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[Topical RANT] Stand Up, Fight Back |
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Okay, so instead of one of my usual random, off the wall rants, I have chosen something that is a little more current events. In this case: bullying.
So first off, allow me to assure that I have plenty of personal experience in the matter. Being on the receiving end that is. I was taunted and bullied for being taller than everybody else, thinner than everybody else, and being straight up goofy looking. None of which ever bothered me too terribly, since even as a kid I knew I looked kind of goofy. (Tip: Agreeing with bullies tends to throw of the whole 'insulting' angle.) I was once bullied for being smarter than certain people, which was confusing for a while. (But being as smart as they said I was, I was able to see that anyone who insults a person for being 'smart', has already lost the game.) And last but not least, I have been insulted for my choice of girlfriends, bullied for being a geek and hanging out with nerds, and because I was an American. SO believe me, I've been there.
Now, in starting, let me voice my personal disgust with news media outlets with the manner they are covering this surge in bullying. Not that they are covering it poorly, mind you, because they are indeed bringing a lot of attention to a matter that needs all the attention it can get. No, what has me ready to strangle the collective talking heads is the fact everyone seems to be presenting this as an all of sudden thing. though some are acknowledging that it has been around for a long time (which, by the way, is prime Galactic-Understatements-of-All-Time material), they still act as if this is first time it has gotten this bad. You can already guess what I'm about to write, but I will anyway. It isn't.
Every couple of years, maybe five to six on average, we see a spike in teen suicides. And lo and behold, a hell of a lot of them are tracked back to bullying and social ostricization. Not all are because of them, but those factors often play a much too big a part. So if this keeps happening, time after time after time after time (etc), then how come nothing happens. Well, because the cause of the problem and the victims of the problem keep going away.
The victims, namely kids that kill themselves, are obviously incapable of speaking for themselves, and more often than not families simply wanted to move on andnot linger on their loss. This is understable, and acceptable. No one should have to go through such a loss. Though I am glad to see more families are standing up and making more noise about the matter.
The other half of the equation, the youth doing the bullying and ostracising, grow up. They become adults, get jobs, and if we're really lucky, won't kill anybody because of the color of their skin, national origin, or sexual orientation. The core problem is that they are youth. Here in America, our legal system protects offending Minors for just about anything short of murder. Obviously, a possible connection to bullying another kid into suicide isn't going to stick with anybody. So, again obvious to my eyes, trying to stop a bully that is already a bully in the system we have today just won't work.
So what do we do?
Some say we need to address the parents. That parents need to be aware that such behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated. That if we educate them, then they help elimnate the problem. Problem is, they're grown up, and us grown ups tend to be on the onflexible side of things. So that's out. So how about the kids? Well, we can create mandatory classes, and institute programs, and do all sorts of government sponsered stuff. But anyone caring to take a glance back in time will see that those usually end up doing nothing but either making the problem worse, or being a waste of time. (Just look at D.A.R.E., yeah that worked out great, didn't it?)
So what do we do?
First, it has to be a conscious choice by society to accept a zero tolerance approach to bullying. And this sentiment wil only arise when enough people speak out against, so that is what we must do. Parents, kids, and politicians alike have to stand up and denounce bullying and make eveyone see that it is not kids being kids, it is harmful.
Second, we must fight back, and we do this by categorizing bullying for what it is: a hate crime. If you insult or attack someone solely for being Jewish, or for being black, or being gay, or otherwise different from you, that is a hate crime. Why then, when one kid beats up another kid for being 'fat', or 'queer', or being from another country, that is not kids not understanding. That is hate crime, and it must be pursued as such. Because believe me, the first time we arrest a kid for beating up another kid, people will take notice. Sure a lot of them will raise a stink over it, but by then it will be too late. The issue will be front and center and unforgettable.
At the beginning, I mentioned all the things I was bullied about over the years, but not the how. Well, I was hit, beat up, pushed around, and spit on. I dodged most of the rocks, cans, and bottles, but not all. And did it hurt? Well, yeah. Did I just walk away? When they let me. Did I want to die by own hand? No. Why? Because something I was taught by my parents.
No one can put you down unless you let them.
I wouldn't let them. I stood my ground. I did not sink to their level. And in the few tiems it was necessary I fought back. All because I respected myself. And in the end, I found others who did too. And then it got easier, because then we could stand together. And eventually, when enough people stand together, bullies go away.
The time has come to stand together. We must Stand Up. We must Fight Back. Ths must end now.
- FireSpark Out
We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable, that all men are created equal and independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent and inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. - Thomas Jefferson
 FireSpark · Sun Oct 10, 2010 @ 11:38am · 1 Comments |
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