I Never Did Like Bullies

Editorial by Gary Warchol
Special to The Lehigh Acres Gazette

I remember growing up in a little town in Western Pennsylvania where all the kids in the community would try to position themselves as the toughest kids on the block.  I also remember that not being the biggest and strongest I was always getting the short end of the deal.  I had three others friends that were dealing with the same problem.  It seemed that every day the bully of our community would exercise his ability to fight and leave one of us wishing we could do something to stop him.  However, every day he would pick out one of us and every day the same results.

Now that I am nearing retirement things haven’t changed.  We still have those individuals in the community who because of their influence, power and financial resources try each day to bully those who cannot fight because of limited resources and influence.  I didn’t like bullying then and I don’t much like it now. 

I almost forgot to share with you that when I was growing up in my community we did solve the problem of the bully in town. It happened not by me acting alone, but the four of us worked together and defeated the biggest and strongest in town.

As individuals we may not be able to stand up against those that are stronger and more powerful than we are but together we can.

It is time for the residents of Lehigh Acres to ban together in one voice to get the power and influence back where it belongs.  The community belongs not to a few but to all of us who call Lehigh Acres our home.  Let’s not allow a few self anointed strong and powerful people to influence the future of our community.