The Nature of Cruelty and Power: Should David stand up to Alex or stay silent?

David is walking through the school hallway when he notices Alex, one of the most popular students in his grade, cornering a smaller student named Sam near the lockers. Alex is making cruel comments about Sam's clothes and pushing him around, while a few other students watch but don't intervene. David can see that Sam looks scared and humiliated, his eyes filling with tears as Alex continues to taunt him. David knows that Alex has a reputation for being mean to students he considers "different" or "weaker," and this isn't the first time he's witnessed such behavior. David feels his heart racing as he watches the scene unfold. He wants to help Sam, but he's also afraid of becoming Alex's next target. Alex is bigger, more popular, and has friends who would likely support him. David remembers reading about people throughout history who stood up against cruelty even when it was dangerous, but the reality of the situation feels overwhelming. As Sam looks around desperately for help and their eyes meet briefly, David realizes he has to make a choice. David now faces a decision: (A) step forward and tell Alex to stop, risking becoming a target of bullying himself, or (B) stay silent and walk away, leaving Sam to face the situation alone.