“A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” Mahatma Gandhi
I remember being bullied up to the age of 12 in different schools and no matter where I went I carried this fear around with me all the time and because I held that belief I attracted that fear. I hated it and it still haunts me to this day. I could tell you the whole story of how Bruce Lee inspired me when Enter the Dragon came out and I took up Karate and became a black belt and that fear left me but it would be a lie. After a quick time in Karate where I learnt the skills to hurt people and I realised that I now had power and became a bully myself. It was only after many years hanging around with the honourable Japanese Instructors I realised I’d turned into the thing I hated and decided to change my ways.
After seeing a trailer for ‘Bully’ I remembered a night out with a good friend. Just before meeting me he had witnessed a girl in a packed train being abused. A stranger went to help the girl and the abuser attacked this friendly rescuer and nobody else did anything. We were both moved and I sympathised with him about him feeling scared and cowardly. I asked my friend “Is there another way?”
What if the person being attacked shouted “Will somebody stand by me?”
After seeing a trailer for ‘Bully’ I remembered a night out with a good friend. Just before meeting me he had witnessed a girl in a packed train being abused. A stranger went to help the girl and the abuser attacked this friendly rescuer and nobody else did anything. We were both moved and I sympathised with him about him feeling scared and cowardly. I asked my friend “Is there another way?”
What if the person being attacked shouted “Will somebody stand by me?”
I’m not talking about jumping in and getting involved with the fight or argument, but just to stand next to them. Would others then just stand quietly next to them showing their support? If enough people quietly stand next to the victim wouldn’t the bully, no matter how drunk he was, realise that either he was acting inappropriately or simply laugh at a situation he was no longer in control of and walk away because of the passive vigilantes?
On that night with our enthusiasm (and to be honest our Dutch courage we had gained from a great lunch) we spent the night asking train passengers their opinion of our idea. We were met with a total agreement but the question was “Who would be the first to do this?”
Again with our new found passion we thought if we saw someone in trouble we would ask “Would you like me to stand by you?”
Again with our new found passion we thought if we saw someone in trouble we would ask “Would you like me to stand by you?”
We didn’t come across anyone in trouble that night, and if we had, I don’t know to this day if our plan would have worked or not, but like any idea that is not followed through it remains just an idea.
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