Pink Shirt Day, also known as Stop Bullying Day, is an admirable effort by business, government and community agencies to work together to prevent bullying. It's great to raise awareness about the importance of respecting others.
But bullying is fast becoming an outdated term, and here's why:
• Schools aren't using the term bullying anymore. They prefer more specific language, such as harassment or assault, when addressing conflict between students.
• Schools are also adopting myriad strategies to teach kids to solve problems in peaceful ways — and they have a lot to teach adults, too.
Yes, it's still fashionable to divide the world into camps of bullies and victims but, too often, those who are hurtful and damaging don't think about their actions. Instead, they simply vent their anger and then push the send or post button, or lash out verbally regardless of the consequences.
The digital world is rife with haters; newspapers — not this one, yet — are even shutting down comment threads because of the vitriol.
And too often, the hate is directed towards the LGBTQ community when people use homophobic language without thinking that it might hurt someone's feelings or devalue them.
Sadly, the leap is short from slur to beating up someone who looks different.
Should we ignore bullying? No. Everyday occurrences we see in the world around us are proof that the powerful will exploit the weak. But pink shirts and pink posters won't stop that.
Consider this:
• Maybe it's time to do more.
• Maybe it's time to think before hitting the post button.
• Maybe it's time to stop using the phrase "that's so gay" to indicate displeasure since studies show it can make LGBTQ students feel isolated.
• Maybe it's time to get behind causes that support non-violent ways of dealing with conflict and participate in actions that celebrate diversity.
People used to say: "Treat others like you would have them treat you." There was also this: "Love thy neighbour."
These aren't old-fashioned ideals, they deserve re-thinking today.
So maybe it's time to doff the pink shirt put on one of rainbow hues to say you value people whatever size, shape, colour, ethnicity, political inclination and gender identity they come in.
