Music teacher Marston Riley, 64, was taken into custody on suspicion of child abuse and causing great bodily injury on a child after the brawl broke out at Maywood Academy High School in Maywood, Calif., on Friday. However, in spite of this, members of the community have banded together to donate tens of thousands of dollars to support Riley, according to a GoFundMe started in his name.
“We all may have mixed feelings about what happened,” wrote Cecilia Diaz Jimenez, who created the fundraiser page to support the teacher. “But please do know that this is not the first time that Mr. Riley is [sic] attacked; physically or verbally. He is a great person and a great teacher.”
The footage in question shows Riley punching the student as the pair faced off in the classroom on Friday. Riley had initially asked the student to leave the classroom because he wasn’t wearing a proper uniform, Los Angeles news station KTLA reported…”
A band teacher-Marston Riley was arrested after he defended himself from a student who hit him ..
SCATMAN’S WORLD
Published on Nov 4, 2018
A band teacher-Marston Riley was arrested after he defended himself from a student who hit him with a basketball,called him multiple epithets, & continued to threaten him. This kid should have been arrested & the teacher called a hero….
The teen, who has not been publicly identified, was treated for mild to moderate injuries at a local hospital and released, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.
Students told KTLA the fight began when Riley asked the student to leave the classroom because he wasn’t wearing a proper uniform. The boy refused. One student began recording the spat and captured the teen hurling racial slurs at Riley, who is black.
“It was just back and forth, back and forth, and then the teacher just decided to throw a punch and that’s when everything happened,” one student told CBS.
Some students, parents and teachers defended Riley on social media — instead blaming the student for using racial slurs against him.
“We all may have mixed feelings about what happened. But please do know that this is not the first time that Mr. Riley is attacked; physically or verbally. He is a great person and a great teacher,” reads a description on the fundraising page.
“He was a really nice teacher, I always respected him. He always had a really good relationship with every student,” a student told KTLA.
Still, other parents were left disturbed by the situation.
“Just the fact that he’s hitting a child — it’s not right,” one mom told NBC…”
Hurt while “breaking-up fights”
Central High teacher in wake of student attack: ‘It’s like I’m watching my life as a movie’ By Josh Verges | jverges@pioneerpress.com | Pioneer Press
PUBLISHED: April 27, 2016 at 1:57 pm | UPDATED: April 27, 2016 at 4:31 pm twincities.com “The Central High School teacher who was hurt breaking up a lunchroom fight Dec. 4 hopes to return to work in the fall once he feels more like himself.
John Ekblad, 55, said in an interview this week that he’s slowly recovering from the headaches, nausea, memory loss and numbness in his right side. But a hand tremor makes it a struggle to lift food to his mouth, and he’s battling anxiety and memory loss.
“My big thing is anxiety — that ain’t me,” he said. “It’s like I’m in my body somewhere and I want to come out. It’s like I’m watching my life as a movie.”..”
Teachers losing their SH*T Compilation (Teachers vs Students)
Violence against teachers leads to increased absenteeism – SADTU
SABC Digital News
Published on Jun 15, 2018
On the eve of National Youth Day, teacher union SADTU says violence against teachers has led to increased levels of absenteeism. It’s even contributing towards some leaving the profession. These attacks have been widely captured on social media. A warning to sensitive viewers that some of the following content in this package is violent.
At least 40 teachers assaulted by students during the school unrests witnessed in 107 secondary
KTN News Kenya
Published on Aug 2, 2018
At least 40 teachers were assaulted by students during the school unrests witnessed in 107 secondary schools in 14 counties. The Teachers’ Service Commission says the affected teachers have been transferred even as TSC CEO, Nancy Macharia, dismissed claims that delocalization of teachers was to blame for the unrests. This emerged when various education stakeholders appeared before the parliamentary committee probing school unrests.
Watch: Student assaults teacher 10 times in classroom | क्लास में टीचर पर कातिलाना हमला
Zee News
Published on Oct 13, 2017
A student of a school in Haryana’s Jhajjar has assaulted a teacher in class. The student attacked teacher multiple times. Watch to know more.
I watched the anticipating movie “Unbroken” the other day (CHRISTmas) with my parents (my grandfather was captured as a POW as a “Filipino” civilian and survived as a cook) and still absorbing the personal messages from this inspirational movie in this season in my life. I was first introduced to this real-life story (Laura Hillenbrand’s “Unbroken”) by Neil, pastor of Harvest Community Church (Fargo, ND) and host to a weekly morning Bible study-fellowship group I attend in Morris, who gave me to read and share with one of my friends (college student from Japan renter) years ago. Unfortunately, my renter wasn’t interested in reading this book, but was inspired by the story. I got more interested in this story when Neil shared about this book was going to be movie on facebook. I’ve been looking forward to this movie since this Spring and now anxious to share about it with others.
Zamperini’s life story has taught me many life virtues (e.g. perseverance, gratefulness, commitment, and forgiveness) in this point of my life, which I’ll try to share as many of them down below. One of them is perseverance, which the stories…
Unbroken Raft Scenes Louis Zamperini WW2 – YouTube
*After watching the sequel this evening (10.4.18), I reflect on this scene and God did answer Zamperini’s prayer through the Japanese boat that “rescued” Zamperini & his comrades from the raft.
Unbroken (9/10) Movie CLIP – Don’t Look at Me! (2014) HD
… he shared of what he endured during WWII is very inspirational. I’ve read many stories from that war, which has helped me to not complain and be more grateful no matter what challenges I’m facing in my life. The sacrifices many soldiers faced (including my own parents’ country-Philippines-> Filipino Military–Bataan Uncensored Paperback – December, 1991, a must read book!) during that war helped my generation to reap the blessings we have right now. It’s important to never forgot our own history (U.S., Philippines, and any other nation), so we won’t take for granted what we are blessed with.
“If you get me through this I swear I’ll dedicate my whole life to you. Please”-Louis Zamperini (from briandoddonleadership.com)
I made a similar promise to God (Heavenly Father) before giving my life to Him back in the winter of 1996. I went skiing at a ski resort (Andes Tower Hills in Kensington, Minnesota). I went down hill skiing with a bunch of college friends (international students) and wanted to show off, so I just jumped on this chair life not knowing how far and big the hill I would be down hill skiing at. Well, when I got to the top, I realize this was higher than I thought and already forgot how to ski. I haven’t gone down hill skiing for years (should’ve gone on the smaller hill or bunny hill to get some practice). Well, this would be called, “Pride before the fall”. There was no way down but to go with my skis, so I had to fall 4x or so to finally decided to walk (after feeling my knee really swollen or hurt). I went to the ER at the local hospital (Morris, MN) and was at the X-Ray room. The doctor took an X-Ray and left the room by myself. This was when I had my “first” BIG encounter with God. I was more concerned about the financial cost of the medical expense than what happened to me physically. I then just called out to God and told Him-“God, if your real. Heal me and I”ll follow You”. Well, the doctor came back and told me that I didn’t break anything, which would be the beginning of my journey of faith (see testimony) Ever made a promise (e.g. Matthew 5:37-“Let your yes, be “YES”) with God, family, friends, etc…? I challenge and encourage you to “follow-through”!
I read and heard many stories of the atrocities in World War II and many wars before and after. Even though this movie just showed one perspective of one American’s experience. The torture that he and many others out there is very “inhumane”. Unfortunately, we as a county didn’t learn from this and still use this to this day (e.g. Shocking cases in CIA report reveal an American torture program in disarray – Spencer Ackerman in New York Tuesday 9 December 2014 ) This is an embarrassment as a nation to this world as we “preached” against inhumanitarian acts of other nations (e.g. North Korea, China, Russia, Iran, etc..).
In my response to what our nation has done and even myself (I too have “wrong” people in different ways and levels due to sin)…”forgive them for they do not know what they do”. Zamperini’s story can be applied with what’s going on today (e.g. Ferguson-we need to forgive each other for the wrong that’s been done to one another). There are “good” and “bad” cops-same with any group of people. We can’t “judge” or “stereotype” (e.g. NOT all Somolians are “evil” as the movie “Black Hawk Down” might stereotype these people group) any group because of the actions of a “few” of a group of people (e.g. race, nationality, political party, religion, institution, etc..) The real “enemy” is satan and his cronies (demons) that try to deceive and divide the human race to “fight” one another. It’s God’s love that is shared in the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ behind the message of Zamerini’sforgiveness!
Is there someone out there that has hurt (e.g. abuse) you in the past? Just as Zamperini had one-the “Bird”-was a “bully” or “tormentor” while he was Prisoner of War. When Zamperini went home after the war, he was like many veterans that would suffer from PTSD. He would have nightmares, which I too had them at times growing-up for different reasons. Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Well, Zamperini started to sleep better after his “encounter” with God at a Billy Graham Crusade and forgave his “enemy” (abuser, bully, etc..). Have you forgave that individual(s) that hurt you in the past? It’s not easy, right? You can’t do it on your own because you need that strength from God alone, which I personally (e.g. my own bully story) got when I gave my life to Him.
Reviews
How True is UNBROKEN the movie?
Interviews
WWII hero and alumnus Louis Zamperini visits USC Annenberg class
USC Annenberg
Published on Mar 3, 2011
Feb. 23, 2011: World War II hero, Olympic runner and USC alumnus Louis Zamperini visited adjunct journalism professor Jeff Fellenzer’s JOUR 380 class to discuss his story of survival, perseverance and forgiveness.
Remembering the “Unbroken” spirit of Louis Zamperini
“Unbroken’s” Louis Zamperini: The Rest of the Story
After ‘Unbroken’ – Louis Zamperini ‘Captured By Grace’
Billy Graham Australia & New Zealand
Published on Jan 22, 2015
After his return from WWII, Louis Zamperini was tormented by the memories of what he had experienced. Post traumatic stress led to depression and alcoholism. About to lose his marriage, Louis went to a Billy Graham crusade in Los Angeles, in 1948 and gave his life to Christ.
Part 2-Sequel
UNBROKEN 2 Official Trailer (2018) Path to Redemption, Movie HD …
-Addiction
Improving our understanding of alcohol and drug addiction hazelden.org “..What counts is embracing that moment of clarity when we realize that our lives are a mess and that we must change. Or else. And then taking action. Zamperini changed his life, and in the next 60-plus years, his story has inspired millions of people to overcome the adversity of their personal demons.
A few days after he died, another story made headlines, this one in The New York Times. It was about alternatives to the “mainstream” approach to fighting addiction through 12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
From new medications to advances in science to innovative therapy, the choices people struggling with substances have are more plentiful than ever today, including pathways that aren’t based on abstinence or faith in a higher power…”
SWITCHFOOT – You Found Me – Unbroken: Path To Redemption (Official Music Video)
Louis Zamperini at ’58 San Francisco Crusade – YouTube
Louie Zamperini: The Power of Forgiveness by Laura HillenbrandFrom – Posted on Dec 29, 2010 guideposts.org
Louie Zamperini’s story of survival and redemption will astound and inspire you.
“..On the second night, Graham asked people to step forward to declare their faith. Louie stood up and stormed toward the exit. But at the aisle, he stopped short.
Suddenly he was in a flashback, adrift on the raft. It hadn’t rained in days, and he was dying of thirst. In anguish, he whispered a prayer:
“If you will save me, I will serve you forever.”
… Over the raft, rain began falling. Standing in Graham’s tent, lost in his flashback, Louie felt the rain on his face.
At that moment Louie began to see his whole ordeal differently. When he’d been trapped in the wreckage of his plane, somehow he’d been freed. When the Japanese bomber had shot the raft full of holes, somehow none of the men had been hit….”
If you have read this book or watched the movie, curious-what was your famous line/quote/scene in the movie? why? what did you learn? How are you applying it in your life to this day?
“Movie theater in Oakdale, Minnesota where I saw the movie “Unbroken” with parents on CHRISTmas Day“
Book
Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken – Audiobook Excerpt
Unbroken A World War II Story of Survival Resilience and Redemption Audiobook 1
4:00 (Chapter 11) “No One Will Survive” (movie scene of Green Hornet crash)
4:38 (Chapter 12) Life Boats-1st prayer since a kid
4:41 (Chapter 13) “water” from sky (drinking)
5:07 (Chapter 14)” if drop of water to drink..I’ll dedicate” (prayed)
5:10-17(Chapter 15) Sharks (bomber shooting movie scene)
*a miracle (4x bomber swept through and missed the 3 guys on the raft)
Unbroken Summary – Chapters 15-17 – supersummary.com http://www.supersummary.com/component/content/article/50-plot-summary-of-unbroken?start=6
Chapter Fifteen: Sharks and Bullets. On the twenty-seventh day of their journey on the water, a Japanese bomber flies over. … Miraculously, it did not explode and a single bullet hit no one. Sharks … Louie managed to patch the bullet holes in the one raft that wasn’t totally damaged. … They were trying to attack Louie.
5:36 “Max” Death: Louis prayer promise
5:50 “Japanese” taking them (close to escaping to an island):given plenty of food (coconut, chocolate, etc..)
“can’t guarantee your survival after going to “massacre island”
5:59 “prison place”
PART IV (KWAJALEIN – EXECUTION ISLAND ) https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/KWAJALEIN-EXECUTION-ISLAND-Unbroken-Louis-Zamperini-Story
Chapter 18
6:14 interrogation (D, E. model of Bomber)
6:17 Kamura (Christian) kind, would give candy to them 🙂
https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/B-24s-IN-COMBAT-Unbroken-Louis-Zamperini-Story
August (been gone since May)
6:20-Biological test: Coconut syringe
*see
Aug 24th (interrogation)
decided not to be killed
Aug 26th 1943-Taken to Yokohama (Karamura never seen)
Chapter 15 “200 Silent Men”
6:30-saw friend from USC (Japanese traitor, navy interrogation camp)
Ifuna Camp
6:44-Japanese prisoner guard (Hirosei) had sympathy to POW’s and would “fake” beating.
http://www.thinkingchristian.net/posts/2011/08/unbroken-a-world-war-ii-story-of-survival-resilience-and-redemption/
“…At this point I want to take you on a different kind of flashback. Early in his captivity, Zamperini had received the risky grace of a Japanese prison guard who had greeted him with the discreet question, “You Christian?” Zamperini told him he was. The guard answered, “I Christian too.” This Christ-following Japanese soldier took every opportunity to secretly supply Zamperini and other prisoners with extra food.
Zamperini’s response to the guard’s question intrigues me, for there was nothing in his early history to suggest any church involvement. The way he had discovered he could run when he was a boy was by running from people he had stolen from, and from the law, for he was an inveterate thief. His criminal ways ended when he embarked on his running career in high school, but not because of any new moral insight—he just found a different route to satisfying his desires. So when the guard asked him, “You Christian?,” his yes answer probably had a lot more to do with culture than with spiritual reality….”
General Harris (escaped Corregidor occupation, captured in Indonesia by “natives’, etc..)
7:08 -Zamperini was found out to be an olympic runner (movie scene: forced to race)
7:10-green sauce injection (Mensaus was intended to be killed)
*see Biological https://www.facebook.com/groups/392960060797791/
-Garret (new P.O.W.) shares how he was in the same cell that Zamperini was at (17 others killed in that same island)
7:17 (sin suji-POW camp with American Red Cross regulations)
*fake, but a coal camp
7:21 (Chapter 21)
July 13th-Louis captured (same day mother sent a letter to Air Force commander to search for Louis)
7:32: Fortune teller tells Harris survived
*see https://www.facebook.com/SalPhotoVideography/photos/a.780611395287068.1073741907.443035202378024/930969090251297/?type=3&theater
7:43 “Kill all” (POW’s-5K Koreans) command-afraid Koreans would ally with Americans after Saipan lost (allowing bombers to bomb Japan)
7:51 “Doolittle raid” (escape plan cancelled due to warning of POW’s going to be executed for every escapee)
7:54 “Quack” found maps Harris hided in bed
was beaten for over an hour
Chapter 23 “Monster” (Bird)
7:57 Zamperini moved to a new camp
Chapter 24
8:16 “Bird”
8:33 Kano (compassionate Japanese guard…would tell guards to look away when POW’s were eating from the garden)
radio broadcast was only heard in South Africa (took 3 months to finally get to California due to misunderstanding of name and address)
8:37 (Chapter 25-B24)
8:48 Postman Calls (Louis alive)
B29 flying to taking pics (hope)
9:03 (Chapter 26)
Radio station changed broadcast …propoganda
(kept alive for propoganda -to embarrass America…serviced “American-style”-tempting-meal at a diner..movie scene)
Nov 27th-B29 Bombers came in bunches
9:29 “Bird” leaving (movie scene)…reign of terror over
Chapter #27-“Falling Down”
“KILL ALL” P.O.W.’s in Palawaan, Philippines…gasoline poured on soldiers in grave “massacre”….11 only escaped. 😦
American landing as false
CAMP NAOETSU http://www.northchinamarines.com/id35.html
9:38 “moved to another camp” due to bombing in Tokyo…witness bombed city as they transferred on a rail train to a snowy place
March 2nd 1945
“Bird” waiting for him
9:50
forced to clean pig place after being a “cleanliness” freak (used listerine after kissing girls)
10:06 (Chapter 29-200 punches)
U.S. Bomb raid by lone steel mill
Germany fell
naritsu
Louis leg healed to do coal work
Bird sick (fed bm)
10:24 moved to another camp to be “executed” (final order)
10:29 Louis holding beam in 37 minutes (movie scene)
826 B29’s raid
napalm being dropped
leaflets dropped to warn citizens to leave from the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
10:38 “Hiroshima bomb dropped (10x the light of the sun) “little boy” (tibbits) lead taste from his mouth melting from radiation emitting
Chapter #31
Hiroshima was hit by “chlorea”
one bomb hit the city (atomic-unfamiliar)
Aug. 9th 1945-Nagasaki hit by atomic bomb
“The Bird” left to prepare new camp after Louis had nightmares of him
Louis 22 bm’s
berry berry
teaching English to “bad eye” (How are you?.what the F*&% you care?)
no electricity
10:40 WAR is over
routine of walking to forrest
Aug 20th-white sky
10:52 asked POW’s to fight the “red” that took some island
announcement to bathe in river (movie scene)..engine came by (overcast sky)..torpedo bomber (American). Red code “war is over”
chocolate and cigs dropped off
pants (thought it was a man) fell from another plane (bomb cloud pic-Hiroshima-magazine) and more items dropped
Chapter #32-Cascade of Paint Peaches
10:57
wrote 700 POW’s here on sand to get planes to drop more products
11:07 U.S. Missouri-General MacArthur announced
132K POW’s (off all nations)
25% survived
37% americans died
1% of americans held by Nazi’s die
Cocoa dropped crashed and destroyed “Bird’s” office
Louis cleansed himself
Sept. 4th-date for POW’s to be transferred to Yokohama for evacuation
POW’s discovered a brothel while walking around
Fitzgerald (fingernails pulled, waterboard torture, etc..) asked for a train
Chapter 33 11:17
POW’s getting food and medical help
wasn’t listed in Red Cross list since he wasn’t listed by Japanese
143 lbs (still 17 lbs under his original weight when plane crashed)
Sylvia answered on phone (Mom)
sept. 9th 1945-mother’s day for Louis’ mom
American flag carried through entire wall (passed by American missionary to British POW in Australia??)
Unbroken Laura Hillenbrand (A World War II Story) Part 2
Meeting family and getting greeted
Part IV
Chapter 34 “Shimmering Girl”
convertible still there
3 years of CHRISTmas gifts in house
record playing of his recording (PTSD)
meeting fiance (apple)
30:52 -Chapter 35
Louis Zamperini’s Son Explains How God Healed His Father’s PTSD
Nightmares, story of Airforce airmen that parachuted and captured: put in a zoo cage for display
Louis drinking, public behavior,etc…
Chapter #36 50:00
4K of 5K convicted of war crimes
Kano (close to names of Japanese war criminals) was testified by soldiers (US) to be cleared
was about to write to POW soldiers..died of cancer
1:13:00 -Louis still drunk, fought with Cynthia, forbade Cynthia from going to church, thought God tried to trip him, etc..
*Good News Japan https://www.facebook.com/groups/468929606499068/
*more…http://smu.gs/1Bl61Ih
1:51 “This is your life” (Allen slipped in back, w/ CeCe, moved from New Mexico-plastic business) What he done was finally recognized…became an “open book” as Louis wasn’t mentioned.
1:54
Harris in Korean War (3/4 of his until died)
2:00 deaths of his brother (Pete, Sylvia-mother, etc..)
Bird died in 2003…never met
*peace…https://www.facebook.com/groups/639527079395556/?ref=br_tf
-Reviews
http://www.us-japandialogueonpows.org/UshioUnbroken.htm
but there are also many stories of kind, generous, compassionate Japanese, both military and civilian, who went out of their way to be good to POWs. So my readers’ reactions, whether positive or negative, are directed not toward the Japanese people as a group, but toward the specific individuals in the book.
I think the biggest reason why the book has not inspired ill-feeling against Japan is that Japanese war crimes are not the book’s theme or main subject. This is a story of survival, resilience and persistence, and the extraordinary power of forgiveness, as exemplified by one man, Mr. Zamperini. The emotion my readers express, more than anything else, is a sense of being uplifted and deeply inspired.
— When a book about Japan’s WWII history, especially one dealing with its war crimes, became a bestseller in the US, the first reaction from some Japanese people often is to question the accuracy of the content. Many reviewers in the US praised your thorough research. Can you describe how you went about researching for this book?
*Japan WWII https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.654965537895473&type=1
I was bullied for various reasons growing-up while attending Battle Creek Middle School from 6th to 8th grade.
It wasn’t such a big topic in the media back then, so I never thought of it much. I thought it was just part of life and didn’t see it as a social epidemic as it is covered in the media now. As I hear stories of bullying, I feel like what I went through was really nothing compared to the serious violence and abuse (both mental and physical) victims goes through nowadays.
Here are some “lite” stories of bullying I went through:
When I used to deliver newspapers for the local paper in St. Paul (Pioneer Press Dispatch), I hated going through certain parts of my neighborhood after school. Living by the middle school, kids would be coming out of school in groups and would walk by my route. I would find a particular “safer” route as I did it more, but when I first started, I ran into some really obnoxious peers at the time. For example, one time when I was delivering newspapers (PM edition), some group of kids started yelling “gook” or “chink” at me. They then would do the infamous popular “kung-fu”/”karate” moves at me. Being a “smaller” boy at the time and being one individual, I didn’t have a chance to fight them back. At the time, I reflected on some friends/neighbors (Vietnamese-Another neighbor and I loved watching Bruce Lee movies growing-up!) that offered my dad to have my siblings and I to learn Karate from them. During this and other times of being bullied, I wished my dad took the offer as I would’ve used karate on them! I just continued walking away and ignored them. I look back and wondered if I did know karate, what would’ve I’ve done. I had a lot of anger issues (due to family up-bringing and all the social pressures during that stage of my life) and probably would’ve got myself more in trouble!
Deep Thought:
However, I can’t imagine if I was the opposite-taller and built. They probably would’ve not even said anything like this and would be intimidated or just ignored me. What causes a group of people to team against or oppress an individual the deemed as “weaker” or “lesser”? Doesn’t this occur even amongst adults? (e.g. politically, religiously, economically, racially/ethnically, etc…) Sorry, getting too deep here, but what motivates one(s) want to “pick-on” another/other individual(s)? You hear it’s because a “bully” got “abused” (physically/mentally) by someone older (e.g. parent). Does this give them the reason to do this?
Is this the reason why movie goers are very fascinated with movie characters (e.g. Harry Potter, Marvel Comic Heroes, etc..) with special “powers”. I’ve heard from younger folks that they wished they had “special” powers and they would’ve used it on their “bullies”.
Another story was in the classroom at the school. I remember it vividly as it’s been a scar or was a traumatic experience at the time. I was sitting in a science class (Physics) and the teacher was gone. Several known “bullies” of mine started “gleaking” (lightly spitting) at me. Being a “passive-shy-weakling” at the time, I pretended to ignore them and just took it. What could’ve I done, stand-up and fight the taller-bigger guys than me? I was outnumbered!
Being “Asian”, I was stereotyped as a “bookworm” and I was a studious guy (ey, I got to college on a full-ride scholarship, so it paid off ;)) A friend (taller than me) and I were heading out after school ended. While I was heading to my locker, this “bigger-taller” boy closed my locker and told me to do his homework. I had some “boldness” (learned from watching t.v., like “Saved by the Bell“-I didn’t want to be like Screech-lol!) in me, so I told this guy “no”. He probably wasn’t expecting this, so he actually pushed me against the lockers and demanded that I do this. Fortunately, my “taller” friend stood-up for me and told this “bully” to leave me alone. Unfortunately, this “bully” was bigger than my friend, so this “bully” pushed him too against the lockers. I was very thankful for my friend and was more focused with gratefulness of my friend doing this for me than the “terror” of this bully. We were both shoved to the lockers so loudly that one of my teachers came out of his classroom wondering what all this noise was about. Fortunately, we were both “saved” by this “bully’s” rapture as we both walked out of school “safely” that day.
Due to my “multicultural” looks, I would be teased with various racist remarks. During the Persian Gulf War, a “friend” would tease me that I “looked like the enemy” (Arabic). This would go on even through college and beyond, which I grew to have a very lose self-esteem and was self-conscious about my “physical features” in various places. Due to this remark “way back then”, it effected me when 9-11 happened after my college years. I haven’t shared this with many people, but when 9-11 happened and watching on the news of “Arabs” or “Muslims” that “look-like” the enemy were targeted in America. I got scared and hid for a season. I was afraid to go out of my house during these tense times as I was afraid of getting “attacked” in retaliation of 9-11 (would find out later about the “truth” behind the attacks, which can be another story ;)).
A “Bully” Myself Once
I have to be fair and honest too in this blog post that I wasn’t always “bullied”, but I was also in the “dark” side too-“bully” himself! 😦 I’m not proud of this either, but I look back and probably was a “bully” in some instances because I was “bullied” myself. I felt like I had a position of power in some scenarios and abused them. For instance, I remember fighting this younger-smaller guy in elementary school. I still can’t remember why I did this. I pushed him around and nothing too violent, so I wasn’t too rough on him. 😉 Another instance, this individual in high school was so annoying and I had to “act” tough. I told him that we should fight after school, which he accepted. During class, I then began thinking that this individual will probably bring his “hommies” or “gang” friends and “jump” on me. I then told him “cowardly-humbly” that I decided I don’t want to fight, which he agreed..lol! I also had some instances where I teased people because they “look” poor or whatever, but I regret this because I too was in their shoes and don’t understand why I did this.
My parents immigrated here (St. Paul) from the Philippines in the early 70’s and we didn’t have much like many other immigrants residing in a “new” land. I remember one Christmas, we couldn’t afford a Christmas tree like many other “Americans”. We found a tree branch in our neighborhood while walking in one cold winter day, so we decided to take this tree branch inside and make it our “1st” family Christmas tree. We even decorated it and put ornaments that we just creatively made. My parents couldn’t afford the current trending shoes (e.g. Nike) those days, so I wore “Pro-Wings” from Payless Shoes Store (I’ve bought shoes still from this place as they have some good deals, but honestly-not very quality). Growing-up at that time (still I heard), students in school would just ridicule you with the brand or type of clothing-shoes you wore. I just got teased “left and right” back in elementary school for wearing these “cheap” shoes. Another similar instance was when I was wearing some “old-school” pj’s underneath my jeans with a hole. It was winter time and these “pj’s” were like my thermal underwear to keep me “extra” warm. I guess I would tease someone with this type of dress code. I felt like I was “worthless” at the time and it got worse growing-up through high school.
I actually feared going to high school after watching t.v. shows or movies on how “nerds” or “losers” (like me) were treated. Fortunately, folks in high school were a little more mature and it wasn’t as bad as I expected. I got teased a little (e.g. looks-physical characteristics) once in awhile, but I just had a very low self-esteem (due to factors in and out of school). I had some “suicidal tendencies” due to depression caused by many factors that I can share for another blog, but this is one of the effects people still face due to bullying.
I finally started going up-hill during my college years, which here is my story.
“Power of non-violence (e.g. Martin Luther King Jr., Ghandi, etc..) instead of retaliating with violence”
3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you…”
In conclusion, I believe social support and communication or dialogue is very important to stop bullying! I really didn’t get this growing-up. I grew up in a very quiet-passive (Asian culture) family, which I never shared this with my dad, mom, and even my siblings (I shared one of my stories with one of my siblings the past year or two and they replied-“How come you never told us?”) . I just kept it inside of me like a volcano that was waiting to interrupt. My personal tip now is parents need to have an honest one to one dialogue with their child/children. This can happen over a meal time at the dinner table (get your kids to put their smart phones away, shut the television, etc..). If you read my story above, building self-esteem is very important to help “victims” of bullying overcome this stage or season in their life. As a former “victim of bullying” and “a bully” too, I want to help those in this category through social networking (e.g. Good News Sociology, Youth, etc…). How can we “work-together” in helping those out there?
I got picked on, beat-up, identity issues, etc… Some of the challenges many of us faced growing-up. How did you deal with it? Fortunately, I just got picked on, spat-on, teased because I looked “different” (e.g. thus suffered with my identity), but not “beat-up”. I was very much small in height compared with my peers at my school (Battle Creek) , so I never even tried to “fight-back” with the peers that picked on me. Why did I get picked on? Not sure most of the time, but some were because I was a very studious “nerdy” looking Asian geek. They knew I did my homework, so one of them asked me to do his homework. I said “no” because I didn’t want to be used, so he pushed me against the lockers. Fortunately, one of my tall friends stuck-up for me, but he ended up getting pushed too. During this time, one of the teachers that happened to witness this intervened. This doesn’t always happen to many! Maybe God was watching me already..
Chet McDoniel Tells a Story About a Bully Who Wanted to Fight
What about peer pressure? Ever got pressured to smoke or do drugs? I was fortunate to be strong-willed enough to say “no” to drugs or smoking. I guess I remember there was a speaker that came to our classroom with a hole in his throat, which freaked-scared me growing-up. Thus, I never ever smoked and will never even try it in the future!
.Anyways, some friends and I were talking about these “traumatic years” during this past weekend Men’s Retreat as the “worst years”. How about for you? Worst or Glory years? How can we (e.g. adults, parents, mentors, etc..) help those in junior high-middle school learn from our experience to get through these years?
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