During the weekend of May 4, I had the opportunity to go to the premiere of a documentary about bullying and how much of a problem it is, in so many different parts of our children’s lives.
Bullying can have lifelong effects on the victims of those who are bullied and harassed. The documentary “Bully” also shows that it can be done in secret; it can be very hard to detect. Kids are finding ways to make it look as if they are not really doing anything very bad to another student. You almost have to run the scene through your head in slow motion to really catch it.
Now, if kids were talking more freely about it, finding an answer to a certain incident or conflict might be easier. Our society has let it go too far. People have made it an almost acceptable behavior or just part of growing up. It does not have to be that way, and the only people that can make it right are you and I. All it takes is one act of courage to stand up (not stand by) when they see someone getting bullied.
Do yourself a favor and go see this film called “Bully.” It will put a little fire under you. It will put questions in your head that in turn might help you think of some ideas on what you can do and what you can say when you are confronted with bullies. I find it has put a sense of urgency in trying to help anyone who is having an issue.
Knowing that the subject of bullying is a hot button issue, I will close with this. “Bully:” just go see it. Let’s start a fire.
Christie is the assistant manager at Brown Bus Company in Nampa, Idaho. He can be contacted via email.
