Posted on 04/22/2014 3:24:25 PM PDT by Morgana
For children growing up, there is little that cuts to the emotional core like a bully calling them “ugly.” It’s a crass attack that usually reveals more about the insecurities of the bully than the beauty of the child being bullied.
But it leaves a lasting impression for young children. Self-esteem issues, the loss of self-worth and a degradation of the beauty God gave each unique human being he created. Overall, it’s a loss of the celebration of the beauty of life.
quinnAlthough he’s not pro-life on abortion, Jon Bon Jovi’s lyrics to the song “Ugly” are a good reminder to victims for when this kind of thing happens:
If you’re ugly, I’m ugly too In your eyes the sky’s a different blue If you could see yourself like others do You’d wish you were as beautiful as you
And I wish I was a camera sometimes So, I could take your picture with my mind Put it in a frame for you to see How beautiful you really are to me!
Keep that in mind as you see how one young mother responds to an Internet troll — a bully — calling her son, who has Down Syndrome, ugly.
Megan Davies Mennes had a priceless response for the bully — an instagram user named @JusesCrustHD.
ugly
From her blog:
Dear Troll, Since I started blogging about my son Quinn and his disability, I knew this day would come. There’s no shortage of trolls on the internet who hide behind the anonymity of a screen name with the intent to be cruel, and I’ve seen their hostility many times before. In fact, just last week, in the wake of a robbery at the Down Syndrome Association of Houston’s headquarters, in which $10,000 worth of technology was stolen, there was no shortage of ignorant comments on the news story reporting the incident. One user asked, “how will they learn to count to potato?” Another claimed that wasting computers on “retards” was stupid anyway and that the organization deserved to be robbed. These comments, while offensive, simply serve to showcase people’s hate-fueled ignorance and aren’t worth my time. I grimace when I read them, but realize there’s little to be done about such stupidity. quinn2 I don’t want to make assumptions about you, but I can guess from your immaturity and ignorance that you know little about the helplessness that parents feel when caring for a sick infant with respiratory issues. Quinn was sick last week, but was feeling much better by Friday. We decided to sit in the backyard and soak up the sun after school. There aren’t many things in this world more beautiful than seeing your recently-ill child light up in a smile, and I snapped a few photos to celebrate his recovery, then posted them on Instagram with the hashtag “#downsyndrome.” I love to look through those photos myself in my spare time because damn if those kiddos aren’t adorable. Of course, you feel differently because you found this photo and left a comment with one simple word: Ugly. The fact that you find my child ugly is one thing. You are entitled to your opinion. But the fact that you intentionally search #downsyndrome to find pictures to insult (sadly, Quinn is not the only victim of your behavior; I came across many other inflammatory responses) is both childish and sad. Your profile is also full of offensive posts and crude statements, all of which point to your own illiteracy. quinn3 In one such photo, featuring two kids with Down syndrome and the word “wiitard,” you get bent out of shape because many, MANY people called you on you prejudice. You claim it was a joke and that people should lighten up. But what about purposefully seeking out pictures of our children? What about the fact that a beautiful photograph of my son was tarnished by your hatred? That’s not a joke. That’s cyberbullying. Needless to say, I reported your profile, which was removed temporarily, but is now back up. It might be wise to remove it soon before the authorities look into your harassment; these things are taken quite seriously now.This will not be the last time someone discounts my son because he is different. It will not be last time someone makes a joke at his expense, but to actively seek out actual people to tease goes beyond cruel. It’s inhuman. I recognize that you want to see me get worked up about your little “joke.” I’ll be honest, it’s hard not to be angry about it, but I can’t allow myself to carry that weight on my shoulders. I can’t allow myself to feel anything but sorry for an individual with so little tact. Because in end, you will be the one to face the consequences of your choices someday. There are few people in this world who tolerate that kind of backwards thinking, and you’ll eventually mouth off to the wrong person. My guess is that you already have, which is why you hide behind a screen name like a coward.
God knows there were plenty of cruel adolescent boys in my time: boys who took pleasure in pranks and jokes at others’ expense. There were even a few of them that were directed at me, but it gave me tough skin and I grew from the experience of facing such mistreatment. Maybe that’s why I’m willing to let this one go; I know where most of those boys ended up and it’s nowhere I’d want to be. And as a teacher, I’ve seen kids like you crash and burn. Go outside. Read a book. Compliment someone. Most importantly, enlighten yourself; there’s already enough cruelty in this world and anyone worth their salt should be striving to make this place better, not worse.
I simply hope my own children learn to look past ignorant comments and actions and treat others with respect and dignity. We all deserve it, even you.
Sincerely,
A Proud Mama
The cute baby has Trisomy 21. The bully who called him "ugly" is retarded.
People CAN change.
I pray this arrow found its mark.
For his own sake as well as all affected, I hope quinn2 sees the opportunity he has been given and takes it.
Bullies (Internet or otherwise) are miserable people who despise themselves. May quinn2 see the light...
Unfortunately there are vicious people out there looking to hurt others. Unfortunately for them, those people, as my grandmother would say, have an ugly temperament.
Amen! The post-modern AKA the post-human world raises its ugly head. All praying to St. Ray Kurtzweil waiting for their moment of deliverance (singularity) when they can shed their meat sacks and upload their consciousness into the web. Vile and disgusting creatures with no concept of what is means to be human. Will have to do battle with these types in the near future.
Oh my goodness, I clicked on the link to see the photo another poster mentioned. And what a cutie. A real handsome guy and from the looks both on the inside and outside. God Blessed his mom. :)
“There’s no shortage of trolls on the internet who hide behind the anonymity of a screen name with the intent to be cruel”
Unfortunately from what I’ve seen lately, there are now many people who feel more than comfortable and shameless enough to make such comments out in the open with their FaceBook account.
Over five decades ago my mother explained to me that those are God’s special children and we would be judged on how we treat them.
Always have remembered that.
As a parent of a 40 year who suffers both physically and mentally and who requires 24 hour care - it is my opinion that few parents, as measured in terms of percentage, will ever get to experience the pain associated with the blessing that these children bring to ones life.
That was a wonderful reply to that ignorant fool. I would love to see what Sarah Palin would say to someone like that who called her son Trig “ugly”.
I'd love to see what Todd would do to anyone who called Trig "ugly".
I have a special-needs daughter, not Down, but cannot care for herself. I hear anyone insult her by calling her a name....
What a blessed soul your mother was.
This reminds me of certain a*****e by the name of Barack Obama who mocked the participants in the Special Olympics by comparing their disabilities to his bowling style.
If a Republican had said what he said, we’d still be hearing about it.
Probably Celtic Diva.
The kid is precious!
What this guy talking about? the child is not ugly he is adorable! Also he has a great mother and a very handsome dog.
aww he’s adorable
I'm not religious (to my detriment I think) but is this what Jesus meant when he said people must become as little children to enter the Kingdom? That kind of innocence?
Never mind the internet troll. His pain when he one day realizes what he has said and done will be a sad thing indeed.
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