Would You Defend The Little Guy?

As a teenager, my next door neighbours had twin boys, Devon and Shawn. They were identical, but Devon was a little smaller than his brother. It happens a lot in twins, one is a little bigger and tends to progress a little quicker. Devon was the one I favoured. I clearly remember their mother saying to me that I always root for the underdog.

It’s true, I do. Throughout my life, my friends have always been the ones who were somewhat outcast, picked on or otherwise put down. As a child, when given the chance to pick out a kitten, I chose the runt of the litter. My very first friend in kindergarten was the girl who had no friends. Granted, she was a mean girl who did nasty things all the time, but still, I remained her friend.

In high school, while my friends were trying to be cool and tough, I stood in front of them and stopped them from getting into fights with girls who were smaller than they were. I defended total strangers, because they just didn’t stand a chance otherwise. One friend in particular, a tall, strong and very loud redhead, was usually the one I was dragging away from a potential fight. It drove her crazy.

Another time, I saw two guys kicking another guy who was on the ground. I shamed them into stopping. I have been known to pick up hitchhikers. I lend money to relatives and never ask for repayment.  I once pulled over at two am on a dark and lonely country road because the car behind me was honking and flashing their lights. My husband told me I was crazy for pulling over, but as it turned out, they weren’t troublemakers, carjackers or any sort of trouble. They were, however, lost and in very desperate need of directions back to the highway. (Yes, I know, hubby’s point was still valid.)

At work, I don’t believe in ratting out my co-workers when they mess up. When I discover a problem or an error, I just fix it discreetly and tell them about it later. I don’t run to my boss to point out someone else’s mistake.

Have I run into trouble by acting on impulse? Absolutely. Repeatedly. Yet, I always seem to be into the fold before I even have time to think about possible trouble. I prefer to think that continuing to act on behalf of the underdog doesn’t make me an idiot, but rather, uncompromisable. I am who I am (as Popeye would say).

I recently saw a video that featured an old friend of mine talking about the problems with the company he works at. The first time I saw it, I was immediately struck by what a tense work environment he must be in, and how unsettling it must be to not really know what the future will hold.

I am one of those people who sees or reads something and then burrows it away in my mind for further reflection to strike me later. When the thought of that video came to my mind earlier today, the reflection was that it takes a lot of courage to put yourself out like that on a public video. There’s already trouble in the plant, and he makes himself a target exposing it. It’s not just himself he’s standing up for, but everyone else at the company. All the little guys who need a voice.

It struck me that it’s a pretty admirable way to conduct yourself. It’s selfless and certainly noble, and just not something many people would be able to stand up and do. Most of us complain quietly for fear of creating trouble for ourselves. Better to complain in the safety of our own backyards than risk a public engagement that could lead to more trouble. Even though I have a perpetual habit of sticking up for others, I’m really not sure that I could rock the boat quite that hard. I do, however, have respect for those who can. We need those kind of people in the world.   

More from Heather: 

Paranoia Invades Freedom: Student Suspended for Grade A Class Project

Not Just Shyness: Avoidant Personality Disorder

Five Second Heroes: A Small Good Deed Makes a Big Difference