Who are the real victoms

Playing the victimAnyone else remember when conservatives cultivated an image of being tough? Sure, that was illusory — things like World War II movie ‘veteran’ Ronald Reagan — but you could reliably count on conservatives appealing to so-called “manly” values like stoicism and personal responsibility.Of late, it seems that things have changed, especially among social conservatives, who often seek to paint themselves as victims. Whether it is prayer in school or claims about victimization in the media, conservatives are increasingly relying on creating an image of martyrdom. This transformation is demonstrated by a letter to the editor in IR about the Board of Public Education’s action on bullying. The author, Dallas Erickson, seems to believe that offering protection to students because of sexual orientation will lead to bullying of heterosexuals.As a classroom teacher, I can’t say that I have ever noticed much “bullying” of students for perceived heterosexuality. Bullying, harassment, and even violence associated with mere perception of homosexuality is still an all-too common experience in our schools, and for right-wing ideologues, consumed with hatred for gay people, playing the victim card when students are suffering is indefensible. Students — all of our students — deserve to feel safe in schools.Don Pogreba1046 E. 6th Ave.