Subscribe to Common Dreams News Updates
Most Popular This Week
Popular content
Today's Top News
08.31.10 - 9:15 AM
Anti-Bullying Is So Gay
The right-wing Christian ministry Focus on the Family is protesting anti-bullying efforts in Colorado schools and elsewhere as sly attempts to suppress Christians and foster "the gay agenda," aka the notion that all kids should be treated equally and not have to worry about getting beat up by thugs. Studies report that almost 9 out of 10 gay and lesbian students experience harassment, over half feel unsafe at school, and 20 percent are assaulted.
"The word 'faggot' is not part of any religious creed." - Eliza Byard of the national Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.
Comments are closed
62 Comments so far
Show AllIf 'godly' kids were the ones being bullied, you can bet that Focus on the Family would be screaming from the pulpit for protection from bullying for their 'little angels.' The hypocrisy of this quite ripe.
Too bad no nations exist that are free from religion.
Yea I have to agree.
When I was very young I was religious to some extent, mainly because I was indoctrinated into it, (AKA no choice in the matter). Then as I got older I drifted away from religion, but was pretty neutral about it. Now as I see the religious bigots trying to ram their misguided beliefs down everybody else's throats, my neutrality as become total distain. I am simply completely disgusted with people that refuse to use reason and just follow blindly something that someone told them.
I grew up hearing that faith was a virtue. now I couldn't disagree more with that statement.
I grew up hearing that faith was a virtue. now I couldn't disagree more with that statement.
same here and likewise. very well said.
Just when you think they have hit bottom they just keep on lowering the bar.
Yeah, remember in the bible when the Baby Jesus beat up and stole the gay kids lunch money?
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Miserable KKKristians, you are so loathsome.
So, Focus on the Family is in favor of bullying. Good to know. High school was a living hell for me. I still harbor fantasies of "getting even". How sick is that?
dkshaw, that isn't sick at all; it's normal for victims of bullying. I don't know how many revised outcomes I have imagnined for my tormenters, usually involving blunt trauma or bullet wounds or maybe both. In fact, I am thinking about it as I write. Some of the bullies ended up on the skids or in prison, which gave me a little perspective, but the memory still stings. Of course I shouldn't hold on to it and neither should you, but we're only human.
As for James Dobson, he's some kind of closet pederast, no doubt in my mind. The guy is famous for exactly one thing: he wrote, "Dare to Discipline", a 250-page excuse for slapping naughty pink, pre-pubescent bottoms. Then he followed it up with 7 more books, all, more or less, on the same subject. Jeesh! There's a guy who just can't come to terms with himself. Whenever one of these frightful hicks comes out of the woods, waving a bible, you know it's time to lock the kids in the house and lock the livestock in the barn and chickens in the hen house. Whatever sin and degradation they accuse us of, they are doing far worse. Bet on it.
Having the chutzpah to protest anti-bullying for any reason is an indication of acute anti-social behavior. No surprise here that this is directed at sexual minorities, since attacks on gay people, whether Verbal or physical, is an everyday part of life in America.
Bullying is part of the patriotic right wing christian(?) agenda. Their stated intentions are for the US to use its superior might to quash all beliefs and movements that do not agree with Focus on the Family. What else it bullying but taking advantange of someone else's "weakness". The lions in the Coliseum would not want their cubs to be taught to give the Christians an even chance.
Bullies never pick on anyone their own size ppeters, no one with at least two brain cells to rub together will try something theu know they couldn't get away with. I'm sure any guy that thinks he's a bad ass won't walk into a biker bar and stir up shit, unless he's got plenty of back up. Simply put, Bullies are cowards.
And they usually grow up (?) to become cops. Is it any wonder that we have such an out of control police state going?
Focus on your own damned family needs to actually READ the book they keep trying to force on us all. It doesn't say that you need to be a bigger asshole than the next guy to prove your faith. In fact, the words of the man they profess to follow say exactly the opposite. Funny thing, Christ himself said to watch out for those who would use his message against you, and these are EXACTLY who he was talking about. And Glen Beck, and Pat Robertson, and Benny Hinn, and the rest of the televangelists. They are the ones leading people to hell in a hand basket. Dobson and his bunch at FOTF need to be taxed and taxed heavily. They are NOT a church, they are a political organization, period. And they stand up for the most ugly, vile, hateful aspect of our or any society. Hardly what Christ would have been on the side of.
"It doesn't say that you need to be a bigger asshole than the next guy to prove your faith."
LOL! You know I might actually read a bible if it was written like that...
Indeed, they espouse the exact opposite of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew Chapters 5-7) or even the Judgement of Nations (Chapter 25:31-46).
And as for the Judgement of Nations, it is interesting that if you read it straight, it would be a pretty damning indictment of the capitalist state, and a wringing endorsement of socialism. But the new post-Calivinist Christians interpret it as only applying to Jesus when it really means all people. Which part of "Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me" don't they understand?? In fact, he damns whole nations not for how much they believe in him, but how they treat the sick, the poor, the hungry, the imprisoned, and the stranger.
They are a fascist organization and should be eradicated. They are psychotic, and need help but I'd settle for seeing them wiped out.
They are cowards, and so much more--try sadistic, for example. Is anyone getting tired of living in a country where little psychopaths are actually encouraged?
teach the art of physical combat in grade school...
TEACH THE HIGHER ART OF COMPASSION IN GRADE SCHOOL.......
Where are you going to find these teachers of compassion? Remember, we ARE living in the United States. You certainly aren't going to find them in Focus on the Family.
As a newly arrived kid in an all boys' boarding school, I was tormented by the resident form bully.I head butted him, knocked him to the floor and was making a mess of his face when I was pulled away by some other boys.The guy never messed with me again. The word went out that, although I was small, I was crazy, and-highest praise in the fifties-"didn't care." I was quite deliberate about this, and it worked: you sometimes have to do this kind of thing in that kind of an environment to survive.Fortunately, the school has evolved (admitting girls certainly helped), and the 'Lord of the Flies' atmosphere is a thing of the past.
Unintended duplicate.
Most kids who are the victims of bullies don't have your inner resources, ricardohead. And in most public schools, bulling has increased. Little girls don't seem to help much, when they are doing the bullying or standing on the side lines admiring and encouraging the bullies.
Well, I was just relating my personal experience, and it was not intended as a guide for others.Certain other kids in this pressure-cooker environment were bullied mercilessly,tortured, or chased around by a large thug with a switchblade-all this in an 'elite' prepschool.One kid was kicked out for running a protection racket which preyed on the youngest for their allowance money.He had a set of brass knuckles and a 'cush'.Nice place to grow up in.So for me, small and slightly crazy was the path to survival.
Yes, the United States is a good place to get an education.
Not all children who are the victims of bullies are gay.There are many school children who are shy, too short, have speech impediments, are slow or have low self esteem who are their victims. I could go on and on about the reasons that children are bullied.Bullies do great harm to all the children victims. Harm that can last a lifetime.
This was one of my fears regarding the Ground Zero controversy. I am very afraid that the Muslim Children will be subjected to ridicule and bitterness by their peers in school. The bullies would be learning it from their parents in the case of the" Mosque" protests. And we all know that it is based on ignorance and feelings of superiority over others.
How are boys going to grow up to be manly killers of moslems if they don't toughen up through being bullied. Damned liberals want to prevent the bullying so our kids will turn into gays and then the moslems will take over everything. Enjoy your gay shareeha law, liberal ass fags!
Go to the nearest psychiatric center and check yourself in, psychopath!!
I believe the original poster was being satirical. At least, I hope so.
It's known as satire.
See Jonathan Swift.
I have a funny feeling he was just trying to make a point, stringbean.
Ever thought of writing for the Onion?
Those who are bullies often turn out to be the first who run during real combat, especially when there is a real chance they will get hurt.
That's very true, NateW. However, one must also bear in mind that not all bullying is physical. It can be psychogical as well. I know, because I was a frequent victim of that kind of psychogical bullying back in Junior High and most of my high school days.
Interestingly enough, one of these bullies ended up an alcoholic, and he lost his longtime girlfriend from high school, as well. Another one ended up a heroin addict, and served a jail sentence for stealing in order to obtain heroin.
I know several people who wound up being heroin addicts and drunks who were not bullies, so anecdotal evidence suggests that there is no connection.There was a guy in my school-actually a friend, and very smart-who would blindside me from time time with seriously cruel remarks, which left me fuming and temporarily off ballance. Much later he explained (after several years of therapy) that he only did that kind of thing to people he liked and admired.He didn't do it to people he didn't think were worth the effort. He wound up being a very successful lawyer.Go figure.
1.Bullying to the fascistically-inclined is an expression of toughness, of manliness, or at least a test of the unmanliness of the victim. They justify their actions just as wife-beaters and rapists and pedophiles do, by blaming the victim for provoking them with their attitude (i.e., their difference).
2.Fascist stormtroopers will be recruited (are being recruited) from the ranks of nasty bullies. So keep an eye on the bullies - they will be the future enforcers, whether as baseball-bat-wielding street toughs or cops or private guards.
2a)
Perhaps everyone needs to take the 2nd amendment seriously and learn some serious self-defence. Bullies don't much take to peaceful dialogue and occasionally an example should be made of them, to dissuade them from future nastiness.
3.School administrators and teachers should be liable for not dealing with bullies, if their hands-off attitude results in harm to anyone.
3a) Litigate the hell out of the authorities (including police and school staff) if they fail to intervene.
Excellent post, hoodeet. Thanks for this.
I agree that serious self-defense is also necessary for victims of severe physical bullying, and that school administrators and teachers should also be liable for not dealing with these situations and the consequences of such hands-off attitudes and inactions. I also dismiss the whole idea that defending oneself from physical assault from bullies is putting oneself down to the same level as his/her attacker as pure poppycock. There are good teachers out there who'll teach victims how to defend themselves without escalating the situation or lowering themselves to their attackers' level. People with "I'm holier than thou" attitudes should get down off their high horses and try to understand that a victim's survival is at stake, particularly because all too often, school authorities and teachers sit back and do nothing about it.
Taking karate classes helped me immensely with my problems with bullies of the adult kind. It helps just to know that you have the ability to kick ass if necessary. You very rarely have to use it because your whole attitude changes. I wish I had been given karate lessons when I was a child, but of course back in the 50s few in America had heard of karate.
Bullying is assault and/or battery. It is prosecutable under both criminal & tort law. This is standard for adults. Why are children denied this protection?
because most nations don't throw 5 and 6 year olds into jail... Heck, most of us won't throw a 12 year old into jail. the teenagers might get sent to juvie, but that just starts them on a lifetime of being in one jail or another...
Don't interpret my commment as any support for, or of, bullying. It's just a statement that using the judicial hammer on the little brats isn't such a good idea.
May I presume that neither you nor your children have experienced bullying, ongoing, relentless bullying?
You presume wrong. I'd love to have seen the little bastards I grew up with in jail, but that's not going to happen. I dealt with physical, emotional and verbal abuse for years before I said fuk it and walked out of school.
But I'm older now, and I know that the little brats were just parroting the bile that their parents and churches spewed. I also know that you can't hold a child responsible for this sort of crap for the rest of their lives.
What would tossing them in jail solve? Would it prevent the next bully? Not a chance.
The best way to deal with bullying in my opinion is to teach the kids how to respond to it. One kid might be a target, but no bully is going to try to take on the whole class.
"The little brats were just parroting the bile that their parents and churches spewed." But their parents were just parroting the bile of their parents, and so on. It's time to put a stop to it. These 'parrots' need dealing with. If we can't cure them of their psychotic behavior, lets get rid of them. Lets start with getting rid of Focus on Family.
~ But their parents were just parroting the bile of their parents, and so on. ~
this is SO important...and ties to my frequent rants about private property...
that one generation perpetuates the insanity by passing it on is vital to the continued destruction of our world...
that we are financially locked onto small pieces of property for our entire lives is crucial to keeping the parents toeing the line...
how do parents re-direct children without a supporting infrastructure? they create the supporting infrastructure by freeing up the land...
on Global Start Date: September 22, 2012...
your comment about karate was spot on, as well, George...
Look Snoop, you call the police on little kids for fighting and the kids, "innocent and guilty", will get beaten and tazed and otherwise abused. especially kids in down-trodden communities.
Why do so many liberal do gooders suffer from a fetish for the police and injustice system?
Is it a form of bourgoisie delusion? A belief in the innate goodness of Officer Friendly?
Go l.isten to a bit of your namesnake Snoop. His raps on the five oh might blow open your mind
1) I question the general disregard for protecting children from assault with the same degree of concern we show for adults. Schools and other institutions don't seem to care, shrugging it off as "kids will be kids". And then act shocked when they die. Never mind the scarring of the survivors. As far as calling the cops is concerned, you can't have effective law enforcement until you have an enforceable law. And, there will be no law until a sufficient portion of society decides to give a damn. But amerika seems a bit inchoherrent in what it chooses to give a damn about. So we're back to the Soviet answer: tough shidsky, komrade.
2) My ear apparently turned to tin when Dave Brubeck & Buddy Holly went off the charts. So "Snoop" is not a namesake - it refers to casting a prying eye on the suspects, usual & otherwise.
"said Focus on the Family education expert Candi Cushman."
Shouldn't that read "said Focus on Family INDOCTRINATION expert Candi Cushman?
The Christian Leaders in these groups know what it is to bully. They are authoritarian and charismatic in their set up, in their practice and in their ideology. Truth comes down from on high, God is the supreme bully, to representatives who are deputized to do God's work on earth. The central point of the creed being how unworthy and utterly worthless they are as individuals to receive God's grace, how much they fear God who rules absolutely and creates dire consequences for those who do not obey. And while they must prostrate themselves before an angry God, those who follow them must do the same before their will as church Leaders. It really is savage and terrible religion, but so appropriate for, (in fact how could you expect anything different from) those savages who practice it. In the local news yesterday child molestation charges filed against one of thes "Church of God" pastors, however throughout the Christian hierarchy and even in the more "respectable" brands of it-- this is a common occurance. That's why you hear them so fervently pray, "Lord help me a sinner."--they really are sinners. May the Lord help them but even more fervently I pray, "May the D.A.s procecute them to the full extent of the Law."
It aint just the kids, and the kids learn it from somewhere...
http://www.nospank.net/mcevoy.htm
TEACHERS WHO BULLY STUDENTS: PATTERNS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS
By Alan McEvoy, Ph.D., Wittenberg University, 2005
SOURCE: http://www.stopbullyingnow.com/teachers%20who%20bully%20students%20McEvoy.pdf
Abstract
This study examines non-sexual abuses of power over students by teachers – bullying – that have serious academic and social consequences. Focus group discussions with school staff, and interviews with 236 respondents about their experiences with high school teachers whom they perceive as bullies reveal the pervasiveness of the problem. The data also suggest that school policies and responses to reports of abusive behavior by teachers generally are ineffective or do not exist. Few schools have any avenue to redress legitimate grievances. Suggestions for effective school response, including policy implications and possible legal ramifications, are offered.
[...]