Bullying

I have a confession to make. When I was a young kid I was the victim of bullying. I was pretty small kid and could be pushed around. I also lacked confidence and kids tend to like to pick on those who lack confidence. It does not seem very masculine to admit that you were pushed around as a child. I guess that is why I do not talk that much about it.
Perhaps that is why I found it interesting all of the recent movement for the end of bullying. I can relate to the effects bullying can have on a kid. If there is a reasonable way we can cut down on bullying then by all means we should look at it. Is it possible that trouble-maker and Lady Gaga can agree on something?
Well not so much. It seems that all the activity against bullying is concentrated on one motivation for bullying. That is the bullying due to sexual preference. In other words it is about bullying people because of a perception or reality that they are homosexual. All of this activity would not have mattered one bit when I was a kid since that was not the reason for my torment. It seems that the new bully activists do not really care about what kids go through unless it is because of their sexual preference.
But the problem is deeper than that. Such anti-bullying activity could actually support more bullying. We could be creating an atmosphere that those who are deemed not accepting enough of homosexuality could find themselves the targets of different types of bullying. It may not be from other kids as much as it is from authorities. They may target those who are not PC enough on issues of sexual preference and differentially punish those who are deemed guilty of bullying homosexuals.
Think I am exaggerating? Take the case of Dharun Ravi. That is the Rutgers student who was found guilty for using a webcam on his roommate having sex with another man. His roommate killed himself due to this embarrassment. Ravi may get as much as ten years of prison for his crime and is likely to be deported. Was this stupid? Yes. Does he deserve to be punished? Absolutely. I am thinking suspension from college for a semester or so seems like an appropriate punishment. But ten years!!!! We all know of stupid and insensitive college pranks that should be punished. Fortunately most of us have not done such pranks against homosexuals. I believe that if Ravi had done his thoughtless prank with a heterosexual roommate he would have gotten a more appropriate punishment. The authorities have stepped in and upped the punishment greatly which sends a signal on who can and who cannot be bullied.
We really do need an anti-bullying movement in our society. A true anti-bullying movement would address bullying no matter what the motivation for the bullying. It would not classify some victims as more worthy of protection than others. We should not trade one form of bullying for another. Doing so will not decrease bullying but merely change its target. Ironically it is possible that the anti-bullying movement’s focus on sexual preference may have the net effect of increasing bullying in the United States.
I know what it is like to be the bottom kid on the totem pole. The fact that it was not because of my sexual preference did not make it more pleasant for me. Finding out why kids bullying each other and learning how to discourage bullying is a laudable goal. Let’s make it a benefit for all kids who are bullied and not merely for those who are bullied for politically correct reasons.

Sincerely,

Trouble-Maker