Recently I have heard more in the news about young people who have killed themselves because they were being bullied by others... picked on mercilessly because they seemed "different"... or "gay"... or "nerdy"... or ... well, actually, someone who is going to be a bully doesn't really need a reason... I suspect they just feel as if they have a right to be a bully... and if the person being bullied doesn't like it? Well, whose gonna make the "bully-ers" stop, anyway?
Bullying has probably been around as long as people have existed... it is an old, old, old problem that has mostly been overlooked with its consequences underestimated... by parents, teachers and school administrators alike. The stock answers ... "its just a part of growing up" ... "it'll toughen you up" ... "oh, its just harmless fun" ... "they didn't really mean anything by it" ... just are not acceptable anymore!!
Even worse, the attitude that the victim of bullying "deserved it", because they are perceived as gay, or because they are gay, is unconscionable!! Whether or not you like a person, their life-style, their religion, or even their favorite sports team... does not give you the right to bully someone else!!
Bullying and intimidation is abuse, pure and simple!! How many more children, teenagers, and college students will choose to die because they see death as the only way to escape being bullied, before people will begin to choose to help those who walk around with a "target" on their backs? Yes... it is much easier to ignore the problem or talk about the ones being victimized in disparaging ways than it is to really try to tackle the problem... but we must find a way to help the victims... to end bullying... we are losing too many precious lives!!
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