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President Barack Obama appears in an upcoming Cartoon Network documentary aimed at encouraging bullied children and others to speak up, and says that as the father of two young girls he is deeply concerned about the issue.
In an introduction to the 30-minute film, the president appeals to students, parents and teachers to take a stand on bullying. "It's wrong, it's disruptive and we can all prevent it," said Obama, who hosted the first White House conference on bullying last year.
He said that he was speaking not only as the president but as a father. "We've all got more work to do. Everyone has to take action against bullying." Bullying has been on the rise nationwide, according to government statistics. A 2009 US Department of Education study found more than a quarter of students ages 12 to 18 said they had been a victim - often with others around.
The documentary, set to air nationally on Sunday, mixes stories from children who have been bullied with tips from those who have gotten past it. It includes interviews with celebrities, athletes and survivors who urge bullying victims, children who witness bullying, parents and teachers to speak out. Stuart Snyder, Cartoon Network president and chief operating officer, said the film is aimed at elementary and middle school students ages 8 to 13.
"Speaking up is the best way to bring an end to bullying," he told a crowd of about 400 students at a special screening of the movie at a middle school in Washington.
Effect of the movie
Aaron Cheese, a 15-year-old who is featured in the movie and spoke at the event, said he and those who had tormented him eventually matured but that he wished he had acted sooner. "Just talking to someone will help," he urged the other students.
The broadcast comes ahead of the release of a longer documentary on the issue called "Bully". That movie has already generated controversy because of the Motion Picture Association of America's decision to give it a restrictive "R" rating despite objections from the filmmaker and others.
An "R" rating means those younger than 17 cannot be admitted to a film unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. That restriction will keep children who are the film's target audience from seeing it, critics of the rating say.
The Cartoon Network film features tennis star Venus Williams, former National Basketball Association star Chris Webber, several NASCAR race car drivers, and the hosts of the network's popular "Dude, What Would Happen" show.
It also features 14-year-old Alye Pollack, who fought back against bullying by filming a three-minute silent video and posting it on YouTube. Called "Words DO Hurt," she made it after she was bullied by a boy for two years. He saw it and apologised. Later, he even came to her deafens when another child teased her. "That was amazing. Now I'm kind of friends with him," she said of the apology.
The documentary airs Sunday at 5:30pm Eastern Time and again at 8pm Eastern Time on the Cartoon Network, which is owned by Turner Broadcasting System, Inc, a unit of Time Warner Inc.
(Reuters Health, Susan Heavey, March 2012)
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