Victims

Today I witnessed merciless bullying. Disgusting, arrogant, selfish bullying and I haven’t stopped feeling sad and infuriated.

It was very wet and windy this lunchtime at school, so me and my friends were standing in this sort of room that connects a couple of classrooms. We were in one corner and a group of so called ‘nerdy’ boys were in the other. Amongst them was a boy who I will not name to preserve his anonymity. I would consider the boy a loose acquaintance, we know of each other and have spoken occasionally. I personally think he is very nice. This gang of about 15 boys, who were in my year, then entered and started mocking the boy. Maybe he had said a sharp passing comment at the gang, as they were polar opposites to each other, but whatever it was the gang stated to ruthlessly torment him. They made a mockery of his race pulling their eyes in a grotesque fashion to ‘imitate’ an Asian, hounding around him like wild dogs, leaping around him like monkeys, throwing punches at his body that remained completely still and focused. They mocked his superior intelligence, the colour of his skin, his personality, anything they could to make them look a little better and climb a little higher up the playground hierarchy. And I stood there, watching and feeling helpless. My friends told me to turn around, to ignore it, but I couldn’t. I wanted to stop the boys from bullying him, but I didn’t think he would appreciate a small 14 year old girl fighting his battles for him, he’d probably feel embarrassed and inadequate. It’s the whole idea that boys can’t ask for help, they can’t show emotion, they have to ‘man up’ and accept what comes to them and because of this so many boys get horrifically bullied and either get themselves into too many fights becoming the so called ‘bully’ themselves or suffer in silence.

The boy stood there completely still and said almost nothing. It looked as if it didn’t bother him, but how could it not? I don’t know if I should report it. I just can’t live with myself knowing I could help him, but I don’t think he will appreciate a little girl fighting his battle for him.

Yes, it is important to have empathy and I know we are told that bullies are only bullying because they’re insecure. And yes, look at them, they travel in packs because they’re too scared to look alone. But this is never an excuse to be a prejudiced against anyone. I can’t believe this level of racism still happens today, it makes me sick. That moment meant nothing to the individuals in that gang. Most of them didn’t even know his name, but they just used him to get a little ego boost to drag them through their little miserable lives. Bullying can lead to mental illness. Bullying can lead to death and we’re told that so many times and they know that. But they’re selfish enough to continue to ruin people’s lives, which shows how disgusting they really are.

We’re all victims of this viscous social circle of insecurities and judgments and prejudiced. We’re all so helplessly insecure. Please try to be the good person and report bullying. Please try to be nice to people, compliment them, I promise you it will make their day. And with a little bravery, I promise you we can change things.

Thank you so much for reading,

Alex