I found relief... others haven't...

So, I know I try to inject a little humor in most of my post.  This one likely will not find any.  Some people find inspiration in being around friends and family.  While others find inspiration in the outdoors, or drugs, alcohol, and number of places.  I find that I get more out of the music I choose to listen to.  A couple of songs that have come my way in the last year have had me thinking quite a bit lately.  One you've probably at least heard of, if not heard, and the other probably not.  "Mean" by Taylor Swift and "Smoke Rise" by Clay Cook feat. Zac Brown Band.  Here are links to both on youtube.
Mean

Smoke Rise

K, if you don't want to hear them now, that's fine.  They're both about bullying.  Smoke Rise, slightly more encrypted than Mean, but it's my favorite of the two.  When I was in Jr. High and High school, until 11th grade anyway, I was verbally and, in one particular bully's case, physically attacked on a very regular basis.  I never said a word to anyone.  I let it happen.  Three bullies in 7th and 8th and four (one new, three the same) in 9th and 10th.  No reason other than I was smaller, weird, not really athletic though I was on the teams, and just different in general.   Now, I found an out.  Several of you know that I transferred to Maplewood from Overton after the end of my first semester in 11th grade. When I got to Maplewood everything changed.  My mom, at that point, had taught there for 20+ years and was a favorite among the students there.  This made me INSTANTLY popular.  I wasn't real big on the popularity but it also put an INSTANT stop to the bullying.  I had a year and a half of school I actually enjoyed.  Thanks Mom.  I mean that, whole heartily.  Thanks Mom.

Alrighty, I didn't want to just talk about me.  I'm seeing countless news stories about teenagers taking there own lives from being bullied about being different.  Be it because they're gay, a nerd, shy, in the band, just not a popular jock.  Whatever you or I believe about homosexuality, I believe NO ONE holds any right to judge another for any reason at all.  NO ONE holds that right.  Google this phrase "teen suicide bullying".  It's sad.  I'm of the belief bullies in these situations should be brought up on charges of involuntary manslaughter.  Emotional abuse is every bit, and in a lot of those cases you'll see on Google, even more damaging than physical.  I made a move and was blessed by my mother's kind heart and good reputation.  Others were not and continue to not be as lucky as I was.  It breaks my heart to read those stories and guess I just wanted to say something.  Maybe something changes, maybe nothing does.  All I know is nothing was happening by not saying anything.  I'm going to do my best to continue saying something.  Not just on here, but when I see it going on out there.  With kids, adults, anyone being bullied for being different.  There, you know a little bit more about me.  I'll try funny again soon.

Peace,
Ben

** I'd be remiss if I didn't mention a few more things.  I got to thinking about one of the last things I said.  I'm going to do my best say something and do something about anyone I see being bullied from here on out, adults and children alike.  Well, without mentioning names, I know a few that may read this and say, "He was bullied?!?!".  Well, yes, I was.  But I know where you're coming from.  I know I projected out onto numerous people what was projected onto me.  Let me publicly apologize to anonymous people that know exactly who they are.  I've never been a physical person.  However, I could, and probably still could, verbally beat the crap out of people.  All the way up until maybe 4 or 5 years ago.  It's a daily struggle but I try to be a generally nicer and happier person.  Sorry, I just kept thinking how I totally made myself sound like a victim. Which I was.  However, I was also a bully of sorts myself.  Didn't feel right not having this in here.  I think I'm really done now though :-)