Cartoon Network Anti Bullying TV Program

[williamjackson]

Cartoon Network Anti Bullying TV Program

Stop Bullying
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/promos/stopbullying/index.html

The lethality of words can create psychological and emotional
damage that can span years in a person’s life. Creating damage
to a person’s inner being, their self-confidence, self-awareness
and even the ability to appreciate their own self-worth.

The Power To Stop Bullying rests within all of us. The ability
to reason, comprehend and rationalize that our words, actions
and even in actions have devastating affect on other peoples lives
especially the youth. 

In the upcoming Cartoon Network TV presentation about
Bullying, former NBA star Chris Webber, tennis champion
Venus Williams and NASCAR driver Trevor Bayne, talk about
their own experiences being bullied. All are successes in their
own professional and personal lives, but were attacked by words
and actions of others when they were younger. The continued
irony is that thousands of youth that are talented in many areas
are bullied because they are different in some way, but those
differences when nurtured, encouraged and supported can help
everyone in some way not just the person with the talent.

Chris Webber shares that he was bullied, ”They called me ‘fish
lips,” harassed about his height, “I was always the shortest boy
in my class.” and the struggles with his identity caused by being
bullied, “I thought something was wrong with me.” Chris over
came this with support, but there are to many that do not have
support or encouragement from others even friends and family
that stand and do nothing either from fear for themselves or
not knowing who to turn to.

Youth in our schools, community centers and even in churches
are bullied because in some way they are different either through
physical attributes and abilities, cognitive gifts, talents or in
some cases because they are academically talented.

Cartoon Network reaches millions of kids weekly with its
programming. They understand the influence they have with
connecting children, youth, teens and even adults with
entertainment. The other dynamic is to reach this audience
with educational programming. Millions of kids are affected
by bullying and their tormentors need to understand that
their actions are wrong, hurtful and potentially deadly by
the actions taken of suicides, attempted suicides and children
being slain by those being bullied and “fed up” by being
bullied constantly.

The Cartoon Network’s drive to “Stop Bullying: Speak Up”,
also brings in the President that has recorded an opening
message introducing a 30-minute documentary film
“Speak Up”. This drive has been ongoing since October 2010
and is a multi-platform that focuses on motivating bystanders,
witnesses and others to bullying and to speak up and help
prevent bullying.

The best way to reach youth is to allow youth to speak to
each other and to share their stories. The stories are “poignant,
touching, thoughtful and optimistic, consists of candid
interviews with kids, mostly between the ages of 8 and 13 years
old, who either are or have been the target of bullies, bystanders
in a bullying situation or even bullies themselves.”

This program is a half-hour film that premiered on March 14,
2012, at a middle school on Capitol Hill in Washington,
D.C and airs nationally on Cartoon Network on Sunday,
March 18, 2012, check local programming for exact time in
your viewing area. 

Other programming is available, but because of a more gritty
and adult language presence cannot be shown on Cartoon
Network, but parents, teachers, administration, those that are
in Ministry and even in higher education need/should consider
viewing these programs and if youth can handle it be shown
them and discuss openly and honestly about the issue
of Bullying.

Even some in Ministry, Clergy and religious organizations
refuse or deny there is bullying by youth, teens, tweens, and
young adults in church, but that is a false and\dangerous
continued way of thinking. Just as the past incidents of religious
leader’s convictions, allegations, exploitation of youth, sexual
harassment, cyber/sexual bullying and texting. All these are forms
and conditions that can be open for bullying, this issue cannot be
denied, Bullying has many forms and faces in society.

The documentary “Bully” was produced by Harvey Weinstein
tells the story of bullying in middle school and high school, but
the language is real and the emotions are true. The program has
a rating of R only because of the language, but it is a well
known fact that many teens when not around adults do use
profanity. Even those that choose not to curse have heard
words from either parent’s, family members, in school, in
their communities, in video games, and on television.
Parents cannot have a head in the sand mentality because this
is real life and real kids.

Showing the extent and seriousness of bullying even Sesame
Street has created programming discussing with young
children about bullying. A special episode, "The Good Birds'
Club" shows when Big Bird is bullied by another bird in
his neighborhood. On this level the delicate issue of
“snitching” and tattling is discussed. Children are taught
to seek the help of an adult they trust. The realities of
life are being faced by children as young as three, four and
five years of age. The episode can be seen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGhLeDugztY

Parents take the lead and model for your children. This is too
serious a subject to not be involved in and too dangerous not
to talk to your kids about. Just because children/teens don’t
say anything does not mean they are not affected.
Check your kids Facebook, Twitter feed, MySpace and other
online sites, but don’t stop there. Check their phones, check
their book bags, and check their rooms. In honesty if you are
too afraid get counseling or law enforcement involved.
Ryan’s story about being bullied and his suicide:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDBiqUWRtMo

Sit down with your children, your family and friends and view
this important work. You may be surprised by your children
and friends reaction.

Resources: The Power To Stop Bullying

Stop Bullying
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/promos/stopbullying/index.html

Cartoon Network Air Special On Bullying
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/cartoon-network-airs-special-on-bullying/2012/03/13/gIQAn7jKAS_story.html

Stop Bullying
www.stopbullying.gov/

Sesame Street
www.sesamestreet.org/bullying

The Breakfast Meeting: Teens From ‘Bully’
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/16/the-breakfast-meeting-teens-from-bully-protest-r-rating-and-lessons-of-kony-2012/

President Obama Says Stop Bullying â€" Speak Up
http://whitehouse.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/13/president-obama-says-stop-bullying-speak-up/