Spreading Support For The Bullied: Let's Go Boldly Together

Spreading Support for The Bullied: Let's Go Boldly Together

Comments written on this blog are dedicated to spreading supportive, encouraging words and principles for people who stand against intimidation, harassment, or other bullying behaviors.  Bullying is problematic even if you are not the direct victim.   Bullying is troubling when you simply know some someone who is victimized.  Parents and friends of victims feel the anguish associated with bullying. We must all work together to end the detrimental effects of bullying, harassment and intimidation.  Let’s go boldly together toward creating a safer, kinder society.

Attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors evolve through societal changes, technological advances, and new ideas.  Millennials appear to have an open,  a giving spirit of inclusion and acceptance. There is hope for a better tomorrow.  However, change and innovation can also have unintended negative consequences. While most of us agree, the Internet is an amazing tool there is a downside when used improperly or maliciously.  The ability to spread hate, cyber- bullying and other forms of negative propaganda are easier, faster, and more widespread than ever before because of the Internet and communication through social media.

Unfortunately, individuals who feel isolated and excluded from peers or their community may decide to use technology as an indirect or direct tool of harassment or intimidation.   Perpetrators of large-scale acts of violence may have fallen into this disturbing pattern of unintended negative consequences of technology and the Internet.   Everyone must become aware and make an effort to connect with individuals who appear to exist on the fringes of a neighborhood, community, or society.   Let’s go boldly together in an attempt to end bullying, intimidation, and isolation of others.

There are many documented reasons individuals face intimidating and harassing acts of bullying.  The reasons bullying occurs are typically unfounded, illogical, and quite honestly rooted in cruel and mean behavior.  When surveyed, students report the reasons they were bullied as being related to their physical appearance or looks, body shape (also related to physical appearance), and race, (Davis and Nixon, 2010).  Briefly, think about these reported causes of bullying and you will understand how important body image and physical attractiveness becomes during adolescent years and beyond. Victims of bullying must feel supported by peers and responsible adults and reassured they should not be harassed or intimidated in their school or community.  Everyone has the right to coexist without the negative impact of bullying.

Peer groups may be reluctant to accept children into their social group who they perceive to be “different”.  Adults must lead the way by modeling accepting and inclusive behaviors with neighbors, co-workers, and community members. Let us go boldly together in an attempt to create a kinder gentler society that minimizes the significance of outward appearance and looks beyond obvious physical features. 

We should remain undaunted in our efforts to spread understanding and acceptance of all people.  This type of unconditional acceptance does not mean that you must retreat from personal beliefs or values but rather it requires that you demonstrate acceptance and respectful acknowledgment of the beliefs’ of others. 

Acceptance of differences is a strong start to ending many problems plaguing our immediate communities and society as a whole.  Let’s go boldly together to ensure tolerance and acceptance that will help to create a kinder, more caring community for all!