Let’s Never Let Anti- Bullying Become a Trend

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Autism, bullying, parents, social media, social settings, television

People soon get tired of trends, fads or fashion, this is a given. Advertisers, the media, (television for sure) and even politicians know that if you make something trendy, people will quickly get tired of it and move onto the next one. My experience of this came in the 1980s when I was an anti- Contra Aid protester. Opponents of one protest I went on said that we were living in the 1960s because the days of protest and rebellion was over. What those in power did was attempt to make standing up for what you believe in a social trend and anyone who protested anything was out of style and living two decades earlier. This is dangerous and historically inaccurate! Protesting never came and went with the 1960s. Historical fact, if a mass of determined women didn’t take to the streets to protest in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, women might not still be allowed to vote. Just a thought but I won’t harp on this too much as I want to get into the meat of what this post is about.

Because there are so many people speaking about against bullying these days, it is in danger of becoming a trend. Already, I have heard or read online statements by a few people who are ‘fed up with all of this anti-bullying nonsense.’ The fear is that if anti-bullying is treated as a trend, then people will get fed up with it and don’t want to hear about it anymore. Furthermore, they could have the misconception that bullying is a thing of the past, so there is no need for so many people to speak out against it. Likewise, people in the 1980s thought there was no need to protest because the Vietnam war was over. If this backlash against anti-bullying is allowed to prevail, then bullying will regain a momentum it should never have and we will be right back to where we were a few years ago. This is a dangerous way to go, especially to targets of bullying.

Another consequence from this is how it might effect the next generation. Young people do not want to do the same things their parents did. The ‘free-love’ attitude of the 1960s supposedly led to the an attitude by the youth of the 1980s to be more selective about sex and love. In the case of bullying, I fear that the youth of today might see their parents getting all caught up in the anti-bullying cause and not wanting to be like their parents, ignore it totally thus creating a bullying backlash, possibly an epidemic. This must never be allowed to happen! We must teach all children that bullying or anti-bullying is not a trend. Bullying in any form is wrong and must not be allowed in any circumstances. That’s my two-cents for today.

To buy He Was Weird, go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Was-Weird-Publisher-Generation-Publishing/dp/B00SLVHRFG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36I8I1G32U0R4&keywords=he+was+weird&qid=1638304212&s=books&sprefix=he+was+%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1#detailBullets_feature_div

Bikers Escort Bullied Kids to School

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bikers, bullying, Canada, motorcycle clubs, motorcycles, schools

I wish I had these guys when I was in school.

Why England Could Celebrate Thanksgiving: Another Thing Which Proves My Insanity

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Americans, Great Britain, history, religion, television, Thanksgiving

Occurring this week is the one American holiday I consistently celebrate even though I have been living in Great Britain for thirty-five years. I’m talking about Thanksgiving. Recently, I met a British woman who said she’d like to celebrate Thanksgiving in the UK. That got me thinking, a dangerous thing I know. There are plenty of good reasons why it could be a good idea if Great Britain did celebrate this holiday.

First, let’s look at it from a historical perspective. The Pilgrims, who celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621, did so because they were grateful for surviving the year in America. Of course, they had lots of help from the Native Americans. Anyway, I once joked that England could celebrate the fact that they had kicked the Pilgrims out of England. Actually, there is some merit to this. If the Plymouth colony had failed, the Pilgrims might have returned to England. In that case, Colonial America wouldn’t have been a dumping ground for religious groups who dissented from the Church of England throughout the 1600s. Thanks to the colonies, England got rid of many of its problems by sending their problems to the New World. England could celebrate that fact.

Next, let me dispel one misconception. Thanksgiving is not a religious holiday. True, the Pilgrims were a devout religious sect and they thanked God for the bounty they had received but it is not celebrated as a religious holiday. Americans of all faiths and none celebrate Thanksgiving. What is special about the holiday is that it is a time for families and friends to get together to give thanks for the year. It’s also why I was sort of bummed that I only got home for one of the four Thanksgivings I had during my four years in the service. Thanksgiving is about families!

Back in 2000, I was in a social club where members have to organize at least two activities a year. Yes, I did a Thanksgiving dinner, with the help of another member who allowed me use of her home, (she got credited for the activity as well). The full capacity of sixteen people showed up for the event and all of them said they enjoyed the dinner and saw why I celebrated it. They weren’t the only ones. People who have been fortunate to have experienced a Thanksgiving dinner from me also see why I celebrate it. So, I can’t see why everyone in Great Britain couldn’t have Thanksgiving.

Black Friday carnage as seen on South Park

One final reason why Britain could celebrate Thanksgiving. Since the beginning of November, the Christmas adverts of started on television. Many Britons agree that it’s far too early for Christmas ads. With Thanksgiving in the calendar, people wouldn’t start thinking about Christmas until after the fourth Thursday in November and we would be spared at least three weeks of early Christmas ads. Furthermore, the people of Great Britain would see the true meaning of Black Friday.

To buy He Was Weird, go to: mazon.co.uk/Was-Weird-Publisher-Generation-Publishing/dp/B00SLVHRFG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36I8I1G32U0R4&keywords=he+was+weird&qid=1637699615&s=books&sprefix=he+was+%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1

Song Lyrics Quote: Marillion- Sugar Mice

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Marillion, music, quotes, song lyrics

So if you want my address

It’s number one at the end of the bar.

Where I sit with the broken angels

Clutching at straws and nursing a star.

You can blame it on me, you can blame it on me

We’re just sugar mice in the wind.

Another Fantastic Story of Bikers Coming to the Aid of a Bullying Victim

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bikers, bullying, motorcycle clubs, motorcycles, schools

This is a fantastic story.

Things Which Prove My Insanity- World War II, Fact and Myth

One of the most iconic photos from World War 2

Keeping up with what seems to be my yearly tradition, right around November 11, which is Veteran’s Day in the US and Remembrance Day in the UK, I have been inspired to write a post related to these days. Over the past few years, since it was the centenary of World War 1, my posts have focused on that war. Since the centenary has passed, I will move on to World War 2, mainly because as a teenager in high school, I was a World War 2 buff. However, before I do that, for those who haven’t been following me for long, I would like to sum up the points I have made about the First World War over the years.

1. World War 1 was an unnecessary bloodbath, a 20th Century war started by 19 Century lack of diplomacy.
2. The United States does not deserve any guilt trip for its late entry into that war. It didn’t have to get involved.
3. While America’s entry tipped the balance in favour of the Allies, Americans have no right to lord it over people of the other Allied nations because the men of those nations were slugging out in the trenches and dying in droves three years before the US got involved.

Moving onto the Second World War, let me start with dispelling one myth. Americans think that if it hadn’t been for them, the people of Great Britain would be speaking German. Wrong! One of Hitler’s biggest mistakes was that after Dunkirk, he considered Britain to be out of the war. Therefore, he turned his attention to Russia and history shows how that went for him. Goring convinced Hitler that his Luftwaffe could bomb the UK into submission. That Battle of Britain proved otherwise. If there is anyone Britain needs to thank, it’s the Russians who gave time for Britain and later the US to get their act together and get into the war. They could possibly thank Hitler for his poor decision to count Britain out of the war when it clearly wasn’t.

There are people in Britain who think that America’s role in the war, at least in Europe was inadequate. America’s role in the war was just as adequate as anyone else’s. Once it got going, the American war machine proved to be just as formidable.

That leads me to a point which really pisses me off. I am sick of both Britons and Americans pointing out the mistakes the other one made in the war. Yes, both countries made lots of mistakes, in war they will be made. However, Britain and American worked together to defeat the Axis nations. Both countries lost good men and women in World War 2, lots of them. So instead of winding one another up about it, Britain and America should celebrate their victories and lament their losses together. While we made lots of mistakes in that war, we made fewer than the enemy and while our mistakes might have cost lives, theirs cost not only more lives but the war.

P.S. If you see a World War 2 veteran, thank them for what they did 80 years ago because there aren’t too many of them left.

To buy He Was Weird, go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Was-Weird-Publisher-Generation-Publishing/dp/B00SLVHRFG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36I8I1G32U0R4&keywords=he+was+weird&qid=1637018606&s=books&sprefix=he+was+%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1

Once Again, Bikers Come to the Aid of a Bullying Victim

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bikers, bullying, mental health, motorcycles

It Was That Type of Town

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bikers, bullying, motorcycles, parents, schools, social media

Actually, I think I might be onto a theme here. It seems whenever I post a Youtube feature about bikers coming to the aid of a bullying victim, it has me reflecting back on what might have happened during the time I was horrendously bullied and it is the case today. A few days ago, I posted a story on Youtube about how a bullied girl didn’t want to go to her prom because of the bullying she was receiving at school. Her mother wrote about it on social media and the response was overwhelming. Not only did hundreds of people make it possible for her to have her own prom with her friends, one hundred twenty bikers from local motorcycle clubs gave her an escort. It is an amazing story so I’m sharing it again.

Now, what if something like that happened in the town where I was so badly bullied? I don’t think it would have worked out the same way. First of all, I think the school would have made excuses not to allow the prom to happen there. Bullies would have told their parents that I was getting ‘special treatment’ which I didn’t deserve, therefore, the parents would have made a fuss to make sure that it didn’t go on. At least it wouldn’t have taken place in the town. That’s the next point, the town would have been quick to deny any such bullying taking place and I would have been made to be a liar. If the town was shown in the slightest negative light, lawsuits would have been flying around thick and fast. As for the biker escort, the police would have made sure that was broken up straight away.

See, that town where I was bullied was a conservative rich town where the wealthy and athletic get to throw their fiendish weight around. Although it wasn’t actually acknowledged, the town had a mandated caste system where bullies get patted on the head for harassing and beating up undesirables of the lower caste, which I was considered to be. So yeah, maybe I am a little jealous that even if I did have such support, the town would have done their utmost to break it up. It was that sort of town.

To buy He Was Weird, go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Was-Weird-Publisher-Generation-Publishing/dp/B00SLVHRFG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36I8I1G32U0R4&keywords=he+was+weird&qid=1636416024&s=books&sprefix=he+was+%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1

120 Bikers Escort Bullied Teen to Her Prom

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bikers, bullying, friendship, motorcycles, schools

This story is awesome!

If Bikers Had Come to My Aid

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Asperger's Syndrome, Autism, bikers, bullying, motorcycles, schools

I would have loved for these guys to have picked me up from school.

Having Asperger’s Syndrome and being a victim of bullying is a dangerous combination. First, as I experienced directly for three agonizing years, I was bullied because of my Asperger’s, which was the theme of my book, “He Was Weird.” However, the experience has also left me to see the downside of things. These negative thoughts came to pass before last weekend when I posted the video of bikers coming to pick up a child who was bullied from school. As a result, that boy, Zeke, isn’t being bullied any more, so well done to those bikers! In case you missed it, here’s the video again.

Even though a half a century has passed since I went through the bullying hell, the memories still remain and I would have loved it at the time if bikers had come to pick me up from school in front of all of those who were bullying me. Unfortunately, with my Asperger’s and my tendency to see the negative, I can’t help thinking that my ending would not have been as glorious as Zeke’s. First of all, my bullying hell happened in the early 1970s when bikers were seen as definite outlaws. Therefore, the school would not have been as hospitable to them as the school in the video. The school would have immediately called the police. Furthermore, even though the bikers’ intentions would have been noble, they might have been stopped from carrying out their mission. Even if they had come and taken me away in front of the student body, some of the spoiled brats who were my bullies would have gone home and told their parents that a motorcycle gang was terrorizing the school. These parents would start screaming that their children aren’t safe, (despite the fact I wasn’t), and demanded action be taken. If they couldn’t get the MC for anything illegal, the school and the police would have come down on me or my mother for inviting this ‘criminal element’ into their school.

While many students at the school would have thought it cool a motorcycle club had shown up at the school, their jealousy of them coming to give me a lift would have sparked further bullying. Those rich children of lawyers would have sounded off how if the bikers did anything to them, they’d be arrested and many would have taken the school’s negative reaction to the club coming to their school as a message to bully me more. There would have been taunts of how my motorcycle friends couldn’t do anything. Therefore, while I would have been bully free for a few days, the arrival of a biker gang to come give me a ride would have made things worse.

This was and still is a factor in bullying in a leafy suburban town, where many have money. Money is power and that combination gives people and their children the power to throw their weight around in such settings. Rich kids can be bullies because they know that mommy and daddy will come to their aid, often times with high priced lawyers. I had this experience myself and it is little wonder that my first wife used to call me an ‘inverted snob.’

To buy He Was Weird, go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Was-Weird-Publisher-Generation-Publishing/dp/B00SLVHRFG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36I8I1G32U0R4&dchild=1&keywords=he+was+weird&qid=1635789441&s=books&sprefix=he+was+%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1