First off what is the actual meaning of bullying? Bullying is an abusive treatment, the use of force or coercion to affect others, particularly when involving an imbalance of power. In society today, bullies see their social power or physical power as a permission slip to cause pain to others. Some victims may be small or may be a little shy, but what bullies don’t see is the amount of heart that some of the victims possess. That heart or pride that these victims of bullying have easily wither away with every insult or belittlement. As the bullies of todays society make a routine of causing pain for that second or minute of pleasure, the victims usually tend to become isolated and depressed. The suffering is kept bottled up until the victims either start causing pain to other or themselves.

For example, there was a young boy by the name of Carl Joseph Walker. This 11 year old bundle of joy was repeatedly bullied in school. He was being threatened, being called gay, and insulted about the way he dressed. At 11 years old he played football, basketball, and was a boy scout, yet he was still a victim of bullying. Carl grew tired of the daily taunts and insults. Carl’s  mother, Sirdeaner Walker, ended up finding him dead after he had committed suicide by hanging himself with an extension cord.

With stories like Carl’s happening daily, how do we just stand by and watch? How is there a way that we can stop the pain and save lives? One of the greatest things God has blessed us with is the ability to speak. If the adults of society do not speak up against bullying, then we are exhibiting to the young minds of the world that they shouldn’t speak up about being bullied either. A man named Harvey Feirstein once said, “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.” Will you speak up against bullying?

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke will be hosting their 4th annual Social Justice Symposium which is titled “The Many Faces of Bullying.” This will take place on August 31st from 6P.M. to 9P.M. in the UC Annex Assembly Room. Come out and join us for a night of speaking out against bullying.