We begin this story with a bit of history about the English language. Over the course of time, the meaning of certain words evolve into something totally different than their original connotation.
Take the word “bully,” for example. Bully, according to an online source, had a much different meaning when it was first used.
“The word "bully" was first used in the 1530s meaning "sweetheart", applied to either sex, from the Dutch boel "lover, brother", probably diminutive of Middle High German buole "brother", of uncertain origin (compare with the German buhle "lover"). ... The verb "to bully" is first attested in 1710.” Thanks, Wikipedia.
 |
| Teddy Roosevelt |
Teddy Roosevelt, a
But somewhere along the way the term bully became a campaign slogan that can be evidenced by the countless web sites peppering the internet. Virtually every one has a moral message to the masses to STOP BULLYING!
That same word today conjures up an image of a larger person – child or otherwise – talking down to and intimidating a smaller, defenseless person.
Such a picture is mentally imbedded in our sensitive, caring minds. It almost immediately, silently calls for a cessation to any heinous act being perpetrated upon another human being. Period. That is called empathy.
Who wants to see a person being harassed, harangued, or hounded, for any reason? Now replace the word “person” with the world “child”.
These “talents” have been taught and nurtured at home. Kids see this sort of behavior directed toward family pets, siblings, and even spouses. And if the police are called to intervene, the children often become combative towards the authorities; bullying.
Today’s world has morphed from a polite society into a combative journey. Suddenly everyone is offended over anything and everything, and the rational among us have become targets of wrath just because.
If you don’t believe me look around your neighborhood. It is a microcosm of our national self. People in your neighborhood should attempt to get along as neighbors; most likely they don’t. If they don’t, they at least should pretend to care; again, they don’t.
People are supposed to wear masks to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 flu virus. If they do, they wear them wrong. If challenged, the offenders sometimes become combative; several police officers have been killed because of these masks.
Airline flying waitresses regularly appear in the news because patrons don’t wear their required masks and often result in physical batteries and assaults.
Trash regularly blows about neighborhood yards mixing with neighbor’s dog poop. Of course no one will pick up their own garbage. Kids arrogantly drop candy wrappers on the street, cigarette butts dot manicured lawns, and self-entitled neighbors traipse through yards creating goat paths, as if they owned them.
Noisy cars and trucks blaring annoying and offensive excuses for music roar up and down the roads, much to the chagrin of residents.
Of course no one can yell, “STOP!” lest they be judged a racist, misogynist, bigot, fogey, or homophobe. And no offender will apologize for disrupting your little space on this seemingly shrinking planet.
Lies about this planet bursting into flames by 2018 are greeted with sorrow; anyone not jumping aboard that wacky train are simply said to be “denying the science.” Science of climate change? An oxymoron, at best.
And speaking of “denying the science,” newly developed and approved flu vaccines are being politicized as racist and anti-black. According to the anointed among us, the vaccine should be given to minorities, first.
We’re told we should stop eating meat. We are told the death penalty is amoral, but abortion is good. Cigarettes are evil, smoking marijuana should be legalized.
Actors board private jets to fly across the Earth to accept an award from climate change committees, where they give speeches about how your SUV pollutes.
Politicians want to take away your right to self defense while they’re surrounded with armed security forces.
Beloved Coca Cola announced White people are racists, while publishing a set of guidelines on how Whities should behave.
False narratives exude from questionable social media sources, all contrived to repeat lies until they are thought of as the truth. Silencing the truth is immoral, but applauded as necessary.
There is so much more to discuss, but I’m sure you get the idea. These are all examples of bullying we face today.
We need to return to a polite society, and until then, don’t try to bully me or my family and friends because I, and countless others, are aware of your tactics.
