Best this month Bully
By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Bully is a docu- mentary that fol- lows the experi- ences of three kids over a year.
More than 13 million American kids will be bullied this year. The number of students between 12 and 18 who have reported this growing form of abuse more than doubled between 2001 and 2007. All of this provides a backdrop to Bully, a documentary directed by Lee Hirsch that focuses on the experiences of three kids subjected to bullying by their peers over the course of a year. It also introduces us to the parents of two other bullying victims who com- mitted suicide.
For many moviegoers this documentary will serve as an informative and very disturb- ing wake-up call to a growing social problem. Since the schools haven’t done much to solve this problem it
Desmond and the Very Mean Word
This spiritually ani- mated story for chil- dren from 6 to 10 years old is written by South African Episcopal Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, with the assistance of Douglas Carlton Abrams. It’s
The Brussats pub- lish the website www. SpiritualityandPractice. com where you can find more information about the items reviewed in this column.
based on a real-life experience in Tutu’s childhood. Just after receiving a new bicycle, young Desmond goes for a ride and encounters some white boys who shout a very mean word at him. Upset and angry he visits with Father Trevor, who listens to his account of what happened. The priest tells Desmond that if he gives in to hatred and revenge, nothing will change and the cycle of violence will go on forever. Forgiveness is the best path, and he can forgive the boys even if they don’t apologize: “When you forgive someone, you free yourself from what they have said and done. It’s like magic” (Candlewick Press,www.
Candlewick.com).
42 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org
has become increasingly clear that the anti-bullying movement will be led by parents and affected youth. This film invites us all to join them (Starz/Anchor Bay, PG-13—intense thematic material,
disturbing content and some strong language, all involv- ing kids ). Now on DVD.
A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted
Will Bowen, a clergyman in Mis- souri, decided to do something about all the complaining he heard in his parish. So he passed out pur- ple plastic bracelets and told the
congregation to start saying positive things instead of whining about everything. They were given three weeks to break the complaining habit. Every time they complained, criticized or gossiped, they were to move the bracelet to the other wrist.
In this paperback, Bowen discusses this creative and ethical project that has resulted in nearly 6 mil- lion people in more than 80 countries requesting a bracelet and taking up his challenge. The average person complains 20 times each day, and this nega- tivity has a dire effect on health, relationships, career and level of happiness. Paul in Philippians 2:14 says, “Do everything without complaining,” and that is very good advice. Those who strive to live in a complaint-free world have more time to notice and celebrate what they are grateful for (Three Rivers Press,
www.crownpublishing.com/imprint/three- rivers-press).
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