Kids these days

Article: Robyn Tocker – A&C Editor

Kids are scary. Like, if you wear an Adventure Time t-shirt instead of My Little Pony, you could be in for some serious harassment. Bronies take this stuff seriously.

All joking aside, bullying is an awful aspect of humanity that, unfortunately, can go unnoticed for years. It is a leading cause of depression, anxiety, and suicide. No age group is safe from this form of harassment, not even when we leave school and go into the work force.

I personally have been bullied and it was the worst experience of my life. Going to school and not feeling safe drove me into a deep depression that I am still dealing with.

It’s all about power and domination. Various governments in Canada, such as Ontario and Quebec, are taking away the bully’s power by putting in anti-bullying laws that encourage gay-straight alliance in schools. The law creates a safe environment for kids who are coming to terms with their sexuality but also kids who are getting picked on for no reason.

There is, obviously, huge controversy from such a law. Now that Manitoba passed the same bill on Sep. 13, the talk of what this means for Catholic Schools who have to provide support for LGBTQ children is in the forefront.

Coming from a Catholic background, I understand the issues that come up with such a bill. But the thing is, Jesus preached love. Bullying is not love, even if it is directed at a child who may be attracted to the same gender. There is no excuse to make anyone feel like their life is worthless and they should die. Jesus loved children! He would not want to see them suffering, especially when there is a bill in place that is meant to help them.

Saskatchewan does not have an anti-bullying law. Should it?

Well, we don’t have a history of a strong connection to the Catholic Church like Quebec did. Yet, in 2011, Stats Canada said roughly 67 per cent of Canadians identified as Christian. As a whole, 38 per cent of Canada’s population is Catholic.

No matter what province the bill is passed in, there will always be controversy linking back to the church. The question is, should we let that stop us from putting in a bill that would save lives?

In 2009, Stats Canada reported from ages 1-14, 26 per cent of those who died that year were from suicide. In ages 15-24, 479 people committed suicide out of 2,096 people who died that year. Stats Canada did not specify the reason behind the suicides, but it would not be a much of a stretch to guess the cause.

I want my future kids to feel safe going to school. I want them to feel like they can be themselves around their peers. Without a bullying law, I am unsure whether that would happen. If bullies do not have consequences, who is to say they will stop?

Everyone, no matter their age, weight, sexual orientation, race, or religion deserves to feel safe.