As the original texts are written in Turkish, English translation is provided for non-Turkish readers. The author apologizes in advance for any and all possible changes and losses in meaning due to translation.
“Freedom begins by saying ‘no’!”
At the weekend I was in a mall, waiting in the cash queue. I saw a mother trying hard to convince her kid to eat. The kid, whose linguistic abilities had recently begun to develop, suddenly said “NO” in force. The reaction of the mother indicated that it was the first “no” of the child. Instantly, the kid shrank his lips (act of rebellion) and the mother’s jaw dropped (astonishment). In that moment, the relationship between the mother and the kid took a new dimension. I should say that it has been an interesting observation for me.
Martin Luther (1453-1546) said that every liberation begins by saying “no”. The liberation that begins with a “no” should be respected and cherished. In fact, this is not only about the relationship between parents and children. Let’s think about it a little: How do we react to “no” as an answer in our society and environment?
First, I have to say that, as a society, we usually perceive “no” as a danger. However, for every individual who does not want to be tied to a single way of thinking and who is open to innovation and development, “no” requires a constructive approach. Being open to innovation is an innate trait. For this reason, one should be able to tolerate objections in hierarchical relations, friendships, and even love affairs. Fear of “no” as an answer can often leave an impression of a trust issue in those who feel inadequate in life and take shelter in their own worldview, ignoring the new.
As the French diplomat, resister, and writer Stéphane Hessel said, by approaching constructively to “no” as an answer, we can perform our primary task to design the future world no matter how complex it may be and we can let the “new” come to light.
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