Coronado Anti-Bullying Campaign

For those of you who have not responded or who have not heard my personal plea before . . . I’m sorry to be such a pest. It’s not my nature to violate my friends and acquaintances with nagging pleas for money . . . even for good causes. So why am I making this an exception? I include in this plea our non-Coronado friends . . . because you have a long term stake in this too! Non-Coronado people will receive a fair share of these Blue Ribbons.

Coronado Mayor Casey Tanaka’s recent proclamation declaring “No Name Calling Week” in Coronado stirred me up to yet another level of commitment to make the Blue Ribbon happen this March . . . just 6 short weeks from now (funding has to be in by THIS MONDAY!). The request for the proclamation came from a new club at the Coronado High School, “Voices Against Cruelty, Hatred and Intolerance” (VACHI). The fact that yet another group of youngsters are getting behind a movement to wipe out name calling and bullying just brought me to tears. I applaud the Coronado youth behind VACHI! We adults have to step up to the plate in their support!

If you have never been bullied, count yourself among the very fortunate. If you have never been bullied, you cannot imagine the deep and often life-long pain that it inflicts on the very core of an individual’s sense of self not to mention their families.

I was bullied as a child starting in first grade – even tied to a tree – because I didn’t speak English. I joke about it now although that little girl still hurts inside. Once a target as a kid, it’s hard to overcome being what looks like an easy mark . . . especially if you’ve been taught to live by the golden rule, to turn the other cheek.

My older sister, Claudette – my idol – was bullied as an incoming 8^th grader because she was a newcomer . . . even though she spoke English – although perhaps with a French Canadian accent. She went from being an honor student to dropping out of school at age 16. She was murdered thirty years ago at the age of 28. One can’t exactly draw a straight line from bullying to her murder, but there’s no doubt in my mind that it’s linked. She broke off a relationship with someone she probably shouldn’t have been going out with in the first place – probably would not have dated had she not been bullied earlier on. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss her.

Both my children, Bill and Lise, were bullied – Lise more so. Why? Because they were new students in their junior high school. She was “too tall” and had a rash on her face. First there was the name calling, then the rock throwing. Both have made a place for themselves in the world. I am so proud of what they both have done in their lives. They are survivors. I love their strength and the deep compassion they have for others. And I know the scars are there even though no one else might see them. There was a time when I would have been grateful to know that we would just make it through alive . . . simply alive.