Thursday, October 14, 2010

Thirteen Minutes

On Tuesday night, Ft. Worth City Councilman Joel Burns spent 13 minutes trying to give hope to teens who have been bullied. It's heartbreaking, inspiring and very, very powerful. A must see.

35 comments:

Sue Ellen Mishkey said...

I'm dying to do a video for the it gets better project, but I am too nervous. Instead, I let some kid have it yesterday after class for telling his friend he looked like a faggot in his outfit.

__-__=__ said...

Good for you Sue Ellen! You're doing your part! Thanks!!

Sue Ellen Mishkey said...

I scared the crap out of that kid. I told him one day he's going to say that around the wrong person and they're going to run a train on him. LOL. The look on his face was priceless. I should have told him to check his drawers. Nyuk, nyuk.

Hilary said...

I love this video- so sincere and so truthful

Hilary said...
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Momster said...

Tim Gunn has also come out with a v-blog saying it will get better if you hang on. He admits trying suicide as a teen and luckily his attempt failed.

Being a teenager sucks if you're hetero, I can't imagine what it's like for those being bullied for their sexual orientation.

MontanaMarriott said...

Oh damn Enty, I am a mess right now! I must definitely pass this on!

looserdude said...

When I was a kid a bully used to pick on me. He was bigger and older and very scary. I complained to my father and he said to just hit him back, bullies hate being hit. You know what, it worked. I know it's politically incorrect to tell your kids to fight, but sometimes you have to fight back.

shakey said...

The bullying started at 9 for Asher Brown? I think I need to talk to my son to make sure he doesn't join in on any of this name-calling and why it's wrong.

I'm going to share this on fb.

Jenn719 said...

Good for you Sue Ellen. If I had heard that, I probably would have wanted to slap that kid across the face. Good thing, I'm not a teacher.

Little Miss Smoke and Mirrors said...

Good for him. Wish there were more like him and fewer like this religious leader wearing his homophobia like a badge of honor. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/14/nyregion/14paladino.html?ref=todayspaper

Meg said...

Oh, that breaks my heart. :(

jen said...

Woooooweeee that was hard to watch *wiping tears* lol. This took guts. Thank you, Joel Burns. ♥

bflogurl said...

WoW. So, so touching. What a great spokesman and what a great message!!

mooshki said...

Sue Ellen, it's great that you told him that wasn't okay, but it sounds like you bullied him, which is part of the problem. :(

Maja With a J said...

I just want to stand up and cheer at my desk right now! Very powerful indeed.

Lady J said...

SO POWERFUL!

__-__=__ said...

Very good Shakey! Thanks!!

Gypsy said...

I am stirred by your comments. I am from Texas, not only, but also from where Joel is from and it is so hard to be different in those very rural towns. I am so proud of him on so many levels and I hope if any of you have the time, you might send him a note to encourage him. Because the karmic rule is that for every ounce of good you try to create you will be hit 10fold pound of negativity by those who find comfort in xenophobia and and bigotry. Please tell him that he is not alone.
district9@fortworthgov.org

In any other place this would be courageous, in Texas it is heroic. We have a great many incredible souls but the few who hold steadfast to hate seem infinitely louder and angrier and receive infinitely more media attention. Joel Burns is an example of the best we have to offer in the Lone Star. This is where I get my pride. Thank you and much love to all y'all.

jen said...

Thanks for that address, Gypsy! I just sent an email :)

captivagrl said...

Well said Joel Burns. I hope this gets played in every school.

Meg said...

@Gypsy - Done!

feraltart said...

Thanks Enty. Have started my day with a good cry. What a beautiful speech. My little bit is that I work in a church office and have made it quite clear that I personally have no problem with a person's sexual orientation. I hope it encourages other people within the church to think about their stance.

Gypsy, thank you for the address. I plan to write him. Your post is eloquent and heartfelt, thank you for taking the time to write it.

MadLyb said...
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Basil said...

Joel Burms is truly a hero. Not only to gay people, but everyone.

But the really sad thing is that he shouldn't have to be a hero. It has been 40 years since Stonewall. Almost a generation, yet still gays are considered at best a joke, and at worse prey. Seems like things really haven't changed all that much over the years. Kids are still killing themselves because other kids hear from the media and adults around them that gays are subhuman and do not deserve to be happy, or to even live.

Even just going into a message board and saying you are gay opens you up to anonymous harrassment. We just can't escape the venom and hatred anymore, even in our own homes.

Kudos to Mr Burns for speaking out in such a powerful way.

Sue Ellen Mishkey said...

@Mooshki

I didn't bully him. I simply gave him a possible scenario if he continued his antisocial behaviour.

chihuahuense said...

@Sue Ellen, I don't think you bullied him either. Now maybe if you followed him every day, then that would be bullying. Some people need a real slap in their face to get the picture. It would be different if he rolled his eyes and you threw the book at him, but you matched his language with yours. He deserved it. Although I wouldn't have been able to do it. Like I said before, I need a little Sue Ellen in my pocket to right the world when shit goes wrong ;^P

Sue Ellen Mishkey said...

Thanks girlfriend.

I just try to do my best, and when I heard that word yelled out, I just said no in my head. I think he was so agog because most of the people in my classes are youngins and I bet he thought he was being "cool", and that no one would say anything. Fortunately, I am old and not into being mean is cool. Sure, I'll be mean, but only if I have to.

Sorry for the ramble!

Basil said...

Sue Ellen, speaking a gay man who was taunted and called fairy faggot and worse at school, while adults stood by and did nothing, I thank you for that small thing you did. It's not bullying to tell a child (or an adult for that matter) that they have crossed the line of human decency.

Let's just assume the poster that called you a bully was either joking or being sarcastic.

Either way you did a "cool" thing and "I" thank you for that.

cheesegrater15 said...

Even though I'm straight, my brother constantly told people I was a lesbian. Funny, I was never bullied for it, except by him.

Good for Mr. Burns and everybody else that is speaking out and taking a stand.

Gypsy said...

Geez, Enty's crew is the greatest. I have always been impressed by the posters here, getting so into the Blind Items but chatting friendly like throughout. But today, I certainly fell in love with you all. It a world of ugliness, it is beyond heartwarming to find a bunch of open hearts. I send you great gratitude on my behalf, Texas' and those who have been bullied. After a month of bad news, you guys are the bright shining star from the abyss. May the Universe bless you all.

Sue Ellen Mishkey said...

@Basil et al.

Lots of us straights have your back. You have to draw your line in the sand somewhere and say, no that is not an o.k word.

Nicole said...

Enty, thanks for posting this. I live in a suburb of Ft Worth and several of my FB friends have posted it, but I didn't realize what it was and didn't bother to watch it till now.

Gypsy, thank you for the email address. I plan to email Mr. Burns today and let him know how much is message is appreciated.

I've lived in Texas my whole life and I have to admit it's not something I'm proud of; there are way too many rednecks and Tea Partiers here. But thank goodness there are people like Mr. Burns, too. His speech was incredibly brave, given the area he lives in.

Nicole said...
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Treesap-Covered Lady, the Humanist said...

Dammit, I have cried mored this week than I can recall ever having cried. What a lovely and brave man he is.

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