My father was a very charming man, as I have said before. I believe, however, he was probably known as the neighborhood bully and snake oil salesman as a young boy and then into adulthood.
I am very familiar with the games these bullies play. This little ‘sugar and spice’ girl survived the streets of Toronto/Vancouver and poverty (I do mean poverty) where the bullies are ubiquitous. When you live in poverty you have no power; bullies love that.
So am I sweet and nice – yes. Am I tough – yes I can be, but by nature am I – no, unequivocally. Do my weaknesses and vulnerabilities stop me from defending myself and others against bullies – NO.
Bullies – meaning
a person who uses strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker.
synonyms: persecutor, oppressor, tyrant, tormentor, intimidation.
Having lived in the hood, on my own from such a young and vulnerable age, I know what is out there – many people who wish to abuse, exploit and harm. But then I came from a family that was not much better so I guess I was prepared ha ha.
In any arena, the hood or the boardroom, it is amazing how many people will take advantage of those who can’t defend themselves like frightened little girls. Vancouver, where I have lived for a very long time, is the most expensive city in North America to live. In fact the city of Vancouver is a city for the rich. However, the East Side of Vancouver has one of the poorest most crime ridden areas in North America. You see the picture below the East Side is just to the right of these high rises. So here we have the very rich and the very very poor, sorta living side by side. The rich people don’t like having the poor around it ruins their view. The poor are there to control and be kept in line because they may steal our stuff. The fact is it’s the other way around.
When you are poor the biggest bully on the block are the LANDLORDS! They take your money and they give you nothing but grief for it. The rich buy their own condo but in Vancouver you better have over a million dollars to buy one.
Vancouver is also a city of immigrants from all over the world. Many speak very little English to none. They may or may not be citizens and therefore don’t know their rights and how to exercise those rights. Many of these people come from countries whereby speaking up could get them in a very serious situation so they don’t dare. Landlords will take advantage of this. If you are old, disabled, young, unemployed you are in big trouble with these people who will again take advantage. Vancouver has a .02% vacancy rate so that makes it even better for the bully leaving the tenant at a huge disadvantage.
In blogs to come I will speak in depth about the abuse and bullying by the LANDLORDS.
That’s sad