Bullying

At lunch today, my coworkers and I hit upon the topic of bullying. It's wrong. It's been around forever. And in large part until we turn teachers into cops, it's left to the poor kids being bullied to do something or find some way to cope. I was one of a very few Asian kids going to my school. I knew a couple bullies in may day. Sometimes, I fought. Sometimes I was too scared to fight. And I guess that's just the way it was. And I couldn't say I'm totally innocent either. There are somethings I regret saying to other kids when I was growing up. Not that I was out to get anyone, but sometimes, things would go further than they should.

Anyway, I just read a novel called Black Swan Green by David Mitchell. A little series of short stories about a 12 year old English boy growing up. At one point, he's getting bullied and he takes matter into his own hands. His teacher knows he's being bullied, but doesn't want to directly get involved. Instead the teacher leaves a note for him to read. It's sort of a small guide on bullies that I wish I'd written.

Contrary to popular wisdom, bullies are rarely cowards.

Bullies come in various shapes and sizes. Observe yours. Gather intelligence.

Shunning one hopeless battle is not an act of cowardice.

Hankering for security or popularity makes you weak and vulnerable.

Which is worse: Scorn earned by informers? Misery endured by victims?

The brutal may have been molded by a brutality you cannot exceed.

Let guile by your ally.

Respect earned by integrity cannot be lost without your consent.

Don't laugh at what you don't find funny.

Don't support an opinion you don't hold.

The independent befriend the independent.

Adolescenc dies in its fourth year. You live to be eighty.