It’s time to talk about bullies.

We’ve all seen them in schools or in our communities.

Selma has some bullies. That was evident by the outburst Tuesday night in the Selma City Council meeting.

They come in under the cloak of peace and harmony and fighting racism, but what they are are controlling, abusive people who have been bad in the past and continue to be bad, no matter what rules are in place. They make decisions which reflect their lack of respect for the rules.

This is dangerous for Selma. This is often how corrupt choices are made.

And, for some reason, they get away with it.

Why?

Perhaps its because some of them have social standing and others are reluctant to take them down because that might be disrespectful.

Perhaps it is because of the notion that questioning these people’s right to dominate a public meeting will end in a fruitless and embarrassing confrontation, as was the evidence Tuesday night.

People have waited for city leadership to take on these bullies. Now, you’ll begin to hear others complain about ineffective leadership.

But here’s the point. Allowing these bullies to get their way usually causes the problem to escalate over time. The actions taken so far by the council in not stopping this behavior in Selma City Council meetings reinforces the bad behavior. Soon, this obnoxious, disrespectful conduct will become the norm, rather than the exception.

Selma is too good for this.

The council must start by sticking with the issue at hand and not allow the bullies to lapse into something divisive and insulting. Bringing back the issue repeatedly is in order. The council must stick to its principles and values and strongly assert what is proper decorum. The council must have a vision for the outcome for any and every issue approached, which leaves less maneuvering room.

Lastly, the council must make the proper things easy and the improper things difficult. In the council chamber, the council has the power; bullies should not hold the meetings of a public body hostage. The council must be prepared to risk everything. Bullies rarely take anyone up on that.

Bullies do what they do because they can.

There should be no victims on the city council.

Bullies are cowards.