Bullies Suck

This weekend I read about a girl in Canada named Amanda Todd. I'm sure a lot of you out there have. It's a sad story and one that touched me deeply. I initially saw the post on a tweet Sunday morning. It led me to CNN's story covering this tragedy. The more I read the story, the angrier I got. I was so mad by the time I finished that I wasn't able to write on my novel until late that evening. All I wanted to do was go on my blog and rant and type in ALL CAPS. Just to get everyone's attention.

So, here is what I want you to do. Watch this video. Watch it and think. Think about all the times you've been bullied or have bullied someone else. Maybe it was the weird kid with the greasy hair that sat by themselves in the lunch room. Maybe it was the overweight girl who never seemed to have any friends. Maybe you were that person. Maybe you were like me. Lost. Alone. Depressed. Suffering at home. Trying to survive only to come to school and get pushed around. I was a victim and people, students mostly, took advantage. Just like they did of Amanda Todd, except it was worse for her.

Watch that video. Think about it the next time you see that kid sitting by themselves on the playground. Think about it the next time you see someone bullying another kid. Think about it, and then DO SOMETHING!

Maybe if someone had decided to help her, convince her that she was better than that. Maybe, just maybe, this horrible tragedy could have been averted. Maybe. Maybe not, but at least the attempt was made. Who knows. I'd like to think so.

I've been where she was. It's a dark, deep hole with no light and no hope. I was lucky. There was a part of me that kept going and not giving up. If I had given up, I wouldn't be alive to write this.

For those of you, like Amanda, have stumbled here looking for hope or something. Anything positive. Here it is.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE! DON'T GIVE UP! YOU WILL SURVIVE! PLEASE DON'T GIVE IN TO THE DARKNESS. DON'T LET THE BULLIES WIN. NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS.

My message to bullies was going to be Arlee Ermy from Full Metal Jacket, but I couldn't find the right quote. So, you'll just have to imagine him screaming obscenities at them.

My wife and I decided to be proactive with our children. We taught our oldest how to deal with it. Laugh. Laugh at them. Laugh at how pathetic it is that they are even attempting to bring you down. When kids mess with him, he just looks at them with a "Seriously? Is that the best you've got?" look. Even if it hurts, do it. Eventually, you'll stop hurting and realize that bullies really do suck and aren't worth the energy to be mad. You do that, you win. It's that simple.

This scene from the movie, Roxanne, sums up the best way to deal with a bully.

So, there's my rant about bullies. Just remember:

BULLIES SUCK!

Sorry for the rant. I was going to have something involving my writing goals for the month, but not today.

UPDATE: THE HACKTIVIST GROUP, ANONYMOUS, CLAIMS THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED THE MAN BEHIND THE TORMENTING OF AMANDA TODD.

'Till next time.