These kids. . .not hanging themselves.

A little something I posted on Xanga about cruel children, entitled: "These kids should still be watching Spongebob, not hanging themselves. . ."

One of the most prevalent memories of my middle school years, is the day I saw a faculty member (a counselor, NO LESS) blow off bullying. I remember that I was in the office, waiting for something, when a boy in the year above me walked calmly into the office and sat down in a chair. The lady asked him why he was there, and he said, "A boy in my class is being made fun of for his mental disability, and they steal his things and chase him around the room, and I want it to stop."

To this, the counselor replied: "If he wants someone to know, he'll tell us. Now go back to class." And with that, she walked off. She just left. I sat there, thinking that it was so wrong, and yet . . . she knew it was happening and did absolutely nothing to prevent it.

I'm sure that she didn't realize that bullied children's voices are weak. More often than not, kids who are picked on aren't the ones who report the bullying. Why must someone else's cry for help be ignored, just because they aren't the ones suffering?

I just stumbled upon an article that announces that, since the beginning of this year, five students have committed suicide because the bullying would. not. stop. It isn't harmless anymore; when you make fun of someone these days, they kill themselves. Everyone should be able to look past their hand-me-down clothing or whatever merits these insults because they have nothing to be ashamed of. But bullies do.

These five kids, who obviously did not deserve to be put in that situation, probably didn't even realize how permanent suicide is. I mean, two that I know of were only eleven years old. They should still be watching Spongebob, and writing letters to Santa (okay, well, maybe not that far.)

Society has come so far, and I'm beginning to think we're moving backwards instead of forwards. Sixth graders are thinking they're too fat, and take diet pills in order to "fit in". Their peers put children in such a small cage, confine them to certain beliefs, tell them "you're too fat." or "you're ugly." or "fags should go die." And so little boys and girls stop being themselves, they give up and become plastic mannequins, in order to please someone who will never be their true friend, no matter how hard they try.

You can't let bullies win. If you accidentally say something hurtful, go back and apologize. They may not forgive you, and it may be hard, but at least you know that you didn't win as a bully. Everyone says mean things sometimes, and as long as you apologize and try to keep yourself in check, you aren't a bad person.

You can't let bullies win. If someone is bullying you or a friend (or even someone you don't quite know), you aren't being a "rat" if you tell a trusted adult. If it persists, tell the police. I know it's hard, and you feel as if you're doing something bad if you tell on someone. But if that behavior causes someone to feel like killing themselves, you have to help. I'm sure that person will thank you someday, and you'll even thank yourself.

You can't let bullies win. Don't sink into a sea of guilt for being who you are. Let yourself shine. I know people take this with a grain of salt, but they shouldn't. I'm guilty of this myself: I'll read something that tells me to be happy about who I am, then continue to search for something that will make me better. But at some point you have to admit that you have faults. Just because you aren't as good at math as the new kid is, doesn't make you stupid. On the same note, sometimes bullies make fun of you for things that AREN'T faults. Homophobic/racist slurs are NOT okay, and you have a right to go to a school that keeps you safe from bad comments like that.

Don't be like that counselor, don't let a bullied child slip through the cracks. Any sign at all that someone is being picked on, ask them. Ask their friends, ask people, because if you keep searching, someone will admit that someone bullied them or a friend. You have to keep trying, even when you are wrong about a possible victim, because five children, is five too many.

I leave you with the words that every bullied child should live by:
Popularity is overrated. Be unique.