My mother encouraged me to stand up to bullies. When I stood up to them, even if I got beat up, Mom gave me a bowl of ice cream. I cashed in twice.
I went to Gary Emerson High School in Gary Indiana, a very rough school. Half black, half white. All mad.
I started standing up for myself in the 7th grade. I remember losing 26 times.
In 1960 I stood up to a bully 8th grade teacher who made a cute straight A girl cry, Tina. I stood and said, Mr. Kaplan, this has got to stop. A big black kid came up, grabbed me, and took me out. Mr. Kaplan yelled Don't come back, then flunked me. That summer they changed my grade to a D and relocated the teacher. Different days then.
In 1961 in choir a bigger athletic kid was picking on my little brother. I told him to pick on somebody his own size. You're about my size, he said. Touch me and see what happens, said I. He did. I popped him in the eye, he hit me, teacher broke it up before he beat me up. I planned it that way. She took us to Principal. I got one day off, he got swats, we became friends.
In 1961 in choir a bigger athletic kid was picking on my little brother. I told him to pick on somebody his own size. You're about my size, he said. Touch me and see what happens, said I. He did. I popped him in the eye, he hit me, teacher broke it up before he beat me up. I planned it that way. She took us to Principal. I got one day off, he got swats, we became friends.
After those two incidents nobody bothered me. They probably thought I was crazy. Different days.
Tim and I went to judo classes. We slapped box each other for practice. We crept up on each other to test our reactions. We became fearless.
Mom hated bullies.
She was not alone. My Aunt Velma coached my cousin Sam, when he was a little boy being beaten up by an older bigger bully.
She cheered and coached him like a wrestling coach, until Sam fought back, got the upper hand, and fought till the other guy gave up. His little brother Stevie saw it.
I went to Olivet Nazarene College in Kankakee Illinois. Older kids gave younger kids swirlies, sticking their heads in a toilet and flushing.
They tried to give me a swirly. They quickly changed their mind. Pain is a wonderful motivator. Pressure points from judo.
The sophomores challenged the freshman to a brawl. The freshman recruited the fearless students from Gary (one was from Michigan, another from Chesterton.)
The sophomores came charging out of Hills Hall like Viking Ravagers. The freshman all fled. Except for the fearless kids. One tussel. I was pinned by a wrestling champ. I surrendered. He didn't let me up. So I made him let me up. Pain is a wonderful motivator. Pressure points.
I worked for Ristance/Echlin/Dana/Standard Motor for almost 20 years. One of the workers was screaming at me to get out of his area. He was 6 foot 5, 245 pounds, immensely strong.
He was just behind my back, screaming. I decided to around, put my toes to his toes, my nose to his nose, and I smiled. After a few moments of face off, he walked away, cursing and grumbling.
I smelled ice cream.
Right now, politicians are acting like bullies. One party will throw you in jail and let out the criminals. The other party backs down like panty waists.
She was not alone. My Aunt Velma coached my cousin Sam, when he was a little boy being beaten up by an older bigger bully.
She cheered and coached him like a wrestling coach, until Sam fought back, got the upper hand, and fought till the other guy gave up. His little brother Stevie saw it.
I went to Olivet Nazarene College in Kankakee Illinois. Older kids gave younger kids swirlies, sticking their heads in a toilet and flushing.
They tried to give me a swirly. They quickly changed their mind. Pain is a wonderful motivator. Pressure points from judo.
The sophomores challenged the freshman to a brawl. The freshman recruited the fearless students from Gary (one was from Michigan, another from Chesterton.)
The sophomores came charging out of Hills Hall like Viking Ravagers. The freshman all fled. Except for the fearless kids. One tussel. I was pinned by a wrestling champ. I surrendered. He didn't let me up. So I made him let me up. Pain is a wonderful motivator. Pressure points.
I worked for Ristance/Echlin/Dana/Standard Motor for almost 20 years. One of the workers was screaming at me to get out of his area. He was 6 foot 5, 245 pounds, immensely strong.
He was just behind my back, screaming. I decided to around, put my toes to his toes, my nose to his nose, and I smiled. After a few moments of face off, he walked away, cursing and grumbling.
I smelled ice cream.
Right now, politicians are acting like bullies. One party will throw you in jail and let out the criminals. The other party backs down like panty waists.
But some are standing up. Truckers seem to be fearless. Elections are coming. Pain is a wonderful motivator against bullies.
My favorite President stood strong.
Maybe his mother gave him ice cream when he was younger.
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