tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771039501394006025.post3672223526314469394..comments2021-07-22T02:39:43.734-07:00Comments on Strength, Health and Crazy Living: Kids need strength not candlesTrevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09681458133673905323noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771039501394006025.post-22874182715125293652010-09-19T03:13:15.973-07:002010-09-19T03:13:15.973-07:00If your "what-if" is a symbolic expressi...If your "what-if" is a symbolic expression it is a pretty weak one. Granted it could be a step on the path to self assurance, but bullying does not stop on the playground. Unless there has been a turn around most people who didn't stick up for themselves when they were young, continue to do the same thing now. If a candle lighting is the spark that some people need to find their steel, I say go for it. However, it seems to be a mostly hollow gesture that is serving to make people feel like they are contributing to a cause without actually investing anything in it. I can light all the candles I want, for all the causes I want, that doesn't mean I am changing anything for the better, or actually helping to pave a path to brighter future...or whatever platitude may fit. If someone has been bullied and has never really stuck up for themselves, lighting a candle for some kid that is the younger mirror of themselves is not going to do anything. What might help is sitting the kid down, and telling him what a shitty life the adult has because he never took a stand for himself, then the adult could offer some ways for the kid to start taking charge of his own life. <br /><br />I do dig what your parents said; "Don't worry about fighting fair".Trevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09681458133673905323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7771039501394006025.post-52009455283651043262010-09-18T21:54:34.677-07:002010-09-18T21:54:34.677-07:00Obviously my parents are a bit different from your...Obviously my parents are a bit different from yours, and yet on this particular point they were in complete agreement. When I was in a fight (Only one serious one of my early days in schools), I got two very different talking tos. The principal of the school needed to know if I had thrown a SINGLE PUNCH in self-defense (because I would be punished for it) (I lied and told him no, because he was a decent fellow and I think he thought this was stupid and was hoping I would get the hint and say no) and my parents told me that next time someone attacked me I shouldn't worry about fighting fair.<br /><br />That said, there's a part of me that needs to play Devil's Advocate here. What if, and I'll grant this is a rather big "what-if", but what if you consider this "light-a-candle" nonsense as an outlet for those who WERE bullied a long time ago. Obviously its too late to directly stand up for themselves... it would be better if that was what they did originally, but it's too late. But maybe any symbolic expression of resistance, even if it's... let's be honest, meaningless... can help those who have already been tread on, to heal and, well... take a step towards not being a doormat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com