Let's End Bullying!
I'm not the most serious person in the world. I can usually find humor in just about any mundane thing.... and I'd much rather be laughing about something goofy rather than having a heated political debate any day of the week. In turn, I try to keep my blog light-hearted and fun, because that's how I like to be most of the time. However, this week has thrown my happy spirit for a loop. When I heard the horrible news about what happened to Tyler Clementi, the amazingly gifted Rutgers student who was betrayed and humiliated by his roommate and ultimately committed suicide, it not only broke my heart... it disgusted me! Now, I don't know whether the incomprehensible actions of Tyler's roommate were a hate crime, a horrible act of bullying, a ridiculous act of ignorance, a very mean prank, or a combination of all the above, but what I do know is the devastating outcome is all too familiar in our society... and it bothers me beyond words. It's truly tragic and heartbreaking!
I can't be silent about something I feel so passionately about. I have a public outlet through this blog, and I'd be doing my principles an injustice by not commenting on something so important to me. Teen bullying is a pandemic in our country that has to end! Everyone has differences, that's what makes this world such a wonderful place.... and it's about time that we as a society (and world) respect and celebrate our differences rather than stifle them with intolerance. It's about time we support and uplift our fellow classmates, colleagues and neighbors, however different they may be, rather than tear them down because of prejudice, jealousy, or ignorance. It's about time we stop turning a blind eye to injustice, cruelty and discrimination because of indifference, ambivalence, fear, or not wanting to get "involved". And it's about time we stand up to people who bully and hurt others out of callousness, spitefulness, unawareness, or the need to make themselves feel better about their own shortcomings and insecurities.
I know there are millions of people who feel the same as I do, but unfortunately to those being bullied, the voices of their bullies are louder than our voices of support and acceptance. Please unite with me to make our voices louder than the taunts of intolerance and hurt. Help our voices multiply and echo to drown out the callous voices of bullies all over the country (and world). Please take a moment to post your own anti-bullying message on your online outlet. And/or help me spread this message by adding the anti-bullying ribbon to your website or blog.
The only intolerance that should be accepted in our society is intolerance to bullying and cruelty.
*Ribbon image borrowed from www.stopbullyinginourschools.com*
Labels: Announcements, bullying, important, intolerance, News, teens
posted by Amy Holder at
4:15 PM
7 Comments:
It made me really sad, too.
It's a very sad story. I hate when I hear stories like these, it breaks my heart. I think it's great that your using your blog as an outlet, this is something that needs to be shared and I'm glad you did!
Amy, I agree with you 1000%! I intend to post about this early in the week and if you don't mind I'm going to link to your post because I frankly can't say it any better than you already did.
Bullies aren't formed in a vacuum, they learn the behavior at home, or from friends who learned it at home.
Kids need to learn that if they want to show how tough they are...try standing up to a bully!
Such a good message. This story was just horrible, and it happens way more often than I want to think about.
The recent stories of bullying, homophobia, and suicide sadden me.
This always breaks my heart. I have a YA story called FLOAT which stands for: For Love Of All Teens, in which revolves around a teen girl overcoming the atrocities of bullying and innovating a national movement to stop it. I'm presently querying for an agent, but it's so time consuming. I feel like this story needs to be out there right now! I'm considering uploading to Amazon as an eBook just to get it out there (altho kids aren't really into eReaders yet) but the traditional process could take another 2 years. I don't mind offering this story as a donation or promotion for this cause. My beta readers have been so supportive of it's message! Now I just need a gatekeeper to feel the same way!! :)
Thank you all for your comments. I'm glad you all feel the same as I do about this topic.
Aubrie - It's so, so sad.
Jen - Thanks for reading it.
DL - Thank you so much for your support, not only in this comment...but in the post on your blog as well!
Meredith - I know, it happens way too often.
Medeia - It's so heartbreaking.
PK - Good luck with FLOAT. It sounds like a very important message.
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