The clock hits 6:30AM and the alarm goes off. I hit the snooze button a few times before having to get out of the warmth and comfort of my bed. I stumble into the bathroom to get ready for yet another day at school, not knowing that there would be an unconventional incident that would spark a remarkable turnaround in my life.
It was finally lunchtime and like any other day, we hung out at the basketball court to play some scrimmage. As I was waiting for my turn to play, two people caught my attention as they were yelling and screaming loudly at each other. Turns out it was because one student threw the basketball and it accidentally hit another students’ face. In the heat of the moment, they decided to meet after school and fight for an apology from the other. While I hardly cared about the two of them, I was determined to mingle with the crowd and watch the fight after school.
In class after lunch, while I was possibly procrastinating, I thought about the possible outcome of the fight, thinking that in one hour I would witness two guys who believe the rightful one is the last guy standing in the fight. In some cases, history is like a fistfight. History is made by the victor, the survivor. If he lives and we die, his words become a truth which then is written, and he is almost always seen as the honest one. These two guys who want to fight each other are looking to be the one that is right, and in their mind the only way to prove that is to be the last guy standing.
They chose the perfect place to have this stand down. It was an empty street, down an alley where almost no one went. About half an hour after school ended, most of the people who were interested in witnessing the fight were inside the alley, and of course the two students who will be fighting were there already. As they were staring and yelling at each other, some in the audience were encouraging them to begin. Some may see two brave people having the guts to physically fight to see who is stronger. But in my eyes, I saw two immature underclassmen trying to fight for no legitimate reason.
The fight was pretty much one sided. The guy brutally beat the other guy with a chain, and before we had time to stop him from disrespecting the poor guy, he stepped on his head and spit in his face. Although some were laughing and cheering, I was so disgusted by this action that I angrily pushed him to the ground. I saw a man with no intention of holding back, and a man trying to protect himself from humiliation. I was angry because I believe that there is a line not to cross even when you fight. This is to have respect for yourself, and the person you are fighting. After all, they are both human, and what gives the other guy the right to step on someone else’s child and spit in his face?
When a man is attacked, I think it is natural for him to swing his arms to protect himself. We have the right to protect ourselves if we are getting hurt or threatened to be hurt; it is natural. But to humiliate and step on someone’s head is unethical. After two weeks, I still had the beaten man‘s face in my mind. I felt ashamed to let this happen to a man and for the people who were cheering and laughing during the fight. I saw myself with a pair of hands full of regret for not helping the man. I envisioned possible scenes like that taking place all around the world. I vouched to be the difference, and pray for the cause of this disgraceful sin not to pass from one another.
Wow this was a good read. I think it’s interesting to note that your first reaction was to push the “victor” to the ground. It does not change the fact that I admire your course of action and mind because no one else did anything. I’m not sure I would’ve been able to stand out and do something.
Nice job here, Ryan. “History is like a fistfight.” That’s pretty great.