Every fan of Star Wars will know that the "Jedi way" is to try to avoid acting on emotions like fear, anger or aggression. However, a fact of real life is that many people often respond to violence with violence. Dedicated followers of the fantasy series will even point out that Jedis themselves often strike the first blow throughout the films when fighting bad guys.
However, one little boy in Calfornia has taken Jedi philosophy truly to heart, refusing to fight back against his tormentors, despite years of suffering.
Aiden Vasquez, a 10-year-old student at Two Bunch Palms Elementary School in Desert Hot Springs, has allegedly been bullied for almost three years. But despite being a constant victim of physical and emotional torment, the fifth-grader has not fought back, even when he recently ended up in hospital.
His plight came to public attention this week when his mother Lizette Casanova took to social media to post a picture of his latest injury, a three-inch laceration in his eyebrow and swelling of his cheek that he had to get stitches for.
The livid mum blasted her son's bullies and claimed she would be pressing charges. "I HATE TWO BUNCH PALMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN DESERT HOT SPRINGS! this is the THIRD YEAR MY SON IS BULLIED!!" she wrote. "Yes he is different he’s smarter and sweeter then most boys his age BUT REALLY!?! Now we’re making hospital visits and I’m PRESSING CHARGES!!"
She continued: "Last year he had to get stitches on his face from getting 'pushed', losing his breath on the playground for getting thrown down! IM DONE POLICE INVOLVED NOW CALLING OUT PSUSD WHAT ARE THEY DOING ABOUY BULLYING!!!!!"
Casanova's post attracted thousands of people on Facebook, with over 25,000 reacting to her words, as well as a horrifying picture of Aiden's injuries. Soon enough, parents were flooding to the comment section to share equally as disturbing stories of their children being bullied.
One Facebook user claimed she had moved states after her son - who was once allegedly picked up and dropped onto the blacktop by another child and still suffers from migraines now due to this incident - was bullied for two years. Another stated her daughter was harassed and choked by a boy at school.
Later the same day, the concerned mother took to Facebook once again to let everyone know how Aiden was doing, as well as to give a reasoning as to why her 10-year-old didn't fight back. "Aiden wants me to let everyone know he’s doing fine all stitched up and numb..he said he felt it in his soul not to hit the kid back...ITS NOT THE JEDI WAY!!" she wrote. She added in another post that the 10-year-old said that he hopes the kids just learn their lesson and go on with their lives.
The little boy's reasoning split people on Facebook, with some commenting telling Casanova she needed to teach her child self-defence, while others praised his peaceful approach to fighting. The incident even reached the ears of Mark Hamill who played Jedi Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars films and turned to Twitter to applaud Aiden.
People reactions online spurred the mother to post another status, stating how proud she was of her son - who spoke out about his experiences at a school board meeting this week - for standing up for himself in a non-violent manner.
"Aiden is 10 let him live in his own world until 18 don’t you all worry about him being prepared for life and life decisions HE WILL BE READY WHEN THE TIME COMES!", she wrote.
Well done to Aiden for not stooping to his bullies' level. He's an inspiration to all children and grown-ups.
