Raise a Glass if You're Wrong in All the Right Ways

Well hello from the corners of Busy and Notimesville.  It's been eons since I've posted.  And, I promise, after this rant; I'll post happy-go-lucky things.  But first..........


So, last night, I watched Glee.  For those under a rock, it's probably the best show in the WORLD!  I enjoy every minute of every episode.  So often, I find myself connecting with the stories and plot of the show.  The characters are so multi-faceted.  They may be an exaggeration of the typical stereotypes: the jock, the cheerleader, the goth, the "handi-capable"....well, whatever, but they all have one thing in common, they are outsiders.  I understand it's fiction but there is such poignancy amidst the light-hearted lines spoken (or sung) by the cast that I can't help but watch and applaud the writers.  Last night's episode was no different.


For those who haven't seen it or refuse to watch ( I know there are at least two of you out there), last night's episode was pretty deep.  Furt, the name of the episode, brought to a head a recurring plot.  The only openly gay teen at the school, Kurt, had been bullied and threatened for weeks.  The show highlighted his struggle and fear, the support of his friends and family, and the woefully pitiful inability of the public school system to protect him.


This plot is nothing new.  In recent weeks we've been inundated with pictures and stories of gay youth committing suicide because of bullying. It's horrific, and it's sad, and it's a shame that this awfulness is happening  Celebrities, politicians, and others have made videos reminding the youth that "IT GETS BETTER."  And now, I'm going to flip it and reverse it....why aren't we talking about EVERYONE who is bullied???  "Glee" for example has made it a point that their Glee members get slushied or made fun of for being different and choosing to sing but it's played for laughs.  They also make pushing Artie, who's in a wheelchair, down stairs a punch line.  Why is that okay? Last I checked, it's bullying. 

But enough about the fake world of Glee.  This is real life.  As a child I was bullied. Ask my parents, I made myself sick every Monday because I HATED going to school.  A Catholic school none-the-less.  Why was I bullied.  I wasn't gay.  But I was different.  I had glasses and bucked-teeth and, for some reason, that was a reason to pick on me. And you know what, I changed schools and it did get better and I'm a better person because of it.  As a teacher in a special education school, parent's refuse to send their kids for service because they'll be with "disabled" peers.  Isn't that the start of bullying, segregating and not tolerating those who are different.  And, I often find myself talking to parent's of 4-year-olds who are afraid because other kids of the SAME age are making fun of the way their child talks.  These same parents are also concerned about "labeling" their child with a disability because they don't want them to be bullied or recognized for being different as they get older.  It hurts my heart.

AND, last I checked this country was built on the foundation that bullying wouldn't be tolerated.  (I know, don't preach to me the fact that we turned it around and bullied the Native Americans, I get it, but go with me here) So we came here and created a Declaration of Independence and a Constitution that specifically states...ALL men are created equal.  We've fought wars because of bullying. Be it the injustice of slavery or civil rights, we fought to protect those that were different.  What happened to those principles along the way?  Why is intolerance and hate so prevalent now?  It makes me sad and disheartened.  But....

I hope, as time moves forward that ALL people have a voice who've been bullied and that ALL realize it WILL get better.  Be you Queer, Four-Eyes, Beanpole, Fatty, Retarded, Stupid, Whore, Ugly, Weird, Geek, Nerd, Nappy, Ashy, or whatever you were called in grade school...let's all stand up together and remind those that are being picked on now...that it does, in fact get better.