This is SUCH AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT, NOW WITH SCHOOLS BEGINNING ONCE AGAIN, WHETHER ELEMENTARY, JR. HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, WHETHER IT'S A "NONPROFIT" OR JUST A REGULAR School sponsored by our states, local governments, and our National Government, BULLIES EXIST! Not only IN SCHOOLS, but in the WORK PLACE!
We see this type of problem everywhere, whether it's a "hate crime" which to me all Bullying types of things are 'HATE CRIMES" of a sort... We know that all too often, kids "see and hear" things at home, or other places, then "bring that type of thing" to school with them"...
whether it's because you "dress different", talk differently, go to a different church or don't go, whether you have one color of skin or the other, whether your "schools" are the "name brand" or "Wally World" brand... whether you "buy your lunch" or get a "free lunch or breakfast"... what "side of the tracks" you live on, whether you are "too thin", or what some consider too "large"... maybe you don't "go to the salon" and have your hair cut, or maybe you can't afford glasses or contacts that cost 100's of dollars... maybe you are from a "one parent home" or maybe your "parents" are the same sex, whatever it "is" you can bet that their some is kind of person or group that wants to Make you feel "less than", that you are "weird", poor, or don't dress well...
or maybe your parents cannot "afford a new car for you to drive to school", so you ride the bus.... as I said, whatever it is, you can bet "someone" is out there just waiting to make someone feel "lousy" about themselves. Often times the "very ones" that are being "bullies" are the ones that could be "getting bullied", or abused at home, or somewhere else. So, it takes even more of an effort on the part of us, that "hate the idea" of someone making fun of a person, or talking down to someone, or calling them names, or talking about how "their home life" is strange... REMEMBER, THAT PERSON HAS FEELINGS, EMOTIONS, AND HURTS JUST LIKE IF IT WERE YOU! So, be the better person and "step up" and tell them that you won't stand up and listen to someone being "bashed" either through words, actions, being treated as if they are not "human"....
My daughter and I just talked about this, just this morning. As her boys begin school this week, "most of the time" "boys" don't care what kind of "jeans" you have one, if your shirt buttons up, or is a T-shirt... etc... but "girls" can be so terribly cruel... boys can also, but girls tend to be those that "put down" someone for the way they dress, talk, look, and act a bit differently. I know that the "internet" is awesome in ways, but in other ways, it's created a way of "hateful" and harmful things to be said and done, and can be "sent out" with 100's or 1,000's of those to see it, within the blink of an eye....
So, as the new school year comes, and as I recall being a bit "overweight" and not being allowed to be in the band, or do some of the things I wanted to do, because my Dad was "too overprotective", he worked nights most of my Jr. High and High School years, and he just "didn't trust" anyone, and I don't think even trusted me... so I was "teased" due to several things over my years in school... but now often times it's a great deal more than just a bit of teasing, and it leads to kids committing suicide or harming someone, due to that "teasing" and abuse..
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We have always been an organization for kindness.The types of problems we tackle may have changed over the past decade,But our passion has never wavered. Ours is a higher purpose. We work so that youth may stand tall and be respected. With our help, youth are kinder. Schools are more inclusive. Communities have more equality. Society has more unity. So that, a culture of cruelty can become a culture of civility. So we devote ourselves to breaking down barriers, we give voice to the voiceless. We give belonging to those feeling left out. We welcome diversity and inclusivity. We work shoulder to shoulder in unity. We empower the fearful to be fearless in this pursuit. And together we will find the answers, to change the culture, for good.ption |
