Bullying - We know them by their words and deeds:

I’m sure we are all familiar with “bullying” as it relates to juveniles in our schools. So much that stopbulluing.gov has announced that the 49^th State has passed an anti-bullying law. I believe that bullying did not start in our schools but may have been learned based on exposure to events witnessed in everyday life.

I saw this behavior while enrolled in a parochial grade school. There were some “different” children that some others liked to intimidate. These “different” children expressed temper as a defense mechanism, and when they “went off” it appeared to be quite amusing to those instigating it. I felt this was dangerous and recognize it today as something to be aware of - with interactions and activities by some who want to assert their will, power or agenda. The protesting and “occupy” movements taking place around this country are examples that demonstrate this.

The problems with “bullying” in our schools, is miniscule when compared to similar occurrences in politics and government, political campaigning, labor, the workplace and society to name a few. Sometimes referred to as “rhetoric”, I would like to think that at least some people recognize this problem, and base their conclusions accordingly. Unfortunately, this cannot be legislated by those of “wisdom and ethics”, because there are too few. Ethics seem to be either forgotten or misconstrued.

Other forms of bullying may include - lies being repeated often enough they are construed as facts; taking an issue out of context to support a specific agenda; racism, sexism and classism; assumption of impunity; semantic changes in words; dispelling beliefs; contradicting history; denial of anything Judeo-Christian; taking advantage of someone; inconsideration and attempts to destroy a persons dignity. Bullying is not confined to our schools. Apparently it is an assumed fact of life.

So, what is “bullying”?

Force, power, coercion, verbal harassment, physical assault (which is a crime) and rankism.  We know them by their words and deeds.

From Wikipedia:

Bullying is a form of aggressive behavior manifested by the use of force or coercion to affect others, particularly when the behavior is habitual and involves an imbalance of power. It can include verbal harassment, physical assault or coercion and may be directed repeatedly towards particular victims, perhaps on grounds of race, religion, gender, sexuality, or ability. The "imbalance of power" may be social power and/or physical power. The victim of bullying is sometimes referred to as a "target".

Bullying consists of three basic types of abuse – emotional, verbal, and physical. It typically involves subtle methods of coercion such as intimidation. Bullying can be defined in many different ways. The UK currently has no legal definition of bullying, while some U.S. states have laws against it.

Bullying ranges from simple one-on-one bullying to more complex bullying in which the bully may have one or more 'lieutenants' who may seem to be willing to assist the primary bully in his bullying activities. Bullying in school and the workplace is also referred to as peer abuse. Robert W. Fuller has analyzed bullying in the context of Rankism (abuse of rank is experienced by victims as an affront to their dignity).

Bullying can occur in any context in which human beings interact with each other. This includes school, church, family, the workplace, home, and neighborhoods. It is even a common push factor in migration. Bullying can exist between social groups, social classes, and even between countries (see jingoism). In fact, on an international scale, perceived or real imbalances of power between nations, in both economic systems and in treaty systems, are often cited as some of the primary causes of both World War I and World War II.

Rankism can take many forms, including:

·      Exploiting one's position within a hierarchy to secure unwarranted advantages and benefits (e.g. massive corporate bonuses, government agency practices);

·      Abusing a position of power (e.g., abusive parent or priest, corrupt CEO, bully boss, prisoner abuse);

·      Using rank as a shield to get away with insulting or humiliating others with impunity;

·      Using rank to maintain a position of power long after it can be justified;

·      Exporting the rank achieved in one sphere of activity to claim superior value as a person;

·      Exploiting rank that is illegitimately acquired or held (as in situations resting on specious distinctions of social rank, such as racism, sexism, or classism.

Rankism can occur in any social hierarchy, such as governments, corporations, families, non-profit organizations, and universities.


UPDATE: June 2012 - 

We are true Americans, and we will not submit