Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done.
Walk away from trouble if you can.
Now it don't mean you re weak if you turn the other cheek.
I hope you re old enough to understand:
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man.
Walk away from trouble if you can.
Now it don't mean you re weak if you turn the other cheek.
I hope you re old enough to understand:
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man.
These lyrics by Kenny Rogers were repeated to me by my father after coming home from school after yet another fight. Hehe he could never understand why I used to get into these fights... why i couldn't just walk away. The truth was dat d first couple of years in junior lyceum i was bullied...i was bullied on a daily basis. Why ? boq...i dunno... i was good in school i guess ... and i was a bit fat... and i was a loner so i guess dat singled me out as being 'different' and an easy prey. Those 2 years were hell i guess ... everyday living in fear and wondering if I'd be beaten up again uselessly, senselessly and without a reason . I never told my parents this....and it drove me deeper into myself... books being my only friends and companions... My parents had a hard time understanding why and how i was becoming ever more sullen and silent and alone.
Then something in me snapped... it happened during break time in the beginning of my third year. I was surrounded by almost d whole class again ! ....left in d middle, being pushed around by the class bully whilst the others jeered and laughed and pushed back. And 2 years of silent rage pent up inside me let loose in a single punch dat floored d bully with a broken jaw. That did it for me ... wit that single punch something was unleashed in me... i no longer fought cause i was oppressed. I fought cause i was challenged by an increasing number of bullies who wanted to measure themselves up against me... i was gaining something of a reputation... i gained a nickname too... something that stuck with me till d end of Junior college...some 5 years... I also developed a deep and passionate hatred towards all forms of bullying.... often beating d hell out of anyone i caught bullying anyone smaller then themselves.
Anyway....in Junior college i met a guy who introduced me to the discipline of martial arts. He taught me to control myself, suppress the anger and rage inside, only to be unleashed when necessary. Himself being a loner we quickly and firmly established a friendship which is still going strong to this very day.
What inspired me to write this post ? well... an incident happened a week or so ago where after almost 7 years i had to intervene in a fight and something almost triggered the rage inside me to surface. I was out wit some friends at a nightclub after a decent meal and drinks and playing pool. And one of my friends was a bit drunk and threw up in d club's toilets and was shown out by the bouncers there. Being a bit tipsy he goaded the bouncers who very unprofessionally went for him and started beating him up.... naturally i couldn't let that happen so i intervened and pulled two bouncers off .... my friend struck one of d bouncers and took off like a hare down d road followed by 3 or 4 bouncers in hot pursuit.... my friend's girlfriend in d meantime having heard d commotion came running out of d club after her bf.... whereas she was struck by one of d bouncers and sent flying ... the bouncer made as if to go after her again and dat was it.... i snapped.... in two strides i was in between them and in d bouncer's face who went berserk and started throwing punches. It took all of my self control to restrict myself to just blocking and locking and didn't start gthrowing punches myself, which was a good thing as i quickly found myself surrounded by the other 3 bouncers. luckily i came away from that fight without a scratch on me but it could have turned very ugly indeed had i lost control and started fighting. So Dad in a way i did keep my promise....i didnt fight... but hell if i see someone strike a woman ? ...all bets are off and d gloves come off...
Then something in me snapped... it happened during break time in the beginning of my third year. I was surrounded by almost d whole class again ! ....left in d middle, being pushed around by the class bully whilst the others jeered and laughed and pushed back. And 2 years of silent rage pent up inside me let loose in a single punch dat floored d bully with a broken jaw. That did it for me ... wit that single punch something was unleashed in me... i no longer fought cause i was oppressed. I fought cause i was challenged by an increasing number of bullies who wanted to measure themselves up against me... i was gaining something of a reputation... i gained a nickname too... something that stuck with me till d end of Junior college...some 5 years... I also developed a deep and passionate hatred towards all forms of bullying.... often beating d hell out of anyone i caught bullying anyone smaller then themselves.
Anyway....in Junior college i met a guy who introduced me to the discipline of martial arts. He taught me to control myself, suppress the anger and rage inside, only to be unleashed when necessary. Himself being a loner we quickly and firmly established a friendship which is still going strong to this very day.
What inspired me to write this post ? well... an incident happened a week or so ago where after almost 7 years i had to intervene in a fight and something almost triggered the rage inside me to surface. I was out wit some friends at a nightclub after a decent meal and drinks and playing pool. And one of my friends was a bit drunk and threw up in d club's toilets and was shown out by the bouncers there. Being a bit tipsy he goaded the bouncers who very unprofessionally went for him and started beating him up.... naturally i couldn't let that happen so i intervened and pulled two bouncers off .... my friend struck one of d bouncers and took off like a hare down d road followed by 3 or 4 bouncers in hot pursuit.... my friend's girlfriend in d meantime having heard d commotion came running out of d club after her bf.... whereas she was struck by one of d bouncers and sent flying ... the bouncer made as if to go after her again and dat was it.... i snapped.... in two strides i was in between them and in d bouncer's face who went berserk and started throwing punches. It took all of my self control to restrict myself to just blocking and locking and didn't start gthrowing punches myself, which was a good thing as i quickly found myself surrounded by the other 3 bouncers. luckily i came away from that fight without a scratch on me but it could have turned very ugly indeed had i lost control and started fighting. So Dad in a way i did keep my promise....i didnt fight... but hell if i see someone strike a woman ? ...all bets are off and d gloves come off...
I promised you, dad, not to do the things you've done.
I'll walk away from trouble when I can.
Now please dont think I'm weak, I didn't turn the other cheek,
papa, I sure hope you understand:
Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man
Artist: Rogers Kenny
I'll walk away from trouble when I can.
Now please dont think I'm weak, I didn't turn the other cheek,
papa, I sure hope you understand:
Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man
