Super Bowl Bullies

By Donna Shea

I was sad the day after the Super Bowl. Not because our New England Patriots were not playing in it this year (well, maybe a little), but because of what I saw in my Facebook feed during the course of the day.

I read a great deal of chatter about the half time show, much of it upbeat, fun and positive. I also was a witness to cyberbullying, particularly around the female performer’s body and appearance. In fact, I feel as though I am a bystander to cyberbullying every day.

Beyoncé, or any other celebrity for that matter, is a person. She is someone’s girlfriend, mother, aunt, sister and daughter. Let’s think for a moment how it might feel if you woke up to a public discussion about your girlfriend’s, mother’s, aunt’s, sister’s or daughter’s body, weight or appearance.

I am also sad at the content directed at the current Presidential candidates. Do I agree with what they have to say? Some yes, some definitely not. Do I appreciate an intelligent debate over the issues facing us. Yes. Do I think the meanness that I see against these candidates every day is warranted? Do I think we have candidates that are bullies themselves? Yes. And many of us feel as though we are helpless bystanders to it all.

This brings me to the point of today’s post. People frequently ask me why children appear to be so much more disrespectful of each other and adults in today’s American culture. If we expect our children to learn to be kind, inclusive and not bully other children, maybe we need to take a good long look at what we are saying to our television sets and on social media where our kids can hear and read us.