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This is a very special LJ Post...
Mar. 19th, 2012 09:21 amThere's a new anti-bully movie... that's R-rated.
You know, I'm actually not surprised. Because of work, and for various other reasons, I've looked up information on various problems kids have - learning disabilities, mood disorders, skinned knees, the works. Half of those things are all "Don't understand your kid? Here, take a tissue. Here, have some wine. Okay, the reason you don't understand your kid is because there's a new phenomenon called Kids Today Are Not Perfect... shh, it's okay, it's okay. We can help."
I'm sure the anti-bullying movie isn't exactly like that, but it's the same idea. It's not about the kids who suffer, it's about the Moms and Dads who have to try and imagine what it must feel like.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying parents don't struggle too, because of course they do. Yes, it's patronizing when kids with disabilities are portrayed as being mutant freaks or an inconvenience or some horrible tragedy, but there are kids who are mentally retarded to the point at which they can't even feed themselves. They're not going to understand information on a website. And it must be heartbreaking for parents whose kids are in serious emotional trouble because of all the bullying they've endured. But at some point, it's not just about the parents. There needs to be something for kids, something that reaches out to them. Because they're the ones who go out into a world every day that for whatever reason Does Not Accept Them. Maybe it's because they're in ninth grade and still reading on a second grade level because of a learning disability. Maybe it's because they're in gay. Maybe it's because just having a simple conversation is hard for them. Maybe it's because they're ginger. Maybe it's because Tiffany thinks they stole her boyfriend. Maybe it's because of a Facebook joke that went too far. Whatever the reason, they're the ones who have to go out there, and they also need support.
You know, I'm actually not surprised. Because of work, and for various other reasons, I've looked up information on various problems kids have - learning disabilities, mood disorders, skinned knees, the works. Half of those things are all "Don't understand your kid? Here, take a tissue. Here, have some wine. Okay, the reason you don't understand your kid is because there's a new phenomenon called Kids Today Are Not Perfect... shh, it's okay, it's okay. We can help."
I'm sure the anti-bullying movie isn't exactly like that, but it's the same idea. It's not about the kids who suffer, it's about the Moms and Dads who have to try and imagine what it must feel like.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying parents don't struggle too, because of course they do. Yes, it's patronizing when kids with disabilities are portrayed as being mutant freaks or an inconvenience or some horrible tragedy, but there are kids who are mentally retarded to the point at which they can't even feed themselves. They're not going to understand information on a website. And it must be heartbreaking for parents whose kids are in serious emotional trouble because of all the bullying they've endured. But at some point, it's not just about the parents. There needs to be something for kids, something that reaches out to them. Because they're the ones who go out into a world every day that for whatever reason Does Not Accept Them. Maybe it's because they're in ninth grade and still reading on a second grade level because of a learning disability. Maybe it's because they're in gay. Maybe it's because just having a simple conversation is hard for them. Maybe it's because they're ginger. Maybe it's because Tiffany thinks they stole her boyfriend. Maybe it's because of a Facebook joke that went too far. Whatever the reason, they're the ones who have to go out there, and they also need support.
