Bullies, Bullying and Syria

I was born in January 1945. The 2nd World War ended on September 2nd. My mother was German & my father was British. I was given a very unusual, difficult to spell & even more difficult to say Christian name, which was unusual in Germany never mind in post war England. I didn't have a second name.

When I started Primary school the head teacher said I couldn't be called Waldtraut in school. She chose the name Sylvia for me. Goodness knows why. Of course any children who lived in my street knew that wasn't my name.

I was tall for my age, I wore green glasses because I was very shortsighted. I was different, so I was bullied. I think it was more verbal than physical. I wasn't "in"- part of any group. In grammar school they did use my given name, so I was myself again, but I was given a nickname by the children - Wally. I'm not sure I would call how I felt as being bullied, I did still feel different, an outsider. But I gained confidence & became a House captain & senior prefect eventually.

By the time I went on to college in London I was ready to find out who I was. The person I am today was shaped by a difficult childhood in which I learned to stand up for myself & not to be cowed by other people. Earlier on that meant I didn't always behave assertively rather than emotionally & too aggressively. Now I am much more Zen like, but I am assertive. I know my own value & I know my values.

I have learned that you are bullied if you behave like a frightened victim. I have learned that there are people who enjoy bullying & tormenting others. (Oddly they are usually deeply insecure people). I have learned that if you don't take a stand, the bullying will continue. At some point you are the one who has to somehow stop the bully in his or her tracks. You have to have courage & know that what is happening is not right.

My story is because of what is happening in Syria. The regime has repeatedly used chemical weapons on their own people:-

• Ghouta, Khan al Assal, Saraqib, Jobar, Ashrafiyat Sahnaya in 2013

• Talmenes in 2014
• Sarmin in 2015
• Uqairabat in 2016
• Khan Sheikhun in 2017

It's a pattern of appalling disregard for human suffering inflicted by a bullying regime on it's own people. Now we are seeing the horrific pictures of the attack in Douma. The United Nations has been powerless, apart from the American bombing in 2017, because of the Russians vetoing any reasonable action or even fact finding.

It makes me sick to the stomach that these bullies have got away with this for 5 years. I'm not a politician. I have no power at all. But I do know that the bullying will not stop, in Syria or anywhere else, unless good people not only say enough is enough, but do something about it. Actions are what matter in a scenario like this - Words are not enough, or women & children will continue to suffer & die in really dreadful ways. If we do nothing we are complicit in that.

The Bullies are threatening what amounts to war if the West bombs the aircraft & chemical weapons stores. They are Bullies - we have to stand up to them at some point or they will continue. We have to call their bluff. The Red Line has been crossed too often.