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MONTHLY ARCHIVES
Obama Administration Takes On Bullying
October 26, 2010 12:01 AM
From Mary K. Bruce:
The Department of Education will issue guidance today clarifying that certain forms of student bullying violate federal education anti-discrimination laws. The White House will also announce that it is hosting a conference on bullying early next year to raise awareness and educate parents, students, and teachers about the tools available to prevent harassment.
“We’ve got to dispel the myth that bullying is just a normal rite of passage, or an inevitable part of growing up. It’s not,” President Obama said in a written statement. “We have an obligation to ensure that our schools are safe for all of our kids. Every single young person deserves the opportunity to learn and grow and achieve their potential, without having to worry about the constant threat of harassment.”
Although current laws do not protect against harassment based on sexual orientation, they do protect against the harassment of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered individuals based on gender stereotypes. The current federal policy is the same as it was under the Bush administration.
“We are not creating new policy.... We are making clear [to schools] what their responsibilities are,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Russlynn Ali said on a conference call Monday afternoon. “Where it transcends just sexual orientation discrimination and becomes about gender stereotyping or not conforming to traditional gender roles, that very well could rise to the level of a violation of Title IX”
The guidance, in the form of a “Dear Colleague” letter sent to schools, explains to educators their legal obligation to protect students from harassment and bullying.
The administration’s call to action comes in response to the recent wave of gay teen suicides. “Certainly, the unspeakable tragedies over the last several weeks contribute to our sense of urgency and it's important that the public know that there are things that schools and universities can and should be doing to help prevent such tragedies from occurring,” Ali told reporters on the call.
“Bullying is a problem that shouldn't exist. No one should ever feel harassed or unsafe in a school simply because they act or think or dress differently than others,” Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a statement. “To every student who feels threatened or harassed -- for whatever reason -- please know that you are not alone. Please know that there are people who love you. And please know that we will protect you.”
--Mary K. Bruce
October 26, 2010 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (6)
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The hallmarks and byproducts of bullying:
High turnover in the Obama administration, constant deflection of blame and unwillingness to accept responsibility, unwarranted criticism of Americans while overseas, excessive fault finding, imposing verbal or written warnings (ABC headline reads "President Obama Puts Congress 'On Notice' Regarding Health Care Reform" to force it through), health care bill opposed by majority of Americans being forced down our throat, constant deflection of blame, Republicans told by Obama, "They can come for the ride, but they gotta sit in back", continued unemployment rate, etc. etc. - are all byproducts of Obama's bullying.
According to bullyonline.org:
"Why do people bully?
The purpose of bullying is to hide inadequacy. Bullying has nothing to do with managing etc; good managers manage, bad managers bully. Management is managing; bullying is not managing. Therefore, anyone who chooses to bully is admitting their inadequacy, and the extent to which a person bullies is a measure of their inadequacy. Bullies project their inadequacy on to others:
a) to avoid facing up to their inadequacy and doing something about it;
b) to avoid accepting responsibility for their behaviour and the effect it has on others, and,
c) to reduce their fear of being seen for what they are, namely a weak, inadequate and often incompetent individuals, and,
d) to divert attention away from their inadequacy - in an insecure or badly-managed workplace, this is how inadequate, incompetent and aggressive employees keep their jobs.
Bullying is an inefficient way of working, resulting in disenchantment, demoralisation, demotivation, disaffection, and alienation. Bullies run dysfunctional and inefficient organisations; staff turnover and sickness absence are high whilst morale, productivity and profitability are low."
Obama in a nutshell.
Posted by: EPU | Oct 26, 2010 2:10:13 AM
The Hypocrite in Chief is the last person to "take on bullying". He's treated us Americans like a schoolyard bully shoving us around the until we unwillingly give him our lunch money. The narcissist Obama isn't just about growing government - he's interested in feeding his personal pride, ego, and vanity. Obama believes that doing things like shoving a health care bill down the throats of Americans, against the majority who opposed it, gives him a sense of personal empowerment, diverts attention away from his inadequacy, and reduces his fear of being seen for what he is - a weak, inadequate, and incompetent individual who has never accepted responsibility - all are hallmarks of a bully and all are exhibited by Obama.
According to bullyonline.org:
"A bully is a person who
* has never learnt to accept responsibility for their behaviour
*wants to enjoy the benefits of living in the adult world, but who is unable and unwilling to accept the responsibilities that are a prerequisite for being part of the adult world.
*abdicates and denies responsibility for their behaviour and its consequences (abdication and denial are common features of bullying) is unable and unwilling to recognise the effect of their behaviour on others
*does not want to know of any other way of behaving
* is unwilling to recognise that there could be better ways of behaving."
Sound familiar Mr. President?
Posted by: EPU | Oct 26, 2010 1:52:51 AM
Apparent Rand Paul supporter curb stomps head of apparent liberal woman.
Republicans such as Stephen Broden say violent uprising is "on the table" if the GOP doesn't win.
Tea partiers intimidate voters in Texas.
Emboldened extremist right incites violence.
Reckless bully, Hendershott, could derail right wing folk hero, Arpaio's train.
Does the right wing of American politics really have a lot to offer when it comes to insight regarding bullying when they refuse to hold themselves accountable?
One would hope they'd wake up.
"We can disagree on issues and be passionate about them but I don't think there is any room for someone throwing a young lady to the ground and stomping her on the head no matter how much they disagree with her." (Mark Riddle)
Posted by: Cara | Oct 26, 2010 1:41:19 AM
The bully in Chief gave us a health care bill that the majority of Americans opposed. What do you call that? Colin Powell likened Obama's unpopularity to people overwhelmed with his sweeping government expansion and doing nothing to help the little guy. Obama's health care bill had nothing to do with helping Americans and had everything to do with controlling Americans and overstepping his authority to controlling the free market. Then he goes around the world bullying his own American countrymen by calling us "arrogant".
Posted by: EPU | Oct 26, 2010 1:33:13 AM
Obama needs to look in his own mirror and his Chicago mafia style bullying tactics before self-appointing himself as a peaceful measured man against bullying.
Democrats, and Obama, have still tried to press conservative groups--but not leftist and union groups--to disclose their donors, even though the law does not require it. The abuse Obama and his crowd gave Tavis Smiley. The bullying Obama and his democrat thugs bullied Target while stroking Democrat-supporting unions. When McCain brought up a legitimate issue at the health care summit last February, Obama began his response: "Let me just make this point, because we're not campaigning anymore, the election's over." I can see Hugo Chavez or Ahmadinijad behaving like this kind of a petty obsessive spoiled backyard bully, but not a President. The Mail Online UK reported "The crisis engulfing BP has plumbed new depths as President Obama bullied the company into depositing £13.5billion", Just today the AP reported Obama saying "We don't mind the Republicans joining us. They can come for the ride, but they gotta sit in back." In this one statement, Obama has taken the good that the civil rights movement has done for our country and has suddenly swung it full pendulum to discriminate against a group Obama justifies bullying towards.
Posted by: EPU | Oct 26, 2010 1:24:30 AM
I do not believe obama should cast the first stone.
Childhood bullying needs to be controlled along with the administration's bullying of the American public.
We all know bullying is bad and that is why we don't like obama.
Posted by: pilotrockpat | Oct 26, 2010 12:22:58 AM
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