Beware of the bullying
Bullying has been an epidemic in the United States for many years. A new movie was released earlier this month called Bully. 
It is an extremely powerful film, which addresses the problem from the perspective of five children who are the victims of severe school bullying. It also deals with how bullying affects the families of these children.
The subjects of school violence, suicide, homophobia, cyber bullying and the failure of school administration to address these issues are seen throughout the film.
The film opens with the father of a 17-year-old boy named Tyler, speaking about how his son had committed suicide in 2009 due to bullying. Tyler had hung himself in the closet in his bedroom. His classmates frequently verbally abused Tyler.
One classmate in particular gave him the idea by telling him he was so worthless he should just hang himself. His father states that when he was younger he was well-liked and was very outgoing. However, when he turned 5-years-old he began to turn inward.
Others could no longer understand him. It is unknown whether he had a neurological disorder of some kind, such as Autism. Things continued this way until one day his parents came home and found their son hanging in the closet.
The worst part is that before they found Tyler his younger brother had seen him first, prompting him to call his mother and father. Tyler's death caused his mother and father a lot of grief. They decide to start an anti-bullying foundation.
The film then shifts focus to a boy named Alex, who is 12-years-old. Alex is frequently called "fish-face" by his classmates. He is primarily bullied on the school bus. He is frequently being punched by a high schooler who rides the same bus as him.
He is also picked on by a boy from his class who also likes to punch him and in the past had lifted up the seat they were supposed to be sitting on, forcing his head under it and sat on his head. Though Alex gets bullied often he does not like to tell anyone about it. His mother and father are aware that something is going on, as he often comes home with bruises, but he refuses to speak about where they came from.
Alex used to complain about the bullying to his teachers and the principal. However, they never did anything, giving excuses like "kids will be kids" and "we can't be with him every second of the day." At one point, Alex's younger sister starts getting picked on simply because Alex is her brother. In the end, Alex's parents had a meeting with the principal and had him taken off the school bus. However, they did not have him change schools. Alex seemed hopeful for the future.
The next child the movie focuses on is a transgender boy named Kelby. Kelby is a 16-year-old boy who was born a girl. When Kelby first reached adolescence, she had found out that she was attracted to other girls.
She decided that she was meant to be a boy and had a gender change. He is frequently referred to by his classmates as a "faggot" and is often told that he will "burn in Hell". No one will sit near him. There was also an occasion where one of his teachers was taking attendance and asked the boys to stand, then the girls to stand and lastly Kelby (implying that he is neither a boy nor a girl).
The town where Kelby lives is very religious and his parents have been ostracized because of him. What keeps Kelby going is a small group of friends, mostly girls, that he hangs out with. Kelby also has a girlfriend who does not consider herself a lesbian for being attracted to Kelby, seeing Kelby as a boy.
His parents offered many times to move somewhere where there is nothing wrong with being homosexual or being transgender. Kelby refuses to leave, insisting that if he does that he will be letting those that are prejudiced win.
The fourth child the film talks about is a 14-year-old girl named Jameya. Jameya is constantly being made fun of on her school bus. One day, she decides to take her mother's gun and pulls it out during the bus ride. She threatens the children that had been bullying her. Fortunately, before she can shoot anyone she is tackled to the ground by another child and the gun is taken away from her.
Jameya's mother was very surprised. Jameya was put on trial and had to remain in a psychiatric facility until the judge made their verdict. There was a possibility that she could be given a life sentence in prison. In the end, the judge decides to keep her in the facility until her doctors felt she was ready to leave. Later in the film, Jameya is released and she is reunited with her mother.
The last child the film focuses on is a 9-year-old boy named Ty. Ty was frequently picked on by his classmates. His best friend, who used to be a bully, would often stand up for him. Ty never let the bullying get to him, seeming to be able to just ignore the boys that picked on him. They called him things like "pussy" and "faggot".
They would also hit him. His friend was always telling him that he should fight back but Ty was not a fighter. However, one day the bullying went too far and Ty resorted to killing himself. His parents were heartbroken. So was his best friend. His parents decide to join the anti-bullying movement that the parents of Tyler had started. The film ends with a large rally being held in Washington D.C. in honor of Tyler and Ty.
The impression that this movie left me with is that not enough is done about bullying. As someone that has been bullied in the past, I can honestly say that the movie's depiction of what goes on in schools is very accurate. Bullying is often shrugged off as kids being kids. There seems to be a lack of understanding for the children that are being bullied. They are often seen as being weak.
They do not seem to understand that there are some children that are very sensitive and are not fighters by nature. Sadly, these are the children that often commit suicide. School administrations should take more initiative in fighting against bullying.
Parents should be more alert and be aware of the signs of a child being bullied. It is up to each and every one of us to take a stand against bullying once and for all.
It is an extremely powerful film, which addresses the problem from the perspective of five children who are the victims of severe school bullying. It also deals with how bullying affects the families of these children. The subjects of school violence, suicide, homophobia, cyber bullying and the failure of school administration to address these issues are seen throughout the film.
The film opens with the father of a 17-year-old boy named Tyler, speaking about how his son had committed suicide in 2009 due to bullying. Tyler had hung himself in the closet in his bedroom. His classmates frequently verbally abused Tyler.
One classmate in particular gave him the idea by telling him he was so worthless he should just hang himself. His father states that when he was younger he was well-liked and was very outgoing. However, when he turned 5-years-old he began to turn inward.
Others could no longer understand him. It is unknown whether he had a neurological disorder of some kind, such as Autism. Things continued this way until one day his parents came home and found their son hanging in the closet.
The worst part is that before they found Tyler his younger brother had seen him first, prompting him to call his mother and father. Tyler's death caused his mother and father a lot of grief. They decide to start an anti-bullying foundation.
The film then shifts focus to a boy named Alex, who is 12-years-old. Alex is frequently called "fish-face" by his classmates. He is primarily bullied on the school bus. He is frequently being punched by a high schooler who rides the same bus as him.
He is also picked on by a boy from his class who also likes to punch him and in the past had lifted up the seat they were supposed to be sitting on, forcing his head under it and sat on his head. Though Alex gets bullied often he does not like to tell anyone about it. His mother and father are aware that something is going on, as he often comes home with bruises, but he refuses to speak about where they came from.
Alex used to complain about the bullying to his teachers and the principal. However, they never did anything, giving excuses like "kids will be kids" and "we can't be with him every second of the day." At one point, Alex's younger sister starts getting picked on simply because Alex is her brother. In the end, Alex's parents had a meeting with the principal and had him taken off the school bus. However, they did not have him change schools. Alex seemed hopeful for the future.
The next child the movie focuses on is a transgender boy named Kelby. Kelby is a 16-year-old boy who was born a girl. When Kelby first reached adolescence, she had found out that she was attracted to other girls.
She decided that she was meant to be a boy and had a gender change. He is frequently referred to by his classmates as a "faggot" and is often told that he will "burn in Hell". No one will sit near him. There was also an occasion where one of his teachers was taking attendance and asked the boys to stand, then the girls to stand and lastly Kelby (implying that he is neither a boy nor a girl).
The town where Kelby lives is very religious and his parents have been ostracized because of him. What keeps Kelby going is a small group of friends, mostly girls, that he hangs out with. Kelby also has a girlfriend who does not consider herself a lesbian for being attracted to Kelby, seeing Kelby as a boy.
His parents offered many times to move somewhere where there is nothing wrong with being homosexual or being transgender. Kelby refuses to leave, insisting that if he does that he will be letting those that are prejudiced win.
The fourth child the film talks about is a 14-year-old girl named Jameya. Jameya is constantly being made fun of on her school bus. One day, she decides to take her mother's gun and pulls it out during the bus ride. She threatens the children that had been bullying her. Fortunately, before she can shoot anyone she is tackled to the ground by another child and the gun is taken away from her.
Jameya's mother was very surprised. Jameya was put on trial and had to remain in a psychiatric facility until the judge made their verdict. There was a possibility that she could be given a life sentence in prison. In the end, the judge decides to keep her in the facility until her doctors felt she was ready to leave. Later in the film, Jameya is released and she is reunited with her mother.
The last child the film focuses on is a 9-year-old boy named Ty. Ty was frequently picked on by his classmates. His best friend, who used to be a bully, would often stand up for him. Ty never let the bullying get to him, seeming to be able to just ignore the boys that picked on him. They called him things like "pussy" and "faggot".
They would also hit him. His friend was always telling him that he should fight back but Ty was not a fighter. However, one day the bullying went too far and Ty resorted to killing himself. His parents were heartbroken. So was his best friend. His parents decide to join the anti-bullying movement that the parents of Tyler had started. The film ends with a large rally being held in Washington D.C. in honor of Tyler and Ty.
The impression that this movie left me with is that not enough is done about bullying. As someone that has been bullied in the past, I can honestly say that the movie's depiction of what goes on in schools is very accurate. Bullying is often shrugged off as kids being kids. There seems to be a lack of understanding for the children that are being bullied. They are often seen as being weak.
They do not seem to understand that there are some children that are very sensitive and are not fighters by nature. Sadly, these are the children that often commit suicide. School administrations should take more initiative in fighting against bullying.
Parents should be more alert and be aware of the signs of a child being bullied. It is up to each and every one of us to take a stand against bullying once and for all.