Become An Up-Stander: Take A Stand Against Bullying
Honesty, integrity, and empathy are important traits
that everyone should develop and hone. There is a lot of discussion about role
models especially in connection with celebrities including professional athletes,
musicians, actors, and high profile individuals. This chatter is especially noticeable when
young movie or music moguls exhibit attention-getting behaviors that are not a characteristic
of a positive role model. Occasionally, individuals use their powerful persona,
celebrity status, and wealth to speak out against something he or she
personally values as significant. This type of fearless or courageous
individual is a powerful example of what it means to be unafraid to stand up for
what is right. This is an example of an
Up-stander. Acting as an Up-stander, you might stand up for your personal beliefs,
the rights of others, unjust or inequitable actions, or other forms of
mistreatment including bullying.
There is a story of a little boy from Louisville,
Kentucky who wanted to seek revenge on another child who stole his
bicycle. He told a police office, “I
want to whip him”. I can imagine that
victim must have felt as though he was being bullied and needed to find way to “get
even”. According to the story, the
police officer told him that he needed to be able to “whip” him using skill and
fairness. I do not know if the victim ever had a chance to get even with the
person who stole his bike but I believe that he may have learned a bigger more
important lesson from this situation.
The police office displayed the characteristics of
an Up-stander by helping the boy to find his bicycle and providing a reasoned
explanation that showed him another way to respond. A caring adult provided him
a positive activity by teaching him to box.
This caring action likely resonated with the child who felt that he had
been wronged. The officer went beyond his professional duties to stand up for a
child. The officer became an Up-Stander.
&
Research indicates that victims of unchecked bullying often turn to bullying behaviors too. Everyday thousands of schoolchildren face bullying. Victims of bullying face the fear of name-calling, physical and verbal harassment and repeated intimidation. School personnel must be vigilante and aware of instances of bullying. It is important to create a school culture that demonstrates caring and compassionate actions toward all of the community members. Responsible school personnel must take a stand by implementing guidelines that address and diminish bullying.
Let us return to the story of the stolen bicycle.
The bicycle-theft victim was Muhammad Ali.
An Up-stander (the police officer) and other mentors (trainers,
religious and civic leaders, and friends) assisted him through this incident
and many other challenges.
Eventually Ali became a world-renown boxer arguably
the greatest, of the twentieth century. His notoriety and fame was not without
controversy. He took unpopular political, social, and religious stands based on
personal convictions and principles. He took a stand not only of himself but also
for others who were not able to speak out. Ali became an Up-stander.
30 Life Lessons You Should Learn From Muhammad Ali
The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
&
I encourage everyone to stand against bullying. Become an Up-stander for victims of bullying in your school, neighborhood, and community.
No comments:
Post a Comment