California Mayor Suggests Bullied Kids 'Grow A Pair': VIDEO

[Behind the Aegis]

At a May 6 city council meeting, when councilwoman Virginia Gurrola suggested that the city of Porterville, California support a student-led anti-bullying program called "Safe Zones,” the current mayor Cameron Hamilton suggested that bullied kids “grow a pair.”

The Visalia Times-Delta reports:

Designed to provide safe places for children to go when they are being bullied, such ("Safe Zone” bully-free) locations would be designated with a sign or sticker…

With their trusty laptops in front of them, some of the council members did an immediate search on "Safe Zone". As there are several programs with that name around the country, and many of them geared towards the LGBT community, a red flag (or more precisely, a rainbow flag) went up…

Mayor Hamilton was having none of that. "I'm against bullying,” he said, “but I'm getting damn tired of it being used as a mantra for everything, and the ills of the world. All most people just have to grow a pair, and stick up for them damn selves.”

more: http://www.towleroad.com/2014/05/california-mayor-suggests-bullied-kids-grow-a-pair-video.html

Shhh...homophobia is only a "side issue" of something larger.

[merrily]

1. Obviously, Hamilton does not understand the meaning of the word "bullying"

It is not about a level playing field between one fighter who has courage and another fighter who is a coward. Then again, Hamilton also does not seem to understand what being against bullying means, either. (Hint: Being against bullying does not manifest in saying that the bullied group is using the word "bullying" as a mantra to cover their cowardice, thereby adding a government endorsement of the bullying.) Also, Hamilton seems clueless about the duties of a public school in a society that requires parents to send their kids to school. "In loco parentis." I would not subject my child to Mayor Hamilton's idea of schooling.

I hope someone sues the Mayor and the town. Maybe that will give the Mayor an incentive to get schooled on what certain words mean.

[sakabatou]

2. If she had a bullied kid, would she call her son or daughter to "grow a pair?"

[theHandpuppet]

4. Mayor Hamilton is a guy

From the photo, I'd say he missed the casting call for "Lockup: Tulare County".

[sakabatou]

14. OK, nevermind about the gender

but would he still call his kid to grow a pair?

[theHandpuppet]

3. Sounds like a bully himself, doesn't he?

A real "stand your ground" guy.

[tinrobot]

5. When kids do it, we call it "bullying"

When adults do it, we call it "assault and battery".

Otherwise, there is no difference.

[yuiyoshida]

6. wait..let me guess...

this guy is a Republican?

[theHandpuppet]

7. Wow -- look what I found!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/24/porterville-mayor-gay_n_3978010.html

This explains a LOT.

[theHandpuppet]

8. Another related article

http://www.truthwinsout.org/news/2013/09/37435/

[Le Taz Hot]

9. People in Porterville are callng for him to resign.

They're looking for his head on a platter. Just wanted to give everyone an update lest they think he has lots and lots of supporters. He doesn't.

[Enthusiast]

10. Hamilton has got to go.

[exboyfil]

12. Well many who grow a pair

get a readily available gun and kill others and/or themselves. What an incredibly stupid thing to say. Schools are cages and that is why I will not compromise on my absolute right to pull my children from school. I almost committed suicide because of bullying when I was in 9th grade. I also let my daughters know from an early age that one thing I would absolutely not tolerate is them bullying others.

[edhopper]

13. I guess if someone comes up to me on the street

with a knife and intimidates me, I should grow a pair and fight back. I shouldn't go to the police and ask for help, that would mean I don't stand up for myself.
Right, Mayor Hamilton?