Two years ago, after a victim of bullying named Phoebe Prince committed suicide in my backyard here in Massachusetts, I wrote an article for Truthout titled "Here There Be Monsters," in which I described in detail my own long, savage time as a victim of bullying. The recent Washington Post report on Mitt Romney's extensive resume as a bully brought the whole wretched experience back to me again.

A few important thoughts occurred to me.

Forcing a woman to endure a vaginal ultrasound because she chooses to have an abortion is bullying. Forcing a woman to sit through a lecture about how her choice makes the baby Jesus cry before undergoing the procedure is bullying. Attacks on Planned Parenthood that are festooned liberally (pardon the pun) with outright lies and distortions are bullying. Tea Party mouth-breathers showing up at political rallies packing heat is bullying. Cops in riot gear gut-stomping peaceful protesters for ruffling the delicate feathers of the Wall Street elite is bullying. The NDAA is bullying.

I, for one, went through a period of deep pain inflicted by bullying, and I will be double-dog damned if I'm going to let this country turn into a nation of bullies, or let bullying become an accepted reaction to policy. I learned a long time ago that the most effective way to deal with a bully is to bloody their nose ... and no, I'm not advocating violence. I am talking about exposing this behavior for what it is, in the light of day and for all to see. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and sunlight is what we do here at Truthout.

Without your support, we can't do this work. We need your help to stay on this path and to keep calling out the bullies. Bullies get scared when the whole school bands together. Join us!

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