The bullying needs to stop!

The other day, I was finishing up a walk with our dog, Surly.  As I was walking up my driveway, two kids biked by.  As they passed, one of them quietly said to the other, “Hey, a homo” (referring to me), to which his buddy angrily yelled out, “Homo!  You faggot!”  They just kept on biking, not even looking back to see my reaction.  I stood there with the dog, and at first I laughed – then I was mad – then I was sad.

I laughed because the kids must have thought I was gay because I was wearing a bright blue polo.  I imagine their thought process was that any man who wears a fashionable shirt like must be a homosexual.  Well, I am not a homosexual, and even if I were, that type of treatment is unacceptable.  Whether a person is gay, lesbian, straight, sideways, white, black, disabled, or any other irrelevant category we humans like to create, the truth is we are all children of God.

I was mad because no one should be treated like they treated me.  It was a bike-by bullying.  The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to hop on my own bike, track them down, grab them by their ears and pull them back to my front yard where I would proceed to wash their mouths out with soap.  I mean, where do people learn to hate people they don’t know?  It makes you wander how those two boys may be experiencing hurt themselves.

I was sad because I imagined how many kids those two boys may be bullying at school, kids who may not have the self-esteem or support network to cope with harassment like that.  Bullying is very real, and it can be very hurtful – for some, it even leads to suicide.

Jesus said, in Matthew 5(21-22), “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment, and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the hell of fire.’”  Strong words!

Luther, in the Small Catechism, said this about the eighth commandment (i.e. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.), “We are to fear and love God so that we do not betray, slander, or lie about our neighbor, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain his actions in the kindest way.”

Bullying needs to stop. Together, let’s participate in God’s life-giving work in a world where so many life-taking words are spoken. Let’s walk this world together as children of the light.

Here are three links with some resources:

AdCouncil Commercials (I love the Wanda Sykes commercial): http://www.adcouncil.org/Our-Work/Current-Work/Safety/Gay-and-Lesbian-Bullying-Prevention

The U.S. Governments site: http://www.stopbullying.gov/

Our companion, Minneapolis Area Synod Responding to Bullying Resource webpage: http://www.mpls-synod.org/youth/bullying