Upstanders, Bystanders and Victims
The world is made up of bystanders, upstanders, and victims.
The bystanders are horrified when their neighbors are falsely accused.
Offended when they see blatant misbehaviors, aggressors, punchers, slappers.
Relieved they are not targeted, the bystanders often become victims.
There is hell to pay then.
Or is there?
The victims are always targeted.
She rolled her eyes at me.
In a crowd of 50?
How do you know it was you?
I just know.
The victims have daily tales of woe.
She glared at me.
She gave me the bird.
He was whispering about me.
Did you hear it?
No.
I heard my name.
Could they have been saying something nice?
No.
How do you know?
I just do.
Being around them is hell to pay.
There are very few upstanders.
Maybe one in every two or three classrooms.
They are assertive, confident, and
Unafraid to speak up
Even if they are standing alone.
They speak up for the victims.
They speak up for the bystanders.
They speak up for the teacher.
If we don’t take our cue from the upstanders,
There will be hell to pay.
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