Being Gay in School
This is a website where a simple format of a letter is taken to make points about various topics from an individuals, or groups point of view. Is it okay to be openly gay in a public school? Can prejudice be solved by non-violent means or will it always have to take some kind of force? Are there any positive or negative consequences to having gay parents?
I feel like this letter is both good and bad. It is good because it shows that there are people who support openly being gay in public schools. I think it is bad because what is this really proving? The letter could have been written by anyone, but would it really make a diffference either way? I feel like the only reason this letter has any importance in stopping the bully is that a jock, who are usually bullies themselves, is standing up to a bully for someone else. There is never going to be a day in high school or any school for that matter that kids dont get bullied. I feel that this letter just happens to be situational about a gay kid, when in reality this is really no different than any other bully in the world. I think having gay parents is neither a pro or a con because there will always be prejudice against gay people no matter where they are at in the world or what they do.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Zach on his point that the letter is both good and bad. While it is nice that this linebacker is standing up for an openly gay guy in his class, I don’t thnk that it will make a huge difference in the world. I felt like the letter will not make a difference since it's only one linebacker standing up for gays. I don't think it's considered "wrong" to be openly gay in a public school, however, it will most likely make life more difficult for that person since being gay is not considered "normal" and many kids will bully them about it. It’s cool that this linebacker is standing up for a gay kid since football players are considered “cool,” but that still doesn’t get rid of the fact that this letter is a violent threat and could get the linebacker in trouble since the linebacker is planning on using his assumed strength to stand up to these bullies. Although whether you are gay or not, kids will find flaws to bully you for. I wouldn't say that having gay parents is a pro or a con because I would assume that parents are parents and it would not make a difference as to whether they are gay or not.
DeleteI thought this Dear Blank Please Blank was very interesting because of the way it breaks stereotypical norms, yet still upholds them. I think this post definitely catches you off guard when the line backer reveals that he has two dads, however, it is still advocating violence in retaliation to homophobic bullying. Being openly gay in a public school is obviously going to be a problem today because of the way society has publicly classified being gay. I think it is really interesting how this post is essentially anonymous and we don’t know whether or not this guy with two dads will even do anything to stop the bullying. It’s definitely a good thing that this guy doesn’t fulfill the typical linebacker stereotype, and instead is standing up for something he believes in rather than blending in with the crowd. I don’t think prejudice can necessarily be “solved” by any means, but I do think that when high school students come out of their stereotypical roles progress can be made. I think it would be a positive thing to have gay parents simply due to the fact that you would be raised in an unconventional setting and not be ignorant to homophobia in society today. However, a negative would be the inevitable prejudice and judgements that will come with society no matter what.
ReplyDeleteThe letter is definitely a good statement in today’s society. Not only is someone sticking up for a gay boy in his school that is being bullied but the person sticking up for him is a jock which in most high schools they are seen as popular and not seen doing such a thing. I think this letter is awesome it shows that society is starting to accept different views these days. But even though it shows this football player sticking up for the gay kid being bullied, I still think there is going to be bullying everywhere and that schools should start making major changes to prevent and punish the bullies. I feel this way because no one deserves to be treated differently or bullied because they way they want to live there life. It shouldn’t bother someone that a person chose to live his or her life differently then his or hers, you chose a way to live your life to be happy. So why cant another person choose the way they want to live theirs?
ReplyDeleteI thought this website was interesting. It kind of contradicts itself. The linebacker with two dads is threatening someone who is bullying someone else. He dares them to lay a finger on the openly gay kid, which makes the reader make the assumption that the football player would beat the bullies up when he would in return be a bully himself. But as Zach and Peyton pointed out is that no matter what, kids are still going to be bullied. If someone wants to be a bully they will find something to pick on you for, whether it is that you are dumb, smart, gay, short, or anything else. There will always be prejudice against gay people just like there will always be prejudice against African Americans or any other type of race. When you’re different than someone else, that gives them something to bully you about. I don’t think there are really any positive or negative consequences to having gay parents.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Milkayla, there are certain ways to handling bulling in schools. I think that the Football player protects the kid in class. But there could be a better way then just threatening him with physical punishment. This doesn't solve anything other then more fights and arguments. The football player beating up the other kid won't fix the situation. What he should instead is talk to the kid that is making fun of the other kid. Although it is nice that he is standing up for a fellow student. The kid who was being picked on probably feels more accepted by the football player standing up for him. I think that is more then fine to be openly gay in public schools. There is no reason why the student would be able to be himself and feel comfortable in his school. Like Milkayla I don't feel that having gay parents have a positive or negative consequences.
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ReplyDeleteIt is a very different way to look at bulling. It is a shame that not being openly gay is not accepted in school and society. I think Aaron is head on with the football player using the threat of violence is terrible. How is this any different than what is happening with the gay male being bullied. At some point in a person’s life we have to take responsibility for our own actions and treat everyone with the same respect that we believe we deserve. Regardless of their own sexual preferences. As far as the positve and negatives of having gay parents. Their reall isn't any.
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