When I was in Junior High, I had my "fair share" of being picked on, teased, and bullied ...and arguably, it could be said that I allowed it, because I was bigger than them. I certainly didn't like the taunting, but I didn't like to fight either.

Now, I know there are always differences in opinion.  And I also know others, like myself, who are quick to give advice ...especially, after the fact.  But, go ahead and tell me what you think I should have done!

What I did, was virtually nothing ...except, tolerate it, and internalize my own private torment because I didn't want to share it.

I was in the 7th grade, when it was mostly verbal teasing.

But the build up of it was really getting to me. My dad could see that I wasn't my usual self, and asked me what was wrong.  I said it was nothing. Dad said not to tell him it was nothing, he could tell it was something.  But I didn't want to say what it was ...and I just told him I could handle it.

The following week, he said he could see I hadn't handled it, and asked again what was wrong.

I said it was just a kid bothering me at school. He asked if the kid was bigger than me.  I said, no ...and he promptly told me to knock the kid down!!

A couple days went by ...and my dad asked if the kid was still bothering me.

I said, "Yes."   He asked, "Did you knock him down?"   I said, "No."  He told me, "I'm going to tell you what my dad told me.  If you don't knock him down, I'm going to knock you down!"

I wasn't afraid of my dad, but I was afraid of what he'd think of me.

So, I went to school, and when the kid taunted me, I knocked him down.

Do you know what happened next?

The kid did not give up!  I knocked him down three or four times, and all he did ...was do it more!!  I didn't really want to hurt him.  And besides, things were different in my dad's day ...they usually just considered it fair treatment that would toughen up a kid, when having to face obstacles like this.  But in my day, the schools had to deal with incidents where students were prosecuted for extreme violence ...and I'm convinced this kid wouldn't have stopped unless I sent him to the hospital, which I would've never dreamed of doing.

I was so thankful it was near the end of the school year, and summer was coming.

I wouldn't have to deal with any taunting for at least three months!!!

What do you think happened next?

He sat behind me in church, and taunted me!   I thought, "Is nothing sacred?"

The next year, in 8th grade, a new kid came along.

But his game was not talking.  He did very little of it.  Usually his talk was limited to very direct threats.  It was no longer just my emotions I had to contend with ...it was physical bullying.  And it was not beneath his dignity to get friends to help trick me into the vicious circle of eager bystanders.  They would join in the act of tripping me and shoving me to the ground, so he could leap on me and begin pummeling me with his fists.

The next year, I was a freshman in High School ...

I went out for the football team.  The main bully lined up against me in the drills.  He charged at me ...but when we collided, he bit the dust.

He jumped up, snarling and threatening to get me good the next time, but I knocked him down a second time ...and a third time.  

The second week, he wasn't there.  Word was that he had quit the team.  I liked these new set of unwritten rules.  In my High School, it was uncool to fight.  If you thought you could hold your own, you went out for sports ...and played by the rules.

Some would refer to these new set of rules as ...maturity, other may call it entering early adulthood.

Many of you know my work experience ...inclusive of working with wayward teens, and working in the adult prison.

I never liked bullying and intimidation.  I stood up against it on the job, not taking the easy route.  I believed in doing what was right.  And I believe we should stand up for what is right, and protect ...and stand with those standing for us.

How far out is this idea:

Suppose that: if someone attacks us, we should take them on, and instead of incurring massive debt in doing so ...just suppose we use their resources to pay for the cost in defeating them.   Let just say, until they agree to be peaceful again.  And if they want to destroy us ...let's just say, we will attempt to talk about it, but if that is still their final analysis, to destroy us, then come right out and say it to our face!  Admit that you are declaring war on us ...just make it clear, so we can make our clear choices.  No mixed messages, please!  Is that polite enough for you?  

If we don't believe bullying should be tolerated in schools ...then maybe some of those bullies on the national scale should be schooled.

But, just come right out and say it ...don't initiate the hatred and violence, then later act like the poor victim.

Should we wait until public opinion polls persuade us what to do?

Or should we do what is right ...assuming we can still discern that!

What do you think?

Most of us say we support our troops, our servicemen ...all who faithfully represent our country.  Hopefully we are in the same league ...though I'm often not sure that much in advance what team I am on.  No one likes to be caught behind the eight ball, but I just want to play by the rules ...and do what is right!



(http://thispartisnotfunyetseemsnecessary.blogspot.com/)