IMO view: Just stop bullying others

Paper Edition | Page: 8

“Some people won’t be happy until they’ve pushed you to the ground. What you have to do is have the courage to stand your ground and not give them the time of day. Hold on to your power and never give it away.” (Donna Schoenrock)

Some people said high school was remarkable: Making friends, being popular, hanging out, falling in love, having parties, mass cheating during exams; the sports, the classes, the study tours, the yearbook-in-the-making, the graduation; all these things were like puzzles we collected for three years.

But, as these young people were trying to fit in by joining peer groups, others found themselves on the outside of all the groups. As it was all about in-groups and out-groups, then those who were outside were just strangers.

This was when the bullying started. I remember how bad it was to be picked on. Name-calling was the worst. It was the time when I found myself wondering why I was perceived as being so different to the rest.

Imagine losing your sense of security and authority when your own bag sometimes vanished; it would usually turn up later but first you needed to be laughed at.

Imagine not having the guts to tell them that you were fed up and you didn’t, or couldn’t, fight back. Imagine everyone surrounding you, some just watching but sometimes whispering to you, “I pity you.” Did I really have to blend in, even though that would mean I had to become someone else?

This is what I want to tell the bullies out there, who are picking on other people only to spare themselves from being bullied: You can turn the negative inputs you’ve experienced (even if they burn like hell for years) into positive actions.

It’s all in your hands: Whether you want to keep on playing in the circle of stupidity or crack it open and create a new circle based on respect, tolerance and acceptance. I chose the second option, and I think my life now makes sense. Everything gets better.

Rahmat Sah Saragih
Jakarta