Le gasp! A serious post?
Yes, a serious post.
I'm not really someone to talk the talk about anything against bullying. For all I know, I may have been a bully myself at one point or another. In fact, it's most likely that we all have.
Bullying has become like a natural phenomenon. It's like watching Discovery, commenting on how savage animals can be to one another and then realizing we're not very far off. In society, there will always be people on the seat of power and people that are taken advantage off. In one way or another, bullying is everywhere, in a small to large scale. I find it ironic how preachy people get about bullying when really it's happening right under their noses and they don't even try to stop it.
Bullying is made out to be something so one-sided. There's a victim, and then there's the aggressor. Point-blank, the aggressor is always wrong and this state of mind has lead many a people to jump to the wrong conclusions on cases involving bullying. Basically, all I'm trying to say is bullies come in different shapes and sizes. A bully doesn't necessarily have to be the bigger, stronger one. Nor does he actually have to be a "he". And to ad to the convoluted issue that is bullying, bullies have a complicated situation of their own. Why does one become a bully in the first place? Deep-seeded questions like those are always thrown into the equation when bullying is involved. I for one think that ending bullying is easier said than done.
Remember this kid?
I think this is one EXCELLENT case study on how complicated the issue of bullying is. Ask ANYBODY and they'll congratulate Casey for having stood up for himself. But then when or where is the line crossed to an appropriate extent for someone to actually stand up for himself? In a society where it's taught that "violence is never the answer", institutions like middle schools and high schools have set themselves up so that violence is the only answer at least when you want a bully to cut it out. And that's just wrong. Because things like this bully going around unchecked happen on a daily basis because teachers refuse to acknowledge that bullying like this exists.
And it's not even just physical bullying. With the miracle that is the internet, cyberbullying has become more rampant as well. And let's not even forget all the name calling, backstabbing and gossiping that can scar someone just as much as a punch could.
And while I believe there will never be ONE concrete, effective solution to stop bullying (face it, society is built on the need to get ahead and feel better about one's self. It's a breeding ground for bullies), I do believe that little efforts can make a difference.
Starting November 13, screenings of Bully, a documentary by Lee Hirsch, will finally begin, the premier of which will be at Robinson's Galleria Cinema 4.
This effort, spearheaded by the Jesuit Basic Education Commission (JBEC), in cooperation with Solar Entertainment hopes to spur the anti-bullying campaign, "Not in Our School." And while I do think this effort was well overdue (October, Anti-Bullying month is almost over), I do believe in the power of media and sappy true-to-life stories.
Chris Tiu Against Bullying
This targets, not just children, but parents and adults as well. Because we all know adults have done a less than satisfactory job in the department of bully prevention. If they'd done half as well as they think they did, the problem wouldn't be here, would it? For this reason, JBEC is offering several Saturday block screenings in Robnson's Galleria, for schools (not just their student populous, but their teachers as well).
I'm honestly hoping that this movie gets the recognition it deserves. I'm pretty sure this movie has more meaning to it than a movie about sparkling vampires and shapeshifting warewolves. And I'm sure the millions of kids being bullied around the world will agree.
Because really --*COUGHCOUGHdoyoureallywanttoseetwilightmorethanthismovie???COUGHCOUGH*
“Bully” hits theaters starting November 14.
"Bully follows five kids and families over the course of a school year. Stories include two families who have lost children to suicide and a mother awaiting the fate of her 14-year-old daughter who has been incarcerated after bringing a gun on her school bus. With an intimate glimpse into homes, classrooms, cafeterias and principals' offices, the film offers insight into the often cruel world of the lives of bullied children."
To learn more about the "Not in Our School" campaign against bullying visit their official site here.
To learn more about the movie, visit their local website here and international website here.
Ada,
signing out.
