On the Soapbox
My heart is full of sadness today.
Another child been bullied to death.
Asher Brown.
photo of Asher from the internet
To see a story from ABC News, click HERE.
Just thirteen years old and full of promise.
Bright, creative, sensitive. A capable student who
aspired to have a career in which
he could help others
when he grew up.
A joy to have in class, said one of his teachers
on his last report card.
Slight and short of stature.
Buddhist,
unlike the Christian norm at Hamilton Middle School
in Harris, Texas outside Houston.
And also beginning to identify himself as gay.
Pushed down the stairs.
Subjected to repeated intimidation and aggression.
Put a gun to his head when he couldn't take any more.
Bullied to death for being different.
Asher, I'm lighting a candle for you.
And Phoebe Prince.
And Tyler Clementi.
And Seth Walsh.
And Justin Aaberg.
And Billy Lucas.
And all the other kids who were bullied to death,
whose names I don't know.
It's not just a matter of drafting
an anti-bullying policy in the schools
and then looking the other way
when the policy is violated,
claiming you don't know what to do
or who's responsible
or how to handle something
that's such an epidemic.
It's about creating a culture of tolerance and inclusion.
About fostering opportunities for kids
to work collaboratively and build community,
rather than emphasizing competition.
It's about celebrating authenticity
(in adults as well as children)
instead of beating it into the ground.
It's about right action.
Comments
A sad state of affairs, indeed.
as ellen said on her show...this is a crisis and it must be stopped !
Yes, Expat and Jinksy. . . it occurs in the corporate workplace. There's harassment of teachers by administrators, of service workers by customers. It's endemic. And change is likely to be slow. But like Expat says, it starts here. Because it has to start somewhere.
Beth: People like Ellen using their celebrity status to shine a spotlight will help.
Noelle
Thanks, Meri, for highlighting this.
this is heart crushing.
that intolerance continues in our world...that being different should awaken such contempt.
that knowing love, acceptance and compassion should be out of reach...
for anyone
brakes my heart.
we cannot do enough to turn this climate of hate around.
why why when we should no better ,
I do think fear is beyond so much of it.
tragic.
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.
You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
You've got to be carefully taught.
You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught!"
Sadly this is still as true today as it has always been.
My children were raised to be color, creed and gender blind. I had so many of my friends around them when they were growing up: gay and straight, black and white, yellow and purple with green polka dots for all they knew and they were compassionate beings from the moment I can remember when acting under their own advise.
But let's be honest, what can we really expect when our government is willing to send soldiers to their death for as long as they keep the don't ask don't tell intact? Shame is too kind of a word to use with those who should set the example and to make sure that equality means just that: we are equal. Nothing more nothing less should be demanded by all of us, not only by those suffering from this incredible show of insensitivity and hatred. Until that happens any child could be a target, and my heart goes to those families victimized by those bullies and their pitiful upbringing.