Sometimes I think the world is divided into two camps -the bullied and bullies.
All of us at one time or another have likely occupied both camps. And on any given day, indeed any given hour, we can change camps.
Sometimes the bullied are easy to spot. They're the folks outside the norm - the too fat, too short, too ugly, too something. Whatever their perceived shortcoming in the eyes of the world, there's some moron ready, willing and able to goad the victim.
I remember as a kid being tormented because I was too skinny (lord, how I'd love for that to be the case today). I also remember my mom telling me the only way the people jeering at me could feel better about themselves was by torturing me -a fact that certainly never, ever made me feel any better.
Anyone naïve enough to believe that only sticks and stones can hurt has either the hide of a rhino or the brainpower of a gnat. Names can and do inflict wounds, in many cases far deeper than a bruise would.
But, of course, there are some bullies who are more than willing to let their victims decide for themselves. Which is worse - the psychological or the physical? Those are the goons who usually add a slap to a slight, a punch to a putdown or a beating to a berating.
I believe that each of us have experienced bullying at some point in our lives. Many of us just don't understand why we feel so bad around certain people. And some of us have a hard time defining bullying.
Is the coach who yells at his players and belittles their efforts a bully? If that kid when he's 45 can still recall the coach's words, I think so. Is the teacher who constantly ignores the quiet kid in the corner a bully? Again, I think the answer is yes. By subtly telling that kid he or she is not worth the teacher's time, a chain of hurt is set in motion. And what about the adult who walks by a group of kids catcalling another child - is that adult a bully? Sure. Anyone is who has the power to right a wrong and chooses not to.
This week, some of us wore pink shirts to let the bullies know that what they're doing is wrong. We're also trying to send a message to the bullied that we know and understand their pain.
In a day and age where we pride ourselves on being human beings with expanded minds and hearts, it's painful to know there are kids committing suicide because they just can't stand one more day of torment, that there are adults with such low self-esteem it's all they can do to get out bed every morning.
No amount of pink shirts is ever going to make some of them feel better. What will help is each of us having the courage to stop bullying when we see it happening. We truly can be the difference we want to see in this world. And when we stop wearing rose-coloured glasses, we will - it's long past time to banish the bullies.
