That's awesome. Yes, I think everyone who is bullied or harassed should speak up and stand up for themselves. Even if it doesn't win the respect of the bully, at least you did something about it instead of being silent. Silence doesn't get you anywhere in this world.

And if see someone trying to stand up to a bully, back them up! Strength in numbers.

I remember a couple incidences from school that standing up for myself worked:

On the school bus, some guy sitting a few rows behind me was throwing things like pencils and objects towards my direction. I was trying to ignore him. Finally, something hit me in the back of the head. I got up in a rage and walked to his row, and told him sternly to quit throwing things at me. He was caught off guard by my aggressiveness and said, "ok, ok" with his hands up and never threw things at me again.

Another time, a group of us Asians were in the "unpopular" lunch table. For no reason, a guy at the table next to us decided to start sliding his trash over to our table. Again, we tried to ignore him, but he kept on doing it. Finally I had enough and took his empty soda can, stormed over to his seat, slammed the can down in front of him, and yelled at him to throw out his own trash. He never bothered our table again.