Bullies Amongst Us

I still clearly remember the incident as if it happened only yesterday. I was in first grade and was asked by my teacher to stand up so I could recite for the whole class to hear, the answer to her question. I was pleased with myself for knowing the right response and having confidently delivered it. But my elation was short-lived for when I sat down, I fell hard smack on the concrete floor. Apparently, my seat was deliberately taken from under me as a cruel joke by a mean classmate. Naturally I was hurt. I suffered from the actual pain of the pressure on my buttocks but more so from the ache of embarrassment. Everyone saw it happen. Some were horrified. While others laughed. Just a child of six or seven years of age, I recall how infuriated I felt. I was filled with the desire to pull the culprit’s hair and yank her from out of her seat. But a part of me was also awfully humiliated that I felt like crawling into a hole and bursting into tears. I believe such reactions to be acceptable either way.

Perhaps due to my religious upbringing I chose not to punish my foe with physical force; Perhaps due to my family’s military background, I chose not to cry but rather to contain my emotions within. Whatever may be the reason, I was no longer compelled to impulsively react. Instead, I got up from the floor, straightened my skirt up and then walked towards the teacher at the front of the classroom. All eyes were on me and all ears listened as I asked to be transferred to another seat, far away from my adversary. Of course my request was immediately granted.

That day I learned that there are bullies amongst us. But on that same note, the experience also taught me the profound truth that “Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in the muscles.”-Alex Karras

I handled that situation with dignity and grace. In doing so, I did not give my antagonist the satisfaction she wanted. I walked away from the situation with my chin up high. She, on the other hand, cowered away in shame, head bowed low with her eyes on the ground.