I would like to share a story. It is about uniting to combat a bully in a powerful position when everyone around you seems resigned. It seems appropriate because of the 45th president of the United States seems to have some people at wit's end.
From kindergarten to Grade 5, I went home every day for lunch and was greeted by the most loving, quiet and patient adult — my mom. It was the 1970s. At that time, laws were coming into place that forbade adults other than parents from corporeal punishment. My mom made it very clear no adult whatsoever could slap her children.
Then in Grade 5, my parents divorced and mom moved out of the house. I had to eat lunch at school. To my horror, on the first day, I watched the lunch lady slap a child for not staying seated. I turned to my friends, and they said, "they could not do much." I told my best friend, Cathy was her name, “No, it's illegal.”
The next day, it happened again. The lunch lady hit another kid. I could not take watching it. I did not even think. I told a small group of girlfriends this is illegal.
Then Cathy and I devised a protest.
We went to the back of the school, into an alcove that had awesome acoustics, and we started stomping our feet and clapping our hands to a melody and chanting, “na, na, Mrs. Smith (not her real name),” over and over again.
It was loud.
It was 1977.
The principal came out and asked us what we were doing. We explained the lunch lady is hitting children and that 's illegal. We knew our rights. The principal listened. The next day, the lunch lady was gone, and we got a very loving lunch monitor in her place.
Grade 5 and 6 lunchtime became a pleasurable and loving experience. This was much-needed, because many of my friends at lunch were also reeling from the sad home circumstances of our parents' marriages dissolving.
Never underestimate your powers when you are armed with truth and love.
Cathy Orlando
National director
Citizens' Climate Lobby Canada