I still remember it vividly. Halfway through freshman year of high school, I moved to another state. A couple weeks in, I was still a fairly unknown quantity. I was making friends, as I tended to do, but wasn’t necessarily skyrocketing to the top of the popularity ladder.

It was the beginning of lunch and we were in the cafeteria, lounging around, chatting. I was sitting at my usual table waiting for the people I usually talked to. This huge kid was sitting across from me — twice as tall and muscle-bound. To my surprise, he struck up a conversation.

“Hey, where are you from?” he asked.

I blinked. “Oh, uh, Massachusetts,” I answered.

“Well,” he said with a smirk, “they only breed two things in Massachusetts — steers and queers — and you don’t look like a steer to me.”

I did not know at the time that this wasn’t particularly original. Even so, I saw this as a moment. A moment where I could define myself. A moment where I could show people I wasn’t going to be pushed around.

“Oh yeah?” I replied, smirking right back. “Where are you from?”

“Texas,” he responded, following quickly with, “Go ahead. Say something. I’ll break your neck.”

I had the perfect response...ten years later. At the time, though, I was thoroughly convinced that he was not only physically capable of breaking my neck but mentally capable as well. I shrunk into myself. It was a familiar place. A place I often return to today.

It probably doesn’t make sense that after more than two and a half decades, this event still sticks with me. In the grand scheme of things, it was only a moment. Sure, I had other run-ins with this guy, and was embarrassed after each, but so many other good things have happened since then too. You’d think I’d lose the hot-faced, prickly-back-sweat shame I felt that day. Instead it’s one of many ghosts.

Trump is absolutely a bully. Fortunately, in this country (for now), it’s relatively easy to stand up to politicians who are bullies. You don’t have to confront them face-to-face. You don’t have to fear them breaking your neck (or sending someone else to do it — yet). All you have to do is cast your ballot.

Of course, that is easier for some of us than it is others. Some in power know that if the marginalized and disenfranchised band together to make their voices heard, they wouldn’t be in power any more. That’s why it’s important as voters to pay attention to issues like redistricting and voter ID laws. And those of us who are privileged enough to exercise our right to vote without feeling targeted and harassed should be helping everyone else exercise that right too.

We have to stand up to the bullies. If we don’t, we’ll have to deal with a lot more than embarrassment and shame in the future. Now is not the time to shrink into ourselves. Let’s speak truth to power.

Thanks for fighting the good fight, Martie.