Spirit Day: A Day To Stand United Against Bullying

Today is GLAAD's Spirit Day.  It's an anti-bullying movement that while the aim has been on orientation or gender identity, it is also a good time to acknowledge outright bullying of any kind isn't something to let slide.  No matter who you are period.  GLAAD established this day 3 years ago, and are continuing on with their go purple in support method.  It is to represent that you support equality for LGBT and are against bullying.  You can turn your facebook profile pic purple, wear purple, or in some places even little purple pin ribbons are being provided. More information is available at GLAAD.org/spiritday where they can explain it in their own words.

While on this topic though, I wanted to take a moment to go over different kinds of bullying that persists in many facets of life that people face everyday and no one even thinks about.  While it's true that the LGBT community faces issues on a regular basis, and I do not want to diminish how more needs to speak up for them, it should also be noted that there are more kinds of bullying that all face that should be stood against.

Constantly we hear about verbal and physical bullies.  Those who use words and actions to harm others.  There's also emotional bullying though.  The kind that forces people into actions they do not want based on guilt trips or other kinds of machinations to manipulate them.  These actions are not okay.  There are lines people should never cross.  It's not about free speech or expressing oneself.  It is simply being an emotional manipulator, a bully.

Women and men both face this everyday from a myriad of sources.  Threats of suicide or self-harm if a person leaves, emotionally preying on making a person feel bad so that they return or trying to make them feel worthless if they don't.  People try to corner others with demands that look like platitudes on the surface but can lead to dangerous situations and damage to their well-being.  These are all still bullying.  It's not right.

We are equal in this world and trying to make our own way the way we see fit.  We are all trying to find what we love, who we love, or enjoy our passions and hobbies.  The superiority complex of a bully though will find any reason to demean another.  It can be in offhanded remarks about how they live, where they live, the career a person has, the still trying to find a career path a person may be going through, what music they enjoy, what movies they like, books they like, or even comics they like.  The list can go on and on for the reasons and things that bullies will use to deem what's worthy and not worthy for everyone else.  It's arrogance and narcissism pure and simple.