Who Do You Stand Up For Or Kneel With?
I would like to start this post with the definition of a bully per the Violence Prevention Works program. Bullying is:
- is aggressive behavior that involves unwanted, negative actions.
- involves a pattern of behavior repeated over time.
- involves an imbalance of power or strength.
Types of Bullying include:
- Verbal bullying including derogatory comments and bad names
- Bullying through social exclusion or isolation
- Physical bullying such as hitting, kicking, shoving, and spitting
- Bullying through lies and false rumors
- Having money or other things taken or damaged
- Being threatened or being forced to do things
- Racial bullying
- Sexual bullying Learn more about bullying and sexual orientation
- Cyber bullying (via cell phone or Internet) Learn more about cyber bullying
Individuals bully for several reasons including
- Having strong needs for power and dominance
- Find satisfaction in causing injury and suffering to others
- Are often rewarded for their behavior with material or psychological rewards
I could discuss the specfic events and debates of the past weekend in regards to the President of the United States regarding his thoughts of kneeling at football games and rescinding White House invitations, but I feel we are overlooking the most important point. Citizens of our country are being called names for their beliefs and for exercising a freedom we have been given. This freedom allows us to speak out about injustices. This freedom allows us to march and post videos. We may not agree with one’s viewpoint but every individual has the right to have their view. Fortunately, we have the right to publicly disagree with someone. When you see bullying, what do you do?
- Are you someone who tries to ignore the situation for fear you would be the next target?
- Do you speak out without fear? Call the bully out on their behavior?
My fear is we are becoming numb to the definition of what bullying looks like. As a result when someone in an office/position of power displays bullying, it is often not thought of as bullying. There are individuals in your life who are victims of bullying. Perhaps even you are a victim of bullying in your workplace,your neighborhood or social group.
Many think they have no power to stop it. However, we do have the power to speak out.
Take a few moments to think about the interactions you see throughout a day.
Who will you stand or kneel with?
Definitely standing for solidarity over here. It’s blown my mind the kinds of things he prioritizes. He needs to leave. Now. Please and thank you. He’s dividing our country even more.
I’m standing for no bullying. I try to speak without fear but I am not always good at it. These are strange times we are living in, that is for sure.
Ill stand up to bullies and Ill stand to the national anthem. I have had to step in more than once while walking the kids home from school. As far as the kneeling thing, I am trying to see all the sides. I only know what I would do. If I was payed millions of dollars, to play a GAME and people came out to cheer and support me, I would stand proud for the country that allows me to do so. And instead of taking a knee I think donating my money and time would be a better way to make a difference and to support whatever cause I believed in. But thats just me. I understood more when a few of the players were keeling for a movement. I feel like yesterday though, the players didn’t like the Orange mans opinions so they were trying to show him that hes not the boss of them. No judgement here, you do you! Ya know. The best part about this country is that we have that freedom do these things and to have different opinions. I think its possible Trump thinks he is the Flag and feels like he is the one being disrespected. You never know with that guy :-/
I’m Canadian so sitting across the border and watching your country being torn apart by your leader is — whew. Heavy.
I’ll stand up for everything I believe in, and I’m teaching my daughter to do the same.
So much to think about! Bullying is such an important issue.
VERY well said!
Thank you for writing about this, Sheryl. I can’t put into words what I’m feeling because I think sometimes my emotions are shrouded by stinging anger, but you put it all so eloquently. Sometimes people in position of power abuse their rights and (in this case, in particular) display horrible bullying behavior. I’ve been a victim of bullying. So has my brother (in truth, that hurt more). We are protected by a constitution that allows for freedom of speech and I hope that this country always respects differing opinions and our right to protest.
Thank you for this <3