| |
|
Results for 10-DEC-01 to 17-DEC-01
|
Last week, Amy said:
|
"Yesterday on the bus ride from school, some kids (the bullies) started making fun of this girl at the front of the bus because she wears on of those scarves that cover her hair and face. The guys that were bullying her started calling her names like "terrorist" and "dirty Arab" and tugging on her scarf. The person who was sitting next to her tried to stick up for her, but they just started calling her the same names and treated her even worse. Eventually, most of the bus got involved in the name-calling too. My bus driver didn't do anything. I didn't really want to, but when I walked by her getting of the bus, I looked at her really mean and tugged on her scarf. When I saw her face after I did that, she looked like she was about to cry. I don't even know her. I feel horrible about the way that I acted. I should have stuck up for her. But now I don't know what to do. She doesn't ride the bus anymore. What should I do?" |
Do you need advice on an issue? Other SmartGirls can help! Submit your issue to SmartGirl. |
121 SmartGirls replied:
| 18% |
Start standing up from people who are different from you! Don't laugh at racist
jokes and don't participate in hateful or ignorant actions. |
| 37% |
Search for the girl at school and apologize to her for what happened. |
| 0% |
Forget about it. What's done is done. |
| 9% |
Educate yourself about people from other cultures. You'll learn more about people
who are different from you. |
|
|
Some SmartGirls said:
- It is genuinely wrong to tease people because of their ethnic backround and/or their religion or sexuality. Try to find the girl and appologize to her for what you did. The next time someone is being discriminated against, stand up for them. You would want someone to stick up for you if you were in the same situation. And don't participate in any more racist activities. About your bus driver, tell your principal or someone that he didn't do anything. He should be punished for his neglection of his duties to protect the kids on the bus.
- Think before you act, is my motto, that way you will not do anything stupid, or mean. Think about how the person you are about to pick will feel after you have hurt their feelings. Put yourself in their shoes, and don't do it again.
- Learn from your mistakes. The guilt that you feel is telling you that you know that racism is wrong and just because one person has an abstract view on humanity does not mean you have to follow them. If you don't feel comfortable sticking up for a person then the next best thing to do is keep quiet. Remember that saying "If you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all" Words to live by.
Thanks to all of you that gave your advice! Please give your advice for this week's issue.
|
The advice represented on this page is the opinion of SmartGirl users who have responded to last week's Issue of the Week. It is not the opinion of SmartGirl.org or the University of Michigan.
|
|
