Journal of Sacred Work

Days 79-83 – Stand Up to America’s Bully

Mob Scene - Scout  Bullying behavior has always been so widespread that unless you were sheltered you saw it in school. Were you so terrorized that you dodge this subject today?

   I fought bullies in the 6th grade that ridiculed my younger sister (born with dwarfism.) Instead of helping my friends watched. I became a lawyer in part to protect the vulnerable.

   As a CEO our culture drove out intimidators. Now our foundation advises other CEOs on how to do the same. 

   When Atticus Finch faced a lynch mob in To Kill A Mockingbird we saw a truth: Courage against bullies is more uncommon than bullies themselves. When his daughter, Scott, spoke up we saw something else: a single loving voice can quiet the fears of a hundred.  

   Sadly, bullies populate the ranks in too many hospitals. Radical Loving Care trains the best leaders to drive out the worst. The job is as daunting as it was on the playground.

   The problem worsened two years ago. Historians agree that America, leader of the free world, is now led by the most powerful bully in our history. It is the immorality of bullying that stains the soul not the illegality. 

   You may have fallen silent by forgetting that the way to stand up to Trump is to attack his behavior not his policies. Whether or not you favor his positions you can use your integrity to attack his. 

   Tell people, "I oppose Trump's bullying." When you see the same behavior at work call it out & tell HR.

   Your failure to speak up respectfully supports bullying…& breaks off pieces of your soul. 

   Integrity discovers her depth not in gentle breezes but amid storms. Faith, hope & love strengthen in crossfire not calm. 

   Remember Jesus' example. Stand strong against bullying by living love, not fear. 

Reverend Erie Chapman

Photo: Screenshot from To Kill A Mockingbird

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6 responses to “Days 79-83 – Stand Up to America’s Bully”

  1. Terry Chapman Avatar
    Terry Chapman

    Onboard a Navy ship at sea as an enlisted man years ago, a Navy Chief threatened me with charges of insubordination when I would not change the test grades of his reports who had failed an exam! He pushed me into a corner but I held firm. He fumed and told me to get out on the deck and sweep the ship end to end. I had the strength to resist this bullying of the worst kind.
    Be alert and call out bullies whenever possible: assist and encourage any and all who face bullying; and when able: face the bullying person with all the bravery and integrity you are capable of!

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  2. Erie Chapman Foundation Avatar
    Erie Chapman Foundation

    Wow. Thank you for sharing this great story, Terry. And thank you for STANDING STRONG. How sad it is that the encounter you described is playing out millions of times over on this very day – all over the world and right from our own White House. Even sadder is that so many stronger people who could stand up choose to sit down in the safe shadows instead.
    I can imagine you had to stand up many times for Ronnie. We are lucky to have YOU in this world

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  3. ~liz Wessel Avatar
    ~liz Wessel

    It is so true, that when we do not speak up we are actually giving permission for that behavior to continue.
    Your statement, “Your failure to speak up respectfully supports bullying…& breaks off pieces of your soul” is such a powerfully poignant one, as is your entire essay!
    Erie, I admire you for a lifetime of speaking up, standing up and calling out behaviors that spark and fuel hate. Thank you for encouraging us to do the same

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  4. Erie Chapman Foundation Avatar
    Erie Chapman Foundation

    Thank you, Liz. We all know that bullying is as old as humanity. Standing up to it in a new way was the radical message of Jesus. That is the message you live yourself.

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  5. Todd Avatar
    Todd

    As a kid I used to protect the younger or smaller kids from bullies.
    My mom heard me even as young as 6 or 7 tell a boy much taller than me “nobody messes with little Kenny!”
    Thank you for reminding me how important this quality is.

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  6. Jolyon Avatar
    Jolyon

    I rewatched the move “The Mean Girls” to refresh my memory about the nuances of bullying. What it shows to me is the need for enablers. People that carry out an action for the bully and then can be discarded when they are exposed. Also, some are used in the classic “bad cop good cop” approach. An enabler is sent out with a message, but it is received poorly. The bully can ride to the rescue and be the one to get the praise…sound familiar? An enabler comes in all sizes and shapes and across the spectrum. Right now, the worst offenders are the social media sites that do not follow their on rules about bullying because someone that is famous might talk bad about them. A classic case of enabling.
    “Our boys and girls ought to know that the bully type, the false “tough,” has been the first to break down under the actual fire of battle. The quiet, the calm, the determined have made the best soldiers. Why? Obviously the bully is insecure in himself- he blusters to muster his own courage. Children ought to know that. They ought to be taught to retort to the bully, “You’re a coward or you wouldn’t make such a noise about being brave. The really brave man simply acts brave- he doesn’t have to talk about it.” ~ Pearl S. Buck

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