I really wish that I were more eloquent but either way, guys, let's talk.
I grew up and still live in a city that has a bad reputation for violence. Apparently everyone from my city is a violent thug. Everyone is in a gang. Everyone is on drugs. And so forth.
For all its faults, I've never seen this city as violent as everyone else seems to think.
I don't know of anyone that was so violently bullied that he or she lost vision in an eye.
This is exactly what happened to fourteen-year-old Kardin Ulysse.
He was beaten by two bullies. One pinned him down while the other aimed punches at his face. Their attack, already wrong in so many ways, was not just physical. They spat homophobic insults at him as well.
Kardin's glasses broke and the shards may have blinded him in his right eye. The other theory is that his attackers beat him so hard that the force blinded him. That is a scary thought.
There are so many things wrong with this.
The Wall Street Journal says this attack happened on June 5th. Today is June 21st. I, however, did not hear about this travesty until recently - yesterday. How did it take so long for this story to come about?
This incident is also very reminiscent of Vincent Chin's murder. One man held him down while the other attacked. Both incidents also see the use of horrible insults. It is lucky that Kardin did not die.
But then again, is it really luck? The child is now blind in one eye. Though it may not seem as bad as losing a limb, think about how reliant we are on our eyes. He will have to adjust to not being able to see through that eye.
Kardin went through two surgeries and ultimately needs a transplant. Surgery is not exactly cheap. Though it seems like an insignificant matter now, it adds up.
The school has a serious bullying problem. There has been previous attacks in the school. The Department of Education even knew there was a problem but nothing was done to try preventing incidents like this. This attack also happened on school grounds. It was 8am. I know that my schools always have teachers watching the students around an hour before school starts. Where were the teachers at this school?
I can't tell you how this attack on this poor boy makes me really feel. There are many emotions running through my head. Anger, confusion, sadness. I don't understand how this happened and part of me doesn't want to. There's another part that wants to know everything so that this never happens again.
I want to know what I can do to help but there's this feeling of hopelessness. What can I do, really? That's why I'm choosing to tell you, whoever you are. I know that not many people actually read this. I'm sure even less actually care. I do hope that you'll listen to this though. Don't let others be bullied like this.
Yes, some people think that bullying is part of life. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger and whatnot. I do think that some things do make you a stronger person. Bullying on this level is not one of them. Violence is never the answer.
Here's more information on the incident:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/738/151/550/justice-for-brooklyn-teen-blinded-by-bullies/
http://online.wsj.com/article/AP654addccb88b4d15b7d28c96f5f35504.html
http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2012/06/14-year-old-left-blind-in-one-eye-after-homphobic-attack-from-bullies/
http://globalgrind.com/news/kardin-ulysse-blinded-bullying-brooklyn-high-school-details
My heart goes out to Kardin and his family. Please, keep Kardin Ulysse in your hopes and prayers.
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