There’s a lot of concern about bullying in our schools and rightly so. Bullying is defined in a number of ways and includes ‘intentionally using words or actions to cause distress’ and ‘keeping someone out of a group’. Of course, nowhere is bullying better modeled than in our parliament where name calling and bullying are perfected.
Even the Prime Minister is subjected to bullying; the sort that recently pushed her to alter her UN vote undermining her own convictions and relationship with Israel, and disappointing many freedom lovers who see more and more bullying winning the day against any sense of morality. Should recognition be given to a group of people who are intent on not recognizing another? Despite what our school policies say, it seems in the real world bullies always win.
Last Friday in Melbourne was another example of institutionalized bullying. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators hijacked the spirit of Christmas by rewriting carols, designed to spread ‘joy to the world’, with anti-Israel lyrics.