From: The Office of the Secretary [mailto:Officeof.theSecretary@ocio.usda.gov]
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 4:01 PM
To: ALL-USDA-2K
Subject: It Gets Better
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20250
Dear Fellow Employees –
I was upset and angered by the recent reports about teenagers who committed suicide because they had been bullied for being gay. I imagine many of you were as well. It’s never alright when kids are bullied for any reason - including for being gay or because people think they might be.
Last week, I decided to join an effort to do something about it by recording a video with a simple message: if you are being bullied or teased, it gets better.
I hope you’ll take a moment to watch the video HERE, to talk to others about preventing bullying in our communities, and to reassure those being bullied that we will support them. And if you know someone that is being bullied, reach out to them and see what you can do to help.
All the best this holiday season,
Secretary Tom Vilsack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEw569vABLo&feature=player_embedded
Well, I thought it was pretty cool since this is part of the federal government. I think it is another sign that times are changing. Don't you think it's cool?
ReplyDeleteI thought I posted here before, but it's not here. Sometimes posting hear is screwy for me, I think because I change computers a lot.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, that's awesome! Thanks for sharing.
De nada!
ReplyDeleteI know, that happens to me sometimes...I think I posted then later go back and it's not there. I think because I'm in a hurry much of the time.
Often I'll remove a post (not a comment) if no one has commented on it because I think there is no interest in it. But I surely thought there would be with this one :) I'm just excited to see things changing the way they are. Being in my mid 40s, I can say that it definitely has not always been this way. Now, if DODT would get repealed...keeping my fingers crossed.
I did not see this before! Sorry Vicky. I usually get an email when someone posts to this blog (but, for some reason, those emails will sometimes go to my junk folder). It turns out that, when someone starts a new thread, I don't get an email. And, I don't come to this thread very often unless I've seen that one of you has posted.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, long way of saying, sorry I didn't post something sooner and YES! I agree, this is really cool. In fact, the entire effort behind "It gets better" is awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Oh, and it was great to "meet" you the other night. Your son seems very nice. How did he like the production?
I didn't know I could get email notifications...I'll have to check my settings.
ReplyDeleteYes, my son is very nice, in my objective opinion :)
And he did like the play. It was a new experience for him to see a serious play like that, which I think is good. He said 'It was good...it was serious, but it was good.' And he was obviously listening because when we talked about it a little bit he pointed something out that I had missed.