Humanize ourselves…
Living in a society has created a set of invisible rules that survive within us. Some people call it conscience, others call it human rights. But is it possible to create a world where human rights are always respected?
On school grounds, a small reflection of adult society, that utopia is frequently forgotten. Discrimination is seen among teenagers, these strange creatures who always seem to be struggling for a place in a group where they can obtain an identity.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, was the subject of the third debate session.
Many of you may consider that this issue is too discussed already and at the beginning of this session we thought that everyone shared that opinion because no one was coming, but after the arrival of a small group of willing participants, we can assure you it is not.
One by one several stories, born from experience itself, were shared and we realized bullying is a reality closer to us than we believe. It starts with the teasing and the mocking when we are children (simple jokes, they say). Then it can go physical, especially with boys (simple games, they say). And when we are older, becoming teenagers, what others think and say about us starts to matter. Maybe too much. And every word, every expression, every scornful laugh can tear our flesh deeper than a punch or a slash of a knife. As one of the participants said “I would rather prefer physical violence to the psychological one that I felt, because with the first one I could heal.” Being fat, ugly, homosexual or handicapped puts people in a vulnerable position, because they stand out in a stereotyped society. Everything that is different is criticized and those who cannot resist this judgment often fall pray of it and succumb to their low self-esteem, sometimes with terrible outcomes.
Unfortunately, new technologies can contribute to the aggravation of this reality, because it can spread poisonous rumors that once they are unleashed on the Internet, it is almost impossible to erase what was said and done. Bullying, in all its forms, has the power to ruin someone’s life, because it deals with the social dimension that surrounds our well-being, the image that the others have of us and the image that we have of ourselves. It is all connected.
What can we do to defeat such blindness towards those who are different? We had to find solutions! First of all, the worst case of discrimination is when the discriminated person thinks he deserves it. So, most importantly, we need to possess a strong personality so that our perception of reality is not affected and we can stand our ground when we are attacked. But what if our personality is not strong enough? What if we can’t defend ourselves? Some said that suffering from bullying, without anyone stepping in, can help us learn to fend for ourselves, to be independent and that would prepare us for the world we have to face in the future. But, unfortunately, this doesn’t often end well. The pressure, increased by the negligence of those who surround us, can break our spirit. Therefore, we should always seek help when we feel our strength fading. Talk. Let it all out. Share what you feel with someone you trust or seek specific help. Just don’t let it crush you!
Each and every one of us can make a difference. The increased attention of the staff, teachers and even the parents can save a tormented teenager’s life. Respect and kind words from a classmate can make someone’s day. We are more responsible for the happiness of others than for our own. If only we put ourselves in other people’s place we would feel that we are more alike than we think.
The solution lies there… All we need to do is humanize ourselves.
