My mother used to give us kids two instructions:
On Wednesday, I wore purple. I was speaking at North Park University, an evangelical Christian college, with Tim King, my colleague and a former student there. I was pleased to see them passing out purple ribbons and announcing why just before chapel.
So I joined thousands of others across the country who believe that bullying should never be tolerated at any time, at any place, or for any reason. I wore purple to commemorate "Spirit Day," in memory of the many young people who have taken their own lives as a result of harassment and bullying inflicted on them because they are gay. I wore purple because I am a follower of Christ.
A bully is a person who habitually intimidates, harasses, or commits violence against those who are smaller, weaker, or more vulnerable because of their "outsider" status. A bully stands in opposition to all of what Christ taught and lived. There is broad opposition within the Christian community to bullying, especially the sort that leads to the deaths we have seen as of late. This sort of harassment is indefensible. And the stories of young kids being so bullied that they take their own lives have been heartbreaking to hear.
But, to paraphrase Christ, if you oppose bullying, what reward will you get? Isn't everybody against it? If all you do is say that you shouldn't harass someone until they kill themselves, are you really doing more than others?
The fact that bullies target gay and lesbian people should mean that Christians give extra attention to protecting and standing up for them. The fact that any community or group of people is regularly the target of harassment and hate means Christians should be on the front line of defense against any who would attack.
But, most bullies don't know that they are bullies. A bully might think that his or her words don't matter that much or affect others that greatly. A bully might think that he or she is being funny or just kidding around. A bully might think that he or she is just saying what everyone is thinking or speaking out about what everyone thinks.
There is disagreement within the Christian community when it comes to issues of human sexuality. But, there should be a united front against all who would disrespect, disparage, or denigrate anyone created in the image of God.
I hope you will join me in prayer for the family and friends of every young person who has taken their own lives. I hope you will join me in a message of hope for any person who has been teased, harassed, or bullied by another because of his or her sexual orientation. More than that, no matter what your views of homosexuality are, I hope you will join with me in standing in the way between bullies and their victims.
At an evangelical Christian college in the Midwest, there was a lot of purple yesterday. And the airline security official who checked my boarding pass saw my purple ribbon and said, "I see you're wearing purple today, that's a good thing."
Last week, I was taking my boys to school and raised the issue of the bullying and gay teen suicides to see what they had heard about it. My 12-year-old Luke, of course, knew all about it; while 7-year-old Jack hadn't heard yet. But Jack spoke of a boy on the playground of his school who was sometimes a bully to others. Before I could say a word, Luke said to his little brother, "Now Jack, you need to talk to him. He will respect and listen to you because you are an athlete, a good student, and very popular. Kids who are strong need to be the ones who stand up for those who get bullied. Jack, part of our job is to make sure nobody gets bullied at our school. Understand?" Jack said, "Yes," and I could just feel his grandmother smiling.
Jim Wallis is the author of Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street -- A Moral Compass for the New Economy, and CEO of Sojourners. +Click here to get email updates from Jim Wallis.
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And is all the bullying on one side? I heard on Neal Boortz this morning that Michigan's Department of Landlord Bigotry (they don't call it that, of course) is going after someone who put a notice on a church bulletin board asking for a Christian roomate. It's one thing to stop sending the police after homosexuals; it's another to start sending them after people who draw any king of line against homosexual behavior near where they are.
And, off topic, might I mention that Jesus is libertarian? He gave his life to pay for his own program; he did not crucify the taxpayers. (wwww.lohr84.com)
Why is that?
Oh well. My church and my parents' churches will continue to be open to gay people, and my parents, who are both ministers, will continue to perform same-sex unions until the states where they live legalize gay marriage.
No, it's a nice positive sort of thing to promote but not quite right. These are the same dudes smiling as they show their peers how "funny" the butterfly moves when its wings have been pulled off.
Is there a sad element, that some of them might once have themselves been those butterflies, or might it more often be that the wing-pullers are from a different place in space?
Life is so short, I hope we can all act and be better.
And I generally agree with this sentiment of Christians sorting out their own bullies so we don't have to. Though to be perfectly honest about it, I don't expect much more than fine sounding piety issued mostly out of a concern for unflattering publicity.
Apart from denouncing bias and bullying against homosexuals in articles and in lectures at universities, what would you suggest?
Have you done as much to try to combat bullying against homosexuals?
I donate to the Human Rights Campaign regularly and was active in helping the campaign for gay marriage in Maine, where I have much family.
I walk the walk, not only when the wind is blowing in that direction like so many of you preachy types, with your compassion of convenience. I've taken a busted nose, all kinds of insults and the loss of business as the price of my convictions, and no smarmy little conservative like you is ever going to take the pride of being right away from me.
I was raised in a well balanced home, no big issues, Christian church. But I have needed some 50 years to find myself, and I still have to stand up to the Concervitives, the so called church.
Last year, in sixth grade, there was a boy who was giving my son a hard time because he spoke about civil rights for all, including gays. My son complained to the teacher who kept them separated. It didn't stop the other kid who continued to make kissing noises and such. My son got up, walked over to the kid and calmly asked, "Did you cultivate this personality, or were you born a f**king a$$hole?" loud enough for the class to hear but not loud enough to sound like a taunt. The teacher, who told me of the incident, simply smiled. The truth is, the kid is not a "born" bully, but learned to be one from lunkhead brothers.
I'm glad we have enlightened teachers. And I'm proud of my son.
So yes, I will stand with you between the bullies and their victims. The next time the Pope says that pedophilia is the result of too much homosexuality in the church, the next time we have a natural disaster and the media trots out the HeritageHeads to say that God uses weather patterns to punish societies that accept homosexuality, the next time a good righteous person of God goes on about how the love the sinner but hate the sin...that they love who someone is but hate WHAT they are, the next time multiple churches campaign in a state to deny equal protection under the law to gay couples, the next time anyone says that God disapproves of homosexuality, I'll be looking for you to stand against this bullying.
The bullying starts from the pulpit, the dinner table, the field. Bullies are not just these things that emerge from nowhere like the enemies in a video game. They learn what will work. They pick on the vulnerable. WE are the ones who make people vulnerable, but letting bullies know what we approve and disapprove of.
Bullies are the messengers. They reveal our bigotry to us. Prove them wrong.