Cat(calls) Got Your Tongue?

My Dad was one of eight kids born into a Depression-era family. His youngest brother, Charlie, contracted polio and although it stunted his growth and put him in leg braces for the rest of his life, he was luckier than most victims of that once-dreaded disease.

One day, when my Old Man came out of school and saw the local rich kid on his bicycle (an unheard of luxury in those hard times) trying to run down Charlie, he didn’t hesitate to haul the little bastard off his bike, throw him to the ground, and beat the tar out of him.

Later that evening, during the family meal, “Mrs. Rich” showed up at the Brady back door with her black and blue tyrant in tow demanding an apology. My Grandfather bellowed for my Dad and was ready to take the rod to him, until my Father quickly explained what caused him to deliver the earlier ass-whoopin.’ Without hesitation, my Grandfather grabbed the broom that was always just outside the back door and with it ran both mother and son down the driveway and off his property, swearing a blue streak along the way.

I bring up this bit of family lore because “bullying” is a word that’s recently grabbed national headlines. After several young people have committed suicide because of extreme hounding by their peers, both government and educational institutions have taken steps to stem the tide of what they call an epidemic of childhood abuse.

However, Manhattan’s City Council has decided that bullying ain’t just kid stuff anymore and is considering legislation that would make whistles, cat-calls or lewd come-ons illegal. Apparently, there’s a movement afoot in cities from New York to Cairo to make street harassment a crime. Spearheaded by women’s groups such as Hollaback, their stance is that this is gender-based violence that threatens public safety.

Here’s my stance: Since when have we, the decent members of society, forgotten how to say the words “fuck off”? Or, “You’re an asshole”? How about, “Why don’t you shut the hell up”? Here’s the beauty part – they can be texted, too!

Fact is, bullies aren’t only found in cafeterias or playgrounds, but on street corners, corporate hallways and global corridors of power. You can’t make them back down through legislation, nor can you depend on law enforcement to be there when the baiting takes place.

Not everyone has the physical strength or Irish temper to put a bully in his rightful place which, by the way, is splayed out on the pavement, but administering a loud, angry tongue-lashing is a damned good start.