I am reminded of my days in High School. Bullying is nothing new. Back in the mid 70's, in my Texas high-school, there was no shortage of boot wearin', scoal dippin', rootin-tootin' cowboy wannabes busting the balls of the meaker students. If you didn't have a "Proud to be a KIKK'er" bumper sticker on your Ford truck, you were fair game.
Their problem with me, a long-haired leaping gnome, who was a rocker from the git-go, is that I was 6'1, 180 lbs, trained fighter that oftened "turned the other cheek" to avoid their immaturity. Too often, that was considered a weakness by these inbred rednecks. However, the few that actually wanted to try me, only did it once. After laying out a few of these bully assholes, they eventually got a clue that I wasn't one to roll over and I was left alone.
Although, I am one who generally tries to keep the peace, I was kind of a bully to bullies. I guess I still am. I hate those bastards. Pick on my weaker friends and that's just like picking on me. I usually turn the other cheek when it's directed at me. I got nothing to prove. But when my friends get bullied, I have a tendancy to come unglued.
But I'm working on it.