This links you to the most moving message I have found from the recent "It Gets Better" campaign designed to help all youth endure bullying that happens to anyone perceived as gay or as Joel says "different". Please view and post your reactions in the form of a comment. You can earn a point extra credit for your comment.
This is a link to the message from the whitehouse.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/10/09/it-gets-better
~Lisa Ruchti
“Life may seem unbearable” for many young people, but it truly does get better. Growing up is normally not easy for anyone. However, as we age we learn and develop skills that help us deal with the difficulties of life. Joel Burns did a wonderful job expressing his pain and hurt, for those who ended their lives because of pressures and assaults from other children. The bullying needs to stop. The violence needs to stop. It’s hard being a teen as you try to define who you are; children do not need external pressure breaking them down.
ReplyDeleteSafi
Joel Burn’s account of his struggle of being tormented and unsure of himself for being gay and how things did get better literally brought tears to my eyes. Not only his courage to share that story that no one knows about on national television but his compassion towards the youth who are struggling, is inspiring. It is so sad that young teenagers and even younger children are made to feel as if they are wrong for being who they are. Especially at that age of 13, 14, 15 when they are just truly realizing the world around them and trying to find out who they truly are. It’s an absolute disgrace the way we treat one another and how schools allow this to keep happening. This needs to stop. Bullying and suicides need to stop. Just because people are different does not mean in any way, shape, or form, that anyone is less of a human being. Life is worth living and we should all make efforts to allow it to be that way.
ReplyDeleteI admire Joel Burn's for standing up and telling his story in front of all of his peers and colleagues. It takes a lot for someone to speak in front of an entire room of people about something so personal. I agree with his urge to push those kids who are being bullied to be strong. It must be so hard for them and i cannot really say since i am not in their position but i think its a shame that there was one boy as young as 13 killing himself because he was bullied. it upsets me to hear this story and i havent heard of these kids before listening to this and it really upsets me that children will stoop so low to make someone else feel bad about their identity. Another thing i noticed in his speech was that he gave out to everyone his personal phone number. i really think this shows how much he truly cares about the situation at hand and is willing to stand by his beliefs enough to give out his personal store and number for people to listen. I wish there was a way to stop childhood bullying but it should be the schools and parents who come together to form ideas.
ReplyDelete-janine allan