RSS Feed
Oprah Takes On The Bullies
Published by Michael Arceneaux on Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 11:50 am.
Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, an 11-year-old Massachusetts student, hanged himself inside of a stairwell at his family’s home. Shortly thereafter another 11-year-old named Jaheem Herrera was discovered hanging from an extension cord by his younger sister in Georgia.
Both young boys were the victims of an onslaught of homophobic slurs and teases from their classmates.
Yesterday, in an effort to launch a nationwide discussion on the effects of bullying, Oprah brought the mothers of Carl and Jaheem together for a frank discussion about each of their child’s experiences with bullies and how it caused them to take their own lives.
The mothers talked about how miserable their sons were and how despondent they became as time passed on. Both noted their efforts to try and warn school officials of how troubled their children were as a result of how they were picked on.
Carl’s mother revealed that her son left a suicide note where he apologized – writing that he was looking out for his younger brother and that he didn’t want him to have a difficult time. He also left his Nintendo DS to his younger sister.
A psychologist on the show discussed what she called ‘sexual bullying,’ noting that half of the bullying in elementary and middle schools involve gay slurs.
Between their stories, one of a boy who committed suicide five years ago, and of another whose mother feared he may, too, kill himself I was left feeling really distraught.
People can be so cruel and it’s sad that children that young are feeling like they have to kill themselves to escape those that torment them. Yet many continue to defend intolerance.
I’m glad Oprah used her platform to join in the conversation about bullying and homophobia. No child should ever be made to feel their only escape is tying an extension cord around their neck.
How do you feel about the deaths of Carl and Jaheem and bullying overall?
I have worked with middle and high school students for several years now. Bullying is an enormous problem that really needs to be tackled from multiple fronts, especially with the parents of those doing the bullying. It is heart breaking that these two young boys did not live long enough to see that not everyone is so hateful, that they are worthy, that there is a place for them in the world. I hope that all parents watching Oprah’s show or reading this blog will take time to talk with their kids, asking not only whether their kids are victims, but also asking if their kids are the bullies. And it should be noted that, while bullying tends to reach its peak in middle school, it generally starts at young ages and lasts into high school.
When I read the stories online – my heart felt like it was being ripped out of my chest. I too was bullied when I was a child and finally told my mother the torment I went through during my childhood.Even though I wasn’t called anything dealing with homosexuality,Even though I am a 22 yrs old, I still feel the pain from my childhood taunting. I still felt a ton of empathy and sympathy for those boys!
I have grieved inside too long and I feel compelled to speak out about this subject. Though it may not seem much to others- I posted status on my online accounts about the two boys. The hurt those young boys went through no child (boy or girl should have to endure. Something has to be done about students being bullied!!!!
It’s saddens me that it takes for this subject to be displayed on a talk show for people to wake up and see what millions of children endure at school. I think about those boys everyday and plan on building a foundation on matters like this to stop the bullying and build up children’s self esteems. My heart goes out to the two mothers and their families- they are forever in my prays.
buy wellbutrin,buy prednisone,buy ambien,buy prozac,buy accutane,buy cipro,buy amoxicillin,buy clomid,buy diflucan,buy paxil
avodart online – avodart order valtrex – valtrex buy celexa online – celexa buy cipro online – cipro lexapro – lexapro order zithromax – zithromax wellbutrin – wellbutrin buy doxycycline online – doxycycline buy nexium online – nexium celebrex – celebrex
zithromax – zithromax buy xenical online – xenical order levitra – levitra order ultram – ultram buy fioricet online – fioricet acomplia – acomplia prozac – prozac buy ativan online – ativan buy clomid buy prednisone
buy zithromax online – zithromax xenical – xenical levitra online – levitra ultram online – ultram order fioricet – fioricet buy acomplia online – acomplia buy prozac online – prozac ativan – ativan