Any time a true bully situation exists — as with the recent incident concerning the Irish girl in Massachusetts — there is usually a second-in-command adult who is frustrated with her or his work situation, whatever that may be. The second-in-command vents his or her frustration by encouraging sycophants to bully someone (the sycophants may also be referred to as "mini-me’s"). The second in command usually goes scot-free, even though she or he is the perpetrator. The mini-me’s get caught.

I watched an incident in the United States in 2002 that involved an elderly man who was bullied by his co-workers because they thought he was mentally retarded. He was actually dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease, which caused his speech to slur, and he was trying to hold down a day job until he died, although he never told his co-workers.

I studied the situation at length because I was interested in how some people conduct their lives. Before he died, the elderly gentleman had played college football, built a house from foundation to roof with his own hands, and pastored a church for more than 30 years. I’m not sure what happened to his co-workers, but I find it highly unlikely that they will ever accomplish as much in their lives as the old man did.

The reason children continue to bully other children is because they watch fruitcake "adults" bully other adults or children (or try to bully them. Some people can’t be bullied).

Sgt. 1st Class Richard Henricks (retired)Bamberg, Germany