Bullying

There are currently a number of stories in the news regarding young people committing suicide because of the treatment that they have received at the hands of bullies.  I can’t begin to imagine how someone could ever treat another person in that manner under any circumstances.  And to think that those actions that invade a person’s privacy are funny and fair game for posting on the internet is unbelievable.  While all of the information is not available on all of the recent cases, including a 10 year old girl who took her life this week, the number of cases is growing which means that the bullying itself is escalating and I really would like to be able to figure out why.

I do not believe that there is a single person that has the right to bully someone else.  There is nothing right about it and there is absolutely no justification for it.  And as you see bullying escalate among the children, you have only to look at the adults to understand why.  It is what the children are seeing all of the time.

Some children learn about bullying in their own homes.  Family members are doing it to one another and nothing is being done to stop it or to teach the children that it is not right.  It is not unusual to see parents bullying one another.  Many times, the adults are not around to control this behavior among siblings.  As a result, many smaller children who are not strong enough to defend themselves within their own home will go and bully other children who are either their own age or younger in order to seek their own revenge.

Another great teacher has been the television.  With so many programs that are not appropriate for younger viewers but which are being seen by them, it often becomes difficult for the younger kids to distinguish fact from fiction.  If they see it on TV, then it must be okay or otherwise it would never be shown.  And if such behavior is being practiced by their favorite stars both on the screen and in real life, then it will be copied.  After all, there are so many entertainment shows and online sites that report all of the actions of the Hollywood actors and actresses, in prime time, that the kids are seeing it all.

And speaking of online, I don’t think that I have to explain the effect that the internet has had on bullying.  How many online postings have ruined people’s lives?  How many suicides have resulted?  And unbelievably, how many of those things that have been posted were untrue or perpetuated by adults?  How many text messages have been shared that were supposed to be private communications?  How many sexual photos were transmitted that were not meant to be shared or were doctored?  How many lives have to be ruined before action is taken to punish the perpetrators of such actions?

Please don’t get me wrong.  I am a total believer in freedom of speech.  However, I do not believe that freedom of speech was ever intended to allow people to bully heterosexuals, homosexuals, bisexuals, transsexuals, people with mental disorders, physical disorders, black hair, blue hair, orange hair, green hair, white skin, brown skin, black skin, pink skin, blue eyes, brown eyes, green eyes, etc.  I think you get my point.  I just want to know how many more lives have to be destroyed until we once again learn to teach and live the Golden Rule which states “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.

I would love for you to share a comment.