Close Your Eyes: Listen: No one is Fighting. No one is Yelling

Close Your Eyes: Listen: No one is Fighting. No one is Yelling.

Author, Fran Lewis

Living in the real world you do know that there are many people who enjoy tormenting others just for the sake of being mean. Some prey on those that are smaller or weaker in strength and hoping they can demean them or make them feel worthless. Others might belittle someone for the way they dress, walk, talk or even walk down the street. These cruelties are not just distinctive of teens or young kids, adults are guilty too. In a world where violence seems to reign on the news, wars are front page and hate crimes make you wonder what this world has become bullying rears its ugly head in each of these cases. Whether it’s a brawl in a public place, a fight in the schoolyard or an argument over a parking space no matter how you turn it one person is trying to strong arm another and if the term fits use it. 

Reading a newspaper or watching the news it’s not uncommon to hear about suicides related to teens being harassed online or in school. It is not uncommon to hear that the behaviors of your youth have become so bent in some cases, not all on hurting others that appear to be weaker, disabled in some respect or just not as physically able to defend themselves leaving them prey to gangs, attacks in the locker room and or verbal abuse. Many schools have prevention programs, but just how successful are these and why can’t we stop bullying from happening?

 
My name is Bertha and I am a teen that would love to create a world without wars, fighting, hate and bullying. But, I am not sure that will ever happen because violence seems to riddle our streets in most neighborhoods whether affluent or not. Walking in the lunchroom the other day I heard some kids talking about hurting poor Nat because he deserved it. Why? They disliked the way he talked and because he was a “nerd” and really smart he deserved to be punished. Anyone that does not conform to their gang mentality or belong in their group they feel does not deserve to breathe the same air as they do, even if you might say the air they breathe is tainted!

What would a world without bullying look like? Picture this: no physical, verbal or non-verbal threats. Imagine using the net for research, face booking your friends, homework, loading down novels and not using your computer to bully someone else to the point they might commit suicide. Each form of bullying is hurtful and the person or person’s delivering the abuse never show signs of remorse nor do they care about the end result. Wonder how they would feel if they were at the receiving end? It might be a great way to teach them a lesson in the long run if they are ever finally stopped. How about a bully lesson for the person bullying so they can see how it feels? Maybe they will understand if this is done in a professional setting.

Verbal abuse is what I was a victim of when people would say I am fat, ugly and had a big nose. At times they said I dressed like a huge polka dot and looked like a beached whale. I never let on that I was hurt and the ability to lose weight, which I did, stopped the fat jokes. Changing how I dressed was not because of what they said, but was my choice. You own who you are — not them.

Sometimes walking in the halls the mean girls or the popular ones would stare-down other girls in hope they would start to cry. They would say nothing but you got the point. Sometimes they would pretend to talk about you, laugh when you walk by and point fingers at you. The trick is to pretend you didn’t see it and not let on that they got to you. Harder than you might think! Harsh words, curse words, bumping into you in the hall, writing nasty words on your locker are just part of what they are capable of doing.

Imagine a world where everyone said good morning. People complimented you on how you look and others tried to help you look better. Imagine a world with no bullying.

Walk in the halls, down the street and do not ignore what might be happening right in front of you. If you see someone in trouble do not just stand there do something. Bullies feel empowered when they have the support of others like them. If you are a friend is faced with this situation you can do a lot to help yourself or the person being bullied: You can talk to the person and make sure that person is not hurt, and if they need help. Find an adult to help and even tell the bully to get away from the person and leave them alone. Students trained in peer mediation in a school with this type of intervention program are most helpful. Find a teacher, principal or guidance counselor. Call the office for help on your cell phone. The bully does not need to know you are the one who reported them.

From the violence of video games to the programs on television that most kids watch we all need to work together to stop what so many have put in place. There are tons of resources out there. Some states have anti-bullying laws. All schools should have programs that are in place and teachers, parents and even students should understand they are mandated to report it. Schools have to do more to make it safe for kids to go to school. Guards have to assist teachers when things get out of hand. Posters, kids working together, community leaders, thinking positively and teaching kids how to interact in a positive way are just some ways we might actually succeed in creating a world where kids and adults get along.

Close your eyes: Listen: No one is fighting. No one is yelling. No one is screaming. The games kids play the music they listen to and the friends they keep: wouldn’t it be nice if everyone got along doing these same things we used to do as kids.

Bullying: Let’s try to make it a thing of the past and not the present. My name is Bertha and I have formed a peer intervention group in my school along with my sister Tillie.

Read Bertha and Tillie Sisters Forever: Bertha Fights Back to find out just how I did it!

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