American Bully

I tire of hearing that bullying is a part of growing up, get a thicker skin, toughen up.  The problem is the bully, there is something mentally wrong with a person that preys daily on another.  I’ve witnessed several generations of children who have never been taught manners, which leads to the respect of others.  Lack of discipline has lead to a high rise of lack of respect for authority.   Bullys possess a short circuit in the wiring upstairs that makes them feel entitled to persecute victims daily and unceasingly.  A lack of respect, integrity, intolerance of others and their opinions.  We see it daily from adults in the spotlight; Tea Party members, Senators Joe Lieberman, and Jim Bunning all have displayed uncouth, bullying, public behavior and our children mirror our society.  Minor as these incidents seem to most our children are not stupid, they pick up on not only the behavior of these alleged adults, but their parents reaction to such boorish behavior. 

Like it or not parents are the first line of defense in the home, you are responsible for these little darlings that you chose to created, not athletes or entertainers you!  Parents of victims and bully’s both need to know what is going on when their children are out of eyesight.  I know for a fact I wasn’t the angel my parents saw at home while school was in session.  No I was not a bully, I was a victim, but I fought back and sometimes turned my anger toward myself.  The school system is not equipped to raise or babysit children, only to teach. Each child should be raised prior to entry into the system.  You can’t expect teachers and principals to add policing and investigation to their already enormous task of teaching.  But they are responsible for our children’s safety during school hours and should do everthing humanly possible to make our schools a safe haven for education.  Looking the other way is not an option, and if any educator thinks that they can’t get involved, they need to seek another profession.

All schools, all over our nation need to adapt a zero policy to bullying of any kind.  Parents of the perpetrator and the victim need to be advised of their children’s actions or any problems face to face.  Believe me pulling a parent off the job will get more done to squelch the problem than living the victims to fend for themselves, and will in all probability save a bully from continuing this anti social behavior into adulthood. 

As a Nation We Should be Ashamed

• A Missouri mother accused and convicted of cyber bullying on Myspace.  Methodically bullied a teen rival, former friend, of her daughter until the distraught teen took her own life.  What manner of “mother” is this to persecute another mother’s child in this fashion?
• Jan 14, 2010 – 14 year old Phoebe Prince took her life due to “bullicide”, a quaint term formed by our caring media.
• April 2009 Carl J. Walker – 11 year old - bullicide – homophobia
• April 24, 2009 – Jaheem Herrera – 11 year old - bullicide – homophobia
• April 1, 2009 – Eric Mohat – 17 year old – bullicide
• October 7, 2003 – 13 year old Ryan Halligan – buillicide
• November 2000 – 14 Dawn Marie Wesley – bullicide – a documentary “Rats and Bullies” was produced about her suicide.
• April 20, 1999 – Columbine Massacre – how quickly we seem to forget . . this tragedy was birthed from bullying.

Finally, this epidemic is not funny or victimless.  When children are involved there are two victims.  The bully who has some mental or character flaws that need addressing immediately.  The victim who also needs counseling in survival skills and self esteem issues.  We can’t continue to ignore this plague as just another “school experience” the implosion of digital bullying has placed this plague on a whole different plane than the bullying of old.  This type of terrorism not only attacks the victim using verbal, mental and physical abuse, but destroys a young persons reputation, during a tender time of their existence, when they are least equipped to handle the onslaught.