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Anti Bullying Week?
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Well its anti bullying week and iIhave been asked to do live radio interview later this week ( will paste details when confirmed).
I write this for a blog but thought it may be topic you all interested in too;
Anti Bullying Week?
Its amazing isn’t it that if we use the word ‘bullying’ for some reason people consider the impact being low level when actually this is far from the case.
At a time when we are experiencing increasing hate crimes the term ‘bullying or ‘anti social behaviour’ is preferred. I read this in so many media articles and statements by police when dealing with cases of outright hate crime towards disabled people young and old.
Definitions of hate crime state that it is our perception, that of the victim or their community, whether an incident or crime should be recognised as hate crime. Yet the reality is that the police and media treat our experiences as being less then valid by categorising us as victims of ‘bullying’ or ‘anti social behaviour’.
Bullying is a deliberate attempt to undermine an individual’s sense of self, it is often repetitive like the drip drip drip of a tap and at times escalates into physical abuse, threatening behaviour, attacks and murder.
We need to get those who make decisions about what we experience to realise the impact of ‘bullying’ how it’s not just the words or actions that hurt us, it’s the reason people do it.
I was attacked last year by a man who thought I was a nuisance in my wheelchair, he stated I should have been killed, before or at birth, and as I was not he was going to kill me now. The shouting and vile attitude of this person has stayed with me far longer then his words. He really disliked the fact I lived and thought many would agree with him as he did this in a public market place and not one person intervened.
Was this a case of ‘bullying’ or ‘anti social behaviour’?
Or was it hatred towards disabled people?
When does the acceptance of ‘bullying’ become an acceptance of hatred towards us?
Is it in the playground and in class that it is ok to bully a person, or at a certain age? Or when a disabled child is ‘bullied’ and taunted in the street or when they are aged over 18 that the ‘bullying’ gets recognised as hate crimes?
I do not accept that what disabled adults and children experience should be classified as anything other then what it is; a deliberate attack on that person’s identity which is perceived as a hate crime when applied to any other person’s diversity.
Is it more rational or easy for people to cope with the terms ’bullying’ or ‘anti social behaviour’ as being the reason for attacks and murders of disabled people?
I think so as it does not challenge the pervasive derogatory attitudes towards us by this society or the lack of appropriate prompt action. By saying we have experienced ‘bullying’ automatically lessons the response of society to what we experience.
The definition of disability hate crime is;
‘Any incident which is perceived to be based upon prejudice towards and hatred of the victim because of their disability or so perceived by the victim or any other person.' ACHPO
Therefore bullying towards a disabled person due to their impairment or perceived ‘difference’ is a Hate Crime.
Any ‘anti -social behaviour’ prompted by the victim being a disabled person is a Hate Crime.
Also if we as disabled people’s organisations perceive an incident as a Hate crime then it is meant to be treated as such.
Well this is what the theory is, in reality we do not see this approach in our justice services or the legislation that should protect us and ensure justice.
I think Anti Bullying week should also be Anti Hate crime week raising the profile and impact of our experiences.
Whilst society continues to accept ‘bullying’ as being less then Hate Crime we will not have any lessoning of such experiences or appropriate structures and initiatives to deal with it.
I and other disabled people, who have been victims of ‘bullying’ or ‘anti social behaviour’, need society to recognise the impact of these attacks upon our identity and realise they hurt far more then can be described by such terms.
It is not just I that was hurt by the attacks I have experienced, my family, pa’s, disabled friends, my DPO, and disabled people throughout the UK have all been affected by the lack of recognition of what we experience, the lack of justice and appropriate preventative actions and legislation.
I attended the Liberty event and spoke to so many disabled people who have experienced hate crimes, we may use descriptive language like bullying, harassment, attacks but always it has been due to us being disabled people.
So for the people who shared their experiences with me and have not got any help or justice this blog is dedicated to;
A young man with cerebral palsy who shared how he has been slapped in the face on the street in front of his carer,
to a mother of a child with learning difficulties being scorned whilst out shopping,
to a man spat on and called a fraudster due to using a mobility scooter,
to the Deaf BSL users who shared how much they are ridiculed and laughed at,
to all the disabled people who have been murdered.
This week lets say it how it is, we are experiencing Hate Crimes, and it’s about time much more was done to prevent this and support us. There is no more time to debate or study the issue, disabled people are being attacked each and every day. What more does society need to know to start protecting its people and ensuring disabled people have the same human rights as all others.
The right to live in peace free from harassment or attack, the right to equality of justice and laws that preserve these rights. Is this too much to ask?
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Well said and I just hope you get the chance to make these points during the interview!
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Ditto.
Hope it goes brilliantly for you.This is a reply to this message.
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Well good luck. Let us know when you are on air and I will tune in to listen to you.
its not just members of the public that show hatred or bullying towards disabled people its also the police that are just as bad as ordinary police. I am speaking from personal experience myself.
Cars of mine have been constantly damaged my kitchen window was put out lately and nothing was done and I asked them to class it under the hate crime.
I have just sent a letter into our local paper in answer to a lovely letter asking why disabled people are being targeted and it should be stopped.
I have also uncovered that our local police force in the Northeast of England do not have a strategy Plan and fail to take note of the March 2005 ACPO manual. I now that the ACPO is being updated or has been withdrawn from the website on a temporary basis.This is a reply to this message.
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Another person who was a target of hate crime was Brent Martin and recently a semi blindman was beaten up in a local football club in the Washington area I think, which is in the Northeast of England.
Theres a longlist of disabled people who have been victims of hate crime.This is a reply to this message.
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There are several police forces in the north east and not all of them are bad, can you please specify which police force you are discussing.
I have the mobile number of the officer in charge of neighborhood policing and I use that when I need to and the response has been very good, they helped me with the local thug and hes locked up now, they helped when this weirdo decided he didnt like strangers parked outside of his house and I have found that if I play fair with them, they play fair with me, if you report a crime and want justice you must be prepared to go to court, too many people complain then wont follow through thats the main reason anti-social behaviour isnt prosecuted.
ddThis is a reply to this message.
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Yeah, good luck Meridi. Tell us when it's on
Being bullied is a terrible thing. I know that from experience. However I think the word bullying can sometimes be misused.
I read an article in a newspaper yesterday which referred to the 'bullying' of Gordon Brown. That's the Prime Minister, the head of our government, a man who can send our country to war. Brtiain's most powerful man (theoretically at least).
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the articles about his handwriting, spelling errors etc I don't think you can realistically call it bullying. You may not like it - and I don't particularly - but there was a story there. If you're going to cosy up to certain sections of the media to gain and retain power at the expense of your opponents you shouldn't be surprised when it eventually turns round and bites you on the bum.
I also heard a references on the radio to an internet 'bullying campaign' against Stephen Fry. I find that even harder to believe. What actually happened was that one person made a very slightly derogatory remark which caused a major strop both by Fry and his fans. I think if anyone was bullied in this case it was the one person who didn't bow down to the supposed genius of the new Oscar Wilde.
Now I know both of these can be counted as disabled people. But they're also very powerful in their respective fields and you don't get to that sort of position by being Mr Nice Guy. Yet in the eyes of some they're now the victims. I just don't think so.This is a reply to this message.
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>> I read an article in a newspaper yesterday which referred to the 'bullying' of Gordon Brown. That's the Prime Minister, the head of our government, a man who can send our country to war. Brtiain's most powerful man (theoretically at least).
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the articles about his handwriting, spelling errors etc I don't think you can realistically call it bullying. <<
Would you prefer hate crime? Because I certainly think it's an attack on him for being a disabled person. We wouldn't hesitate to call it a hate crime if someone attacked President Obama for his skin colour, so why should we equivocate when someone attacks Gordon for his disability?
Just because you have power in one sphere doesn't mean you aren't vulnerable to bullying in another.This is a reply to this message.
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I genuinely don't think it's either David. Because, as other people have pointed out, it could have been checked, and if necessary, altered. He has a huge staff and surely if he knew his writing and spelling could be bad it would be wise to at least do that.
I think what The Sun did is distasteful, but he got into bed with them over a period of years knowing full well what they could be like. I didn't hear him protesting about its behavour towards rival politicians when it was on his side. If David Cameron had written such a shoddy letter - lest we forget to a bereaved mother - I think that would have become news as well. Maybe not in The Sun but certainly The Mirror.
I've also heard various stories about Brown's own behaviour towards those who stood - or he thought - stood in his way. He's certainly not the poor victimised saint that some others are now claiming he is.This is a reply to this message.
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I still think this was largely a case of poetic justice and more than a little ironic that his supporters are complaining because a leading polititian got roasted for being sincere for perhaps the only time in his career he actually was.
You reap what you sow so they say and he like most polititians is now reaping the penalty of far too many years of having mastered and misused the art of feigning sincerity I guess.This is a reply to this message.
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>> I genuinely don't think it's either David. <<
We happen to disagree (doesn't happen often, so I'll let you off this one time
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>> as other people have pointed out, it could have been checked, and if necessary, altered. He has a huge staff and surely if he knew his writing and spelling could be bad it would be wise to at least do that. <<
It's a difficult one. The personal letter from the commanding officer is a longstanding tradition after a death in combat and I think it's a good thing that our political lords and masters have adopted it, it makes each death very real to them in the way that a preprepared letter for signature would not. I think that there's a valid argument for feeling it his duty to do it himself, no matter if it is difficult for him. If his handwriting is truly unreadable, then I think it's probably the case that he should switch to typing it himself, but it isn't a simple choice and the known attitude of the press to his disabled status makes it more difficult still.
>> I've also heard various stories about Brown's own behaviour towards those who stood - or he thought - stood in his way. He's certainly not the poor victimised saint that some others are now claiming he is. <<
I'm still far more a Blairite than a Brownite and I'm not impressed by him as PM, I'm not inclined to take his side lightly and I don't like a lot of what he and his partisans have done over the years, but he could be an absolute tyrant and I'd still object to people attacking him over his disability.This is a reply to this message.
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>> this was largely a case of poetic justice <<
I can see the symmetry, but that doesn't stop it being an attack on someone for their disability.
Whether it's Gordon Brown or Heather Mills or whoever; if someone unpopular in the court of public opinion is attacked for their disability, then shouldn't we side with them in that matter even if not in others?This is a reply to this message.
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I guess what makes a big difference for me David is that being aware of my own problems in this area I tend to always make sure that "important" posts are spell checked and proof read more than usual before hitting enter.
Don't claim to always get it right but I do try to make a concious effort to do so and the impression I got was that not only was this not the case with GB but he went further and actually blamed her being upset on her not getting him and his message in the phone call and then only days later accepting that this was not appropriate when it was being called into question.
As I said in the original thread my reading of this was that it was typical of him and his government's attitude on everything i.e. the only reason we dont think he is gods gift to the UK is that we dont get him or his policies and all he needs to do is explain himself and the policies better and us poor people will then understand and "get it" and that is patronising in the n'th degree.
We do get "it", we just dont like or agree with "it" or "Him" or his style of government any more than we did with Blair.This is a reply to this message.
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I have bought this back up top as someone has accused another poster of lieing about being an activist and writing this message.
The OP is copy of Blog I have written for anti bullying week and it is on several web forums for discussion.
I have done the radio interview which had to be pre recorded due to coughing.
Its on Ableradio monday morning and being repeated on their website during the week.
I think an apology is need to MM from HHThis is a reply to this message.
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I think you will find the person saying it was an mm as in myrtlemaid was speedy Meridi
See: www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/m...This is a reply to this message.
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Helenahol just agreed with Speedy in a later post complicating matters by expanding the reference to the person being involved as an mm with this remark:
afterall they dont call mm the slim shady for nothing , do they ?
www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/m... </quoteThis is a reply to this message.
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Ow gawd! how am I going to sort this one out?!!
I will amend my FAO post to speedy, don't know how to delete a thread.This is a reply to this message.
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Wouldn'y worry about it Meridi the whole forum has been a tad like an episode of the twilight zone since Friday.
But I just though it would help to clarify the situation here and fingers crossed the Hosts/mods will sort this all out on monday.This is a reply to this message.
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Thanks Sociable , I was concerned about the impression given and the nasty remarks.
Think I better go off line and leave everyone to it!
Ta
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please concern youself no longer.. i feel a tad bruised but im not broken,, meridi thanks for try ing all you can to right this but non of kits youir fault.. thank peter too for explaining it. joxx
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