Futility of violence and ugliness of cruelty on full display
We are ‘responding to a broken system by breaking the lives of good and decent people,’ writes a Brooksville reader
Jan. 27, 2026
By Anne Ferrara
A protest this month of ICE operations in Minneapolis. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Fibonacci Blue.
At this pivotal moment in our nation’s history, fear is being normalized, violence is being amplified, and democratic life is under severe strain. For those of us who firmly believe that we are called to a love that does no harm and insists on the dignity of every person, life is proving very challenging, indeed.
Having just celebrated the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr on January 19th, we are reminded that violence does not resolve conflict or restore peace. It deepens wounds and multiplies suffering. What we are seeing in Minneapolis this month is a stark reminder of the futility of violence, of the ugliness of cruelty. We are also witnessing groups of people with profound interior strength and sustained commitment. We see neighbors, clergy, students, local law enforcement practicing disciplined, courageous action rooted in justice. The cruelty being perpetrated by ICE is eliciting compassion, empathy and concern in equal measure. The beloved community is on full display.
ICE is now in Maine–primarily in Portland and Lewiston. Here, too, our immigrant sisters and brothers are being violently detained. People, most of whom are here legally, are living in fear, staying home from work and school, running out of groceries and missing medical appointments. People of color are being ripped from their cars, picked up at schools, jobs and churches, attacked at their homes without judicial warrants. At the same time, there is good news to report. Business owners, church communities, students, union members and all manner of folks are offering the world a beautiful example of what it means to “Love thy neighbor.” The beloved community is alive and well here in Maine.
I have spent most of my adult life working with, living with and learning from our immigrant sisters and brothers. It has been a privilege to listen to their stories and share their lives. I have heard stories of torture, of violence, of hunger and of fear. I am in awe of their courage, their commitment to their families, and their deep respect for their new home here in America. And truth be told, we are all the children of immigrants, save our indigenous sisters and brothers. This shared history can open our hearts and remind us of our common humanity.
It is clearly past time to fix our broken immigration system. Imagine if the billions of dollars being dedicated to ICE were spent on hiring immigration judges so that the vast majority of immigrants who are not criminals could actually pursue legal status. Right now, that process takes years and exorbitant legal fees. It seems we are responding to a broken system by breaking the lives of good and decent people who care for our children and elderly, who grow our food, who work in our factories, who clean our houses, who mow our lawns, who roof our buildings, who work in our hospitals and nursing homes. These new Mainers are clearly not the worst of the worst.
Let’s choose to be open-minded and open-hearted so that together we will create the world we want our children and grandchildren to live in. This peninsula is filled with people who take care of one another with goodness and kindness. Let’s continue to do that: to spread light, not darkness, and to spread love, not hate.
–Ferrara lives in Brooksville.
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