Bullying may be physical, verbal, relational, or carried out via technology: bullying isn’t just a young person’s problem. It affects the whole community and we all have a part to play in it. Often bullies at school are bullied at home, by parents or siblings. It’s also very common to get bullied at work but who should be blamed?
I blame neutral bystanders — whether students or teachers or family members; they must speak out if the cycle is to be broken. Bystanders often stay quiet out of fear of making things worse, or even escalating the situation to violence, but research shows that’s not the case. When you start reacting to it, people then feel enabled to speak up. Bullies must be told that harmful behaviour won’t be tolerated. Schools need to give time to the epidemic of bullying. Dealing with bullying is just as important as learning math, if not more.
As for me, I urge victims — if there are no heroes to save you, then you should be the hero.
After being bullied, there is always going to be those bad memories and tough scars that might be able to clear up or blend in with your skin, but never go away. Tell yourself that you will be okay and that people can be cruel or caring. At the end of the day, they don’t make you who you are. You’re beautiful and colourful in ways you can only imagine. You’re as unique as is the galaxy. One thing is for sure, that you are as smart as you want to be, as funny as you’d like to be, and as strong as you wish to be. Nobody has the right to make you feel different. I love all people who aren’t mean and stand up against this sinfully ugly epidemic.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2rd, 2015.
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a comprehensively well written article on a sensitive social issue. its a wake up call for parents & teachers as both r responsible for moral upbringing of a child.