Internet comes to the rescue of 1st grade girl was bullied at school for liking Star Wars
Katie isn’t your “normal” 1st grader. She’s the only one in her class who’s adopted, Jewish, wears glasses and has to wear an eye patch due to a lazy eye. Katie also happens to looooooooooove Star Wars.
She loves Star Wars so much, she used to take a SW water bottle to school everyday when one day her mother noticed she started taking a pink water bottle in to school.
When Katie’s mom asked her daughter why she made the switch, Katie began to cry that “every one at school says Star Wars is only for boys”.
Katie’s mom, Carrie Goldman, naturally felt horrible that her daughter that was getting bullied. “Is this how it starts? Do kids find someone who does something differently and start to beat it out of her, first with words and sneers? Must my daughter conform to be accepted?” Goldman wrote in her blog, Portrait of an Adoption.
Hit the title/read more to continue reading on Katie’s story…
And then Goldman asked commenters for help. Goldman wanted her fellow geeks to offer words of encouragement to Katie to help her feel less alone.
The story was so powerful that it wasn’t long before it went viral. Thousands and thousands of commenters went to Goldman’s site to offer quotes of inspiration and support. So much support was generated for Katie that the site was virtually inaccessible for hours and hours on end.
Catherine Taber, who is the voice of Padme Amidala in Star Wars The Clone Wars, by chance clicked on the story link and saw Katie’s story. She was so touched that she sent it to everyone she knew and had this to say to Katie herself:
“I am [the] actress who has the great honor of being Padme Amidala on ‘Star Wars: the Clone Wars!’ I just wanted to tell Katie that she is in VERY good company being a female Star Wars fans,” Taber wrote. “I know that Padme would tell you to be proud of who YOU are and know that you are not ALONE!
“THE FORCE is with you Katie!”
Along with the comments (which will be put into a notebook for Katie to look at when she feels down and out) Katie also got a lightsaber from the site ThinkGeek, merchandise from the Clones Wars cast, letters and SW toys.
This story is great because we all have been there. We all have gotten made fun of for something we like at some point and sometimes you need a little pick me up.
The internet world catches a lot of grief for taking bullying to negative levels we thought we would never see but this situation is where the internet rocks and came to Katie’s rescue by showing an immense amount of support and to let her know she’s not alone.
Keep your head up Katie, keep carrying that Star Wars water bottle and you are now well aware that you are not alone in your love for Start Wars!
So in support of Katie and people against bullying, wear your Star Wars shirt proud tomorrow!
