What the threat of "Retribution" feels like.

[no_hypocrisy]

Someone who has authority can make veiled threats against your security, personal and/or financial. They made it clear that their goal is to destroy you. And they're serious and they have the means.

I lived through it with a narcissistic father. It was like having Damocles' Sword over my head.

You get to the point where you say, "F*ck it, go ahead." And you openly defy your tormenter. And you wait and look for signs that you're the target of their wrath.

While I never had the threat of physical abuse or death, the spectre of "Gotcha!" is real and abiding.

When you stand up to a bully (or worse), you reclaim your integrity, your self-worth by being brave. You define yourself.

[Irish_Dem]

1. Exactly. America will get sicker and sicker, lose everything, as long as they allow the tyrant to control them.

They can only reclaim their dignity and self respect, their personhood, by standing up to the bully.

[2naSalit]

2. I lived under the same...

Sword of Damocles but had the promise of physical harm included.

One thing I learned then and lectured about - only I was talking about predators of the wild animal realm - is that a predator usually engages in a cost benefit analysis before the attack. They look for the weak and sick, prey that stands its ground and/or fights back is often left alone because it costs too much to pursue.

When you stand your ground and fight back, predators usually back down... only those with a death wish continue the chase.