Are you an upstander or a bystander?
Upstander – noun, a person who speaks or acts in support of an individual or cause, particularly someone who intervenes on behalf of a person being attacked or bullied.
Bystander – noun, a person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part.
“Doing what is right is rarely the same as doing what is safe.”
Dr. Edith Eva Eger, Holocaust Survivor, Psychologist, and Author of The Choice
I’m reading this right now. Dr. Eger, a Holocaust survivor, is proof that our happiness is our choice in life, regardless of what happens.
We (8th graders and chaperones) visited the Holocaust Museum and the National History Museum today.
Let us never forget. Let us learn and be better…do better.
Sometimes, I feel like people are asleep. I mean, sleeping is nice, right? So why not be awake and be asleep? Just close your eyes to that which you do not find pleasant. We really do not wield much power in reality anyway, right?
My daughter came home extremely upset today. A boy in her class drew the swastika on his arm. This is not the first time. It’s the third time he’s done this. She told him (for the third time) that this is absolutely unacceptable, that it’s a symbol of unspeakable atrocities against mankind. Um, Holocaust, anyone?
He laughed and said he was just “joking around.” And then he told her to “lighten up.” [Does this kind of rhetoric sound familiar?]
Crying, she said, “Mom, I’m just terribly sad and AFRAID.”
Our current political climate, our literal climate, our rising gun violence rates, and our collective unconsciousness are not instilling confidence in our children. Do the right thing. If your school tells you your child is drawing swastikas on his arm and books, then give him an education and a serious consequence. Teach him that it’s wrong.
Don’t “Boys will be boys” it.
I’m going to call that boy’s parents and I will let you know if they are “asleep” or not.
Kismet 