Standing Up for Others: The Importance of Being Sympathetic

It goes without saying that bullying is a recurring situation in numerous schools. Over 3.2 million students are victims of bullying annually. In a way, bystanders should have a choice to intervene as certain situations can lead to both the victim and bystander undergoing endangerment. On the other hand, standing up for others in a time of difficulty can show that one feels sympathetic towards others. Based on my experience and texts which I read recently I want to raise up the topic of standing up for others in this essay.

The act of standing up for others can show that one can feel sympathetic towards others; this is evident from my experience at a summer camp. While volunteering at a summer camp, I noticed that Josh was getting bullied by a group of kids. Josh had told me that they called him a “baby” and a “wuss”. He was upset and crying and I decided to stand up for him because it was the right thing to do. I asked the kids, “why did you bully Josh?” and I immediately advised them to apologize for their poor actions. After stepping in, I felt sympathetic seeing as what I did was right and no one got physically injured. In conclusion, from my personal experience, I strongly believe that standing up for others is the right thing to do.

Standing Up for Others Comes in Various Forms

In texts such as “Riding With Rosa”, standing up for others can be seen through subtle actions. The football team is making fun of Stephen because of his sexuality. The quarterback feels remorseful for not intervening immediately because “if he steps in, they will think he is gay too'. Therefore, he then tells the football team to “sit down” and “shut up”. Stephen feels aggravated at first but later feels safer with the quarterback’s presence. Later, he sits next to Stephen and engages in a conversation with him to comfort him. The quarterback mentions that he is “Indian” to make Stephen feel better. In sitting with Stephen, the quarterback is hit with a moment's reflection on his fears of getting bullied. Subsequently, the quarterback decides to sit next to Stephen as an act of sympathy.

The concept of intervening and standing up on someone’s behalf is evident when Travis Price and David Shepard stood up for Chuck McNeil. It all started when Price and Shepard intervened on McNeil’s behalf. In the article, the students recalled the bully threatening to beat him up. Additionally, the bully called him a homosexual for his choice of clothing. In spite of the fact that they intervened, Price and Shepard wanted to do more than just intervene, they wanted to make a difference. Price and Shepard took a stand to defend McNeil by taking it a step further. They both emailed classmates and encouraged them to wear pink the next day. This has had a big impact on society because it is an event that happens annually all across Canada. All in all, because of their efforts, the idea that standing up for others in a time of difficulty has inspired many Canadians.

Final Thoughts

Despite the fact that both victims and bystanders can encounter danger, standing up for one another can indicate that one is sympathetic. This is noticeable from my summer camp experience, “Riding With Rosa”, and International Day Of Pink. From my summer camp experience, I learned an important lesson to stand up for others no matter the situation. In “Riding With Rosa”, the quarterback demonstrates bystander behaviour, but later felt guilty for not taking action and stands up for Stephen. Finally, without Price’s and Shephard’s sympathy and efforts, International Day of Pink would not have been recognized by millions of Canadians.