Two Wrongs Don't Make it Right

We need to learn that what is good for the goose in NOT good for the gander. As people may or may not know there is a viral video on the Internet that shows a bus monitor being harassed and verbally abused on the bus. As a result, a vacation fund was established for her, again on the Internet. It has collected $530,000 in only 36 hours. This is a wonderful outpouring. Once again, people rise to the occasion for wrongdoing. However, the children that made this video, and one innocent child, are now being attacked and harassed in turn. These children, where the oldest is approximately 13, are getting death threats over this incident. Yes, they did behave in a horrible manner. However, there is no reason for the public at large to form a lynch mob. Additionally, one of the children named, that also is receiving death threats, was NOT a part of the incident. In fact, he was never on the bus!

In this instance, calling people to action through blogs and video is not such a great thing. Most parents agree that if their child did something so ugly on a bus, the child would be punished. It really isn’t the place of the general public to “bully back.”

The Bully Project--Update!

Now this is great news.  I just got an email from the young lady who started the petition on change.org to get Bully a decent rating, and the MPAA granted it a PG-13! If you aren't already on the email list because you had signed her petition, here's the email:

Judson -

I have some amazing news to share.

Last month, I saw the new documentary, Bully, which reveals the raw and honest reality behind bullying in high schools and middle schools. I cried when I watched the movie because I was horribly bullied in middle school. That’s why I was shocked to find out that other young people like me might not be able to see the movie because the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) gave it an “R” rating.

Outraged, I started a petition on Change.org asking the MPAA to change the rating to PG-13. After more than half a million people signed -- including you! -- the MPAA agreed. When Bully is released on April 13, it will be rated PG-13, and the most controversial scene in the film will remain unchanged, reflecting the reality and brutality of bullying.

This happened because people like you -- 500,000 strong -- came together to say that we think the issue of bullying in schools is important, and if this movie can help, then kids should be able to see it. We were even joined by people like Ellen DeGeneres, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Michael Jordan, Drew Brees, Justin Bieber, and 35 members of Congress. My petition was covered by almost every major TV station and newspaper in America.

When I was bullied, I felt alone. But today I feel the power of half a million people standing beside me. Thank you so much.

- Katy

 If this doesn't give you hope that we can affect change via social media, then I don't know what will.