Unkindness
One of the things I do after work, or when I am done with everything that I need to accomplish for the day is to browse through Facebook to see what friends and acquaintances are up to. While doing so, I came across a link about Lizzie Valasquez. She has a rare disorder that keeps her from gaining weight. She is a motivational speaker and someone posted a link to one of her speeches (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sohGDfNQV7M).
Listening to her reminded me of just how cruel people can be to one another and with a forum like youtube, Facebook, Twitter, etc, people feel that they are free to be just as mean and ignorant as they want to be all in the name of “Freedom Of Speech”.Personally, I believe there is a big difference between Freedom Of Speech and just being a bully and an a**hole.
I have been called the “N” word and told that I was not smart enough to go to college and graduate (Have a Master’s Degree in Social Work) by another student in high school. Had a friend who had to deal with rumors about her that were spread by a guy she had turned down (and of course, most people chose to believe the lies instead of coming to her to find out what was going on). You read stories of bullying that has gone too far and the consequences such as youngsters committing suicide because they could not take it anymore. Remember the video that went viral about the school bus attendant here in upstate New York that kids posted of them bullying her.
Whatever happened to people treating others the way that they want to be treated (Hmmmm, maybe the bullies expect to be treated later in life the same way they have treated others). What is so sad, many of the bullies seem to be very proud of what they have done. Is this because they have not been taught valuable lessons at home?
Whatever the reason is, our children need to learn that bullying is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. It needs to start with us. If they see us being unkind to others, how can we expect them to do anything different.
Recent Comments
3
Most the people that bully have some deep issues and really need love too, but how do you do that. WOW hard stuff.
I agree! Bullying is a horrible thing and unfortunately it is learned from observation. I hope to teach my child to be kind to everyone and to treat people how she wants to be treated. My job is to do the same!
Amen to that!!!!