Monday, February 25 2008

Think PInk

Say, you come here often?

Yep, that's a picture of me. I have a good excuse for the kilt: I was golfing at our last company tournament, and I have nice legs. The best thing about golf is that it lets someone of my age and gender play dress-up like a colour-blind fashion-zombie.

But the picture is up to make a point about a little community involvement. The Premier of British Columbia has declared February 27th 'Anti Bullying Day'. This all got started when a couple of kids in Nova Scotia did something truly wonderful, one of those things that makes you put aside your cynical ways and really think about how good the world can be when people do the right thing. They saw a younger student get bullied and threatened for wearing a pink shirt to school.

Two Grade 12 students – David Shepherd and Travis Price – heard the news and decided to take action.

"I just figured enough was enough," said Shepherd.

They went to a nearby discount store and bought 50 pink shirts, including tank tops, to wear to school the next day.

Then the two went online to e-mail classmates to get them on board with their anti-bullying cause that they dubbed a "sea of pink."

The payoff came the next morning:

Not only were dozens of students outfitted with the discount tees, but hundreds of students showed up wearing their own pink clothes, some head-to-toe.

When the bullied student, who has never been identified, walked into school to see his fellow students decked out in pink, some of his classmates said it was a powerful moment.

"Definitely it looked like there was a big weight lifted off his shoulders. He went from looking right depressed to being as happy as can be," said Shepherd.

And there's been nary a peep from the bullies since, which Shepherd says just goes to show what a little activism will do.

Just reading a story like that makes you feel wonderful, and pretty proud of those young men. So next Wednesday, I'm going to wear my pink shirt all day. Folks who've met me will know that I'm unlikely to be the subject of bullying, but that makes it all the more important that people my size stand up and say 'no' to bullying. I firmly believe that how we treat the weakest and most vulnerable members of our society is the standard by which we should be judged as human beings.

It may seem like a small gesture, but bullying only thrives in darkness and secret. When we all shine a light on it, and refuse to allow it, we can remove it from our lives. If you'd like a bit more information and resources on anti-bullying efforts, CKNW has a big program ongoing.

See you in the pink, everybody.

Posted by Tim AT 10:03PM

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