(This blog is written to inform parents and others of disturbing trends of teenagers.)
I know this is a very controversial topic. I, myself, do not believe the gay lifestyle is right. In Leviticus 18:22, the Bible clearly states, "'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable". The Bible also says in Matthew 7:2-5 "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use." But I am not here to debate whether this lifestyle is right or wrong. The fact that teenagers are being bullied because they are gay or they are "perceived" to be gay, "that is detestable". Five young men have committed suicide in the past three to four weeks, because they were bullied for being gay or perceived to be gay:
- 18-year-old Tyler Clementi
- 13-year-old Seth Walsh
- 15-year-old Justin Aaberg
- 13-year-old Asher Brown
- 19-year-old Raymond Chase (although his brother said he wasn't bullied)
And there are five mothers who are mourning the senseless death of their sons.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers. The Centers for Disease Control states suicide is the second leading cause of death on college campuses. But for a young person who is gay, the risk is even higher. According to The Trevor Project, "gay teens are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers; 9 out of 10 teen LGBT students have experienced harassment at school".
I devoted a post on bullying, as bullying is a big problem in our schools, and there seems to be no end in sight. And from the news reports I have seen, it seems that the schools are not wanting to take responsibility for the bullying that is taking place or even try to put a stop to the bullying...so it falls into the hands of parents. We have to teach our teenagers to be tolerant of others. In any given school, there are many differences among students, including race, religion, academic ability, and sexual orientation, so there has to be tolerance.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the definition of tolerance is:
The capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others.
*HOW PARENTS CAN HELP TEENS LEARN TOLERANCE:
- Notice your own attitudes. Parents who want to help their teens value diversity can be sensitive to cultural stereotypes. Demonstrate an attitude of respect for others.
- Remember that your teen is always listening. Be aware of the way you talk about people who are different from yourself. Do not make jokes that perpetuate stereotypes. Although these may seem like harmless fun, they can undo attitudes of tolerance and respect.
- Select books, toys, music, art, and videos carefully. Keep in mind the powerful effect the media and pop culture have on shaping attitudes.
- Point out and talk about unfair stereotypes that may be portrayed in media.
- Answer your teens' questions about differences honestly and respectfully. This teaches that it is acceptable to notice and discuss differences, as long as it is done with respect.
- Acknowledge and respect differences within your own family. Demonstrate acceptance of your children's differing abilities, interests, and styles. Value the uniqueness of each member of your family.
- Remember that tolerance does not mean tolerating unacceptable behavior. It means that everyone deserves to be treated with respect — and should treat others with respect as well.
- Help your teen feel good about himself/herself. Teenagers who feel badly about themselves often treat others badly. Teens with a strong self-esteem value and respect themselves and are more likely to treat others with respect, too.
- Give your teen opportunities to work and interact with others who are different from them.
When you encourage a tolerant attitude in your teen, talk about your values, and treat others with respect, your teen will follow in your footsteps.
Okay! Who's with me? Let's put an end to bullying! Talk to your teenager today! (And God loves all his children no matter what.)
*http://kidshealth.org
6 comments:
It really is horrible how cruel kids can be to eachother. I think more people need to think before they pass judgement and especially tease others because it is hurtful. But society is horrible and people just don't care. It's sickening.
Good advice. I think that how we talk about people who are different or who think differently than ourselves can go a long way to setting the right example for our children.
I think that if gay kejiwaaan disease and it should soon be cured. because in fact gay it was out of the nature of humanity. we only know that there are two sexes in this world. ie men and women. if there are gay then it includes things that deviate
Great post! I am a supporter of gay rights and the fact that these kids are being bullied to the point of suicide is unfathomable. Bullying happens to so many different teens and I am glad that people are taking a stand to stop it!
Thanks so much for sharing this with us and for pointing out that regardless of your own views, bullying should never be tolerated. It's unfathomable that five mothers are mourning the deaths of their children for something that could have been easily avoided if there were just a litte more tolerance and a little more kindness.
This is a great post. Many people have reviled the people that caused these poor kids to feel so alone, but you go a step furthur and give advice. Very very well done. This was such a sad time.
http://furthurtothefuture.blogspot.com/
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