime so far, starting in the early 50’s, I have heard about, seen or read about violent confrontations in the street with police on one side and protesters on the other side. To a lesser extent the ongoings of dialogue and negotiations in meeting rooms are not news-worthy until a resolution is published or the talks break down. Here I am more concerned about the former although in the end it should lead to the success, not failure, of the latter. 

Many now-a-days are calling for cuts to police budgets. I don’t disagree, but would caution by saying cutting community crippling police budgets is not all that is required to be changed. Before that can happen or maybe more accurately, at the same time a serious shift in societal thinking needs to occur.

Confrontation does not just happen in a vacuum. There are reasons developed over time leading to confrontation. A budget cut by itself could in practice lead to more aggressive responses by police earlier rather than later on the basis of thinking, stop it now before it gets out of hand. We have to remember, policing is a tool and in big situations is used at the discretion of authority based upon their assessment of the situation and their priorities. The attitudes and beliefs of our leadership then are of paramount importance. So address the thinking by authority as we consider budgets and protocols. Confrontation, rubber bullets, tear gas, riot gear, stuffed wallets, homeless, knees are not the way forward.

Meaningful dialogue among all parties will be central to achieving the necessary changes in our thinking and decisions. Subsequent to confrontation and unresolved issues more unrest and confrontation is likely as situations fester. But, dialogue with empty promises to pacify won’t work either. The goal should be to rectify issues, the only goal worth pursuing and to achieve it will require respect, honesty, trust and full disclosure. Through dialogue we can achieve a break in the cyclical dilemma of put down don’t let up. In your face tactics with lots of shouting generally goes nowhere, only succeeding to put backs up, when stepping back and calm reality with open minds on all sides is required. Rectifying issues requires deep understanding not possible from a distance. Remote must convert to proximate to ensure presence in the issues, to feel, taste, hear, smell, see and overall to experience to enable deep understanding. Issues involving poverty, prejudice and privilege should not be allowed to continue to be under-represented in our efforts to rectify. Decisions sending the wrong message causes disrespect for the participants and systems controlling agendas leading to widespread unrest, disagreement, disappointment, enmity and inevitably more confrontation.

So much more could and can be achieved with a willingness to come to chairs and a table. Imagine, during a confrontation instead of pulling out the arsenal of deterrence or the placards and bricks of protest, a table and chairs being placed between with a genuine invitation for dialogue accompanied by a commitment to rectify. The thing about protest is its substantive foundation. Only by addressing the concerns with full involvement from those being impacted can they be resolved.