Bullies, Bodyguards, and the Bully Pulpit

"Bullying" has received much media attention recently, particularly with CNN's Anderson Cooper's "Bullying:  It Stops Here" campaign, and rightly so.    http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/05/bullying-it-stops-here/?iref=obinsite  and  http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/11/video-the-battle-to-end-bullying/?hpt=ac_t2  The accounts of victimization are heartbreaking, and it's no surprise that some young people have been driven to suicide as a consequence of this social ostracism and ridicule.  This state of affairs is intolerable and unnecessary, particularly in a school context.  The "experts" speaking on Cooper's Town Hall program show how bullying is nothing new and that it takes place as a part of "social combat" for one's place on the social ladder (the pecking order?), but that the prestige that one gains from bullying is short lived and counterproductive.  Another feature of this phenomenon is that the roles of "bully" and "victim" tend to be interchangeable, with the same person playing both roles at different times.  Thus, today's victim may become tomorrow's bully, and vice versa.

How can bullying be prevented?  One suggested remedy is to create "a culture of tolerance" wherein bystanders would not stand idly by tolerating incidents of bullying.  The community would agree to abide by the golden rule of "do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you."  The school community would be educated through "sensitivity training" on how painful being bullied can be, and the interveners or peacemakers would be honoured as praiseworthy.  This makes sense to me.

The popular culture has given us movies that seem to teach the moral of "stand up to bullies because they are essentially cowards and, if challenged, will collapse like a house of cards."  Thus, the prospective victim must have self-confidence, courage, and skills in fighting, or he/she must procure a threatening bodyguard.  Two of my favourite Hollywood movies that address bullying are "My Bodyguard" and more recently "Drillbit Taylor," which actually alludes back to the earlier movie.  http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/my_bodyguard/ and http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/drillbit_taylor/ and http://www.grouchoreviews.com/reviews/3130.  On a personal level, I enjoyed the film "Mr. Woodcock," since the gym teacher is the bully, and my own worst memories of being bullied in school were from being in gym class in Ohio from both teacher and kids because I was overweight.  Since that time, I've always tried to avoid gym class-like settings!  http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mr_woodcock/  Unfortunately, the victim in this film realizes in adulthood that the bullying by Mr. Woodcock actually did him a favour by preparing him for manhood rather than that bullying is shameful and should not take place.  These three Hollywood movies are intended as light comedy, not as social analysis, but they do express a social concern with bullying as a topic.

The problems of bullying in school settings take on a different dimension when adults do not believe that bullying should be viewed as a problem.  Anderson Cooper's Town Hall program discusses a school board refusing to allow anti-bullying education on "religious" grounds.  Some members of that Southern so-called "conservative" community see attempts to prevent bullying as a political infringement on their beliefs.  And how do concerned parents protect their children when possible perpetrators of international bullying are treated with impunity?  Doesn't a President have at his/her disposal the "Bully Pulpit"?  Is he/she a role model? http://ca.news.yahoo.com/canada-arrest-george-w-bush-visits-next-week-145732842.html
And to "blame the other guy" doesn't address the fact that war crimes, such as torture, were committed, if there really is such a thing as International Law.  I guess that the Nuremberg Trials have been long forgotten.  Or perhaps, there's a "double standard" that we seem to live with and believe we're powerless to change.  At this level, of adults, the problem becomes a political issue.


But whatever the bullying problems beyond our reach, if you are a victim of bullying, or know anyone who is, or are depressed or suicidal, I urge you to visit the "Your Life Counts" website, which provides excellent help and resources.  http://www.yourlifecounts.org  I thank my friend John Housser for informing me about this encouraging initiative.

Since I believe in the power of music and song, I'd like to conclude this blog with two music links, the first dealing with the pain of victimization and the second an uplifting call to life and love.  Ian Curtis, the lead singer of the group Joy Division eventually committed suicide, and his sing "Insight" communicates his pain: http://youtu.be/0WxutVmQ8_s
On the other hand, Greg Laswell in his song "Comes and Goes (in waves)" praises the strugglers and helpers: http://youtu.be/pEFxfVyz4Uc

So what do you think?  I welcome your comments. 

Later.