Just yesterday on News Talk Online on the Paltalk News Network I spoke about how careful we must be as a society to not turn our collective frustration over the struggling economy to attack those who are "different."
Today, the New York Daily News is reporting that a 16-year-old Muslim boy on Staten Island has been subjected to bullying and beatings because of his religion.
In case you missed it, there have been a number of beatings of Mexicans on Staten Island as well - by a group or groups of blacks.
And, of course, there have been the well-publicized case of a vicious beating outside of the Stonewall Inn - a famous gay establishment in Manhattan - as well as thesuicide of a Rutgers student after his roommate allegedly webcasted him in the arms of another man.
All of this underscores the need for self-awareness and education about tolerance in the United States.
There have been some efforts to counter this wave of intolerance. The University of California has become pro-active in raising awareness following a series of incidents - including a Facebook posting mocking a black gathering, the carving of a swastika on a Jewish student's door and anti-gay graffiti plastered on a gay resource center on campus. A respect campaign - planned before the suicide - is also underway on the Rutger's campus. CNN even got in on the act with a series on bullying following the suicide of the Rutger's student, Tyler Clementi.
It was this kind of attitude - fear of those who are different - that led to the rise of the Third Reich. That's why it's important that we all counter intolerance when we see it or hear it expressed
Today, the New York Daily News is reporting that a 16-year-old Muslim boy on Staten Island has been subjected to bullying and beatings because of his religion.
In case you missed it, there have been a number of beatings of Mexicans on Staten Island as well - by a group or groups of blacks.
And, of course, there have been the well-publicized case of a vicious beating outside of the Stonewall Inn - a famous gay establishment in Manhattan - as well as thesuicide of a Rutgers student after his roommate allegedly webcasted him in the arms of another man.
All of this underscores the need for self-awareness and education about tolerance in the United States.
There have been some efforts to counter this wave of intolerance. The University of California has become pro-active in raising awareness following a series of incidents - including a Facebook posting mocking a black gathering, the carving of a swastika on a Jewish student's door and anti-gay graffiti plastered on a gay resource center on campus. A respect campaign - planned before the suicide - is also underway on the Rutger's campus. CNN even got in on the act with a series on bullying following the suicide of the Rutger's student, Tyler Clementi.
It was this kind of attitude - fear of those who are different - that led to the rise of the Third Reich. That's why it's important that we all counter intolerance when we see it or hear it expressed
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Julie Morse
Ande Bliss
Barbara Joanne
Marilyn Sands
Susie Lindau
RomanticPoetess
Salon.com
Comments
People can feel the American Empire crumbling around them and the weaker ones lash out in fear and frustration.
An explanation - NOT an excuse....
Your comments instantly bring to mind the rhetoric of a certain GOP candidate for governor in New York. And that of a certain talk show host who is absent this week for treatment of an undisclosed medical issue.
If official authority turned blind eyes to Jews' beatings, regularly, I'd be in Israel before dark.
Rated.
This is nothing new, I see it as what some call "Amirkin Esepshulism"
People especially children always pick-on, bully, discriminate, etc. against anyone who is different. I know this to be a fact. I am not playing myself as the victim here. I was not allowed that luxury in my family.
I have always been the one who was different since I was 9. I got polio then not sure why I was vaccinated twice. I often wonder why. I was given the sugar cube and the injection. I often wonder if that is why I got it.
For a year I went to school for children with handicaps. I was one of the least handicapped children there. I wore a thigh to foot brace much like the ones Forest Gump wore in the movie but just one.
So I was different from the start when I moved into my neighborhood. I played with other kids in my neighborhood but when they were reminded I was different than them the discriminatory remarks would fly and I would be ostracized until they forgot I was different.
Where I worked because I was seen by some as handicapped I always had to out perform the more able bodied coworkers to be seen as an equal.
It is nothing new "Our Society" always picks on the ones who are different. Now our elected officials are encouraging it in order to further their career.
It is now being espoused, even in church that to be tolerant of others differences is to be weak. It all part of the whole progressive liberalism thing those commie, socialist, Nazis want you to believe.