What parents need to know
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this song and video were made in collaboration with the nonprofit organization ItGetsBetter.org in honor of homosexual teens who've been bullied or driven to suicide. The song and its video promote acceptance of gays and lesbians and the idea that suicide is never a solution. Because of the song and video's mature content, parents should be prepared to discuss these sensitive topics with their teens. The video shows bullying and teens contemplating suicide with a noose and a gun. But in the end, they see the light at the end of the tunnel and choose life.
What's the story?
Rise Against has made a name for themselves as a passionate, left-leaning punk rock band from Chicago that isn't afraid to make their music about more than just radio play. \"MAKE IT STOP,\" from their album Endgame, boldly challenges listeners to be more tolerant and accepting of others. The video features strong material about troubled homosexual teens who contemplate suicide as an escape from bullying.
Is it any good?
Behind heavy punk guitar riffs, the lyrics of "Make It Stop" paint a picture that's both unsettling and hopeful. "What God would damn a heart? And what God drove us apart?... Born free, but still they hate. Born me, no I can't change... And too much blood has flown from the wrists, of the children shamed for those they chose to kiss. Who will rise to stop the blood?" The point of the song and video are clear: Bullying is never OK, and only we can make the hate stop. It's a powerful way to get a dialogue going with your kids and show the next generation that every life is worth living and loving.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about bullying and what it means. Have you ever been bullied by someone? Have you ever witnessed someone being bullied? What did you do? How can individuals help stop bullying when they see it happening?
Cyberbullying is becoming all too common these days with the popularity of the Internet and social networking sites like Facebook. Have you ever been cyberbullied? What can parents and kids do to ensure that cyberbullying doesn't happen?
How can parents teach their kids to be accepting of others, and what can kids do to be the positive influence at school and among friends?