OCTOBER'S LATEST GRIPE 7/31/11
I want to believe that most parents would be shocked that their children are the bullies. I know that if my mother was every told that I was bullying any kid at school, my room would be the only place I would sit in for quite a while. Today is a different bread of parenting with the talking and discussion but without real consequences children can nod it all off. Children are forced into the world of adulthood at a very young age never really being allowed to be a kid anymore. Cyber space is all too often a 21 and over place to be.
When adults are not around bullies are judge, jury and executioner,surrounding themselves with wannabes who look-up to them with respect. The wannabes are often in survival mode like the old saying goes "keep your friends close and your enemies even closer" so to save themselves from getting bullied they become sidekicks.
Teachers are subjected to students who have more power on their side while they struggle to complete all of their own requirements. Hall monitor, preparing classroom projects, correcting homework not forgetting actually teaching classes. Now with as their pay grade going down and their responsibilities go up it is time that the parents step in and be a contributing factor in the future of their children.
I do not have all the answers with so many factors that have gone into the strength of a bully starting with the anonymity of the internet. All that is easily tracked and should be followed in the hunt to eliminate cyber bullying. Children can sit in their rooms and hide from those they bully, hurting them who do not deserve this harassment. Kids without an outlet such as after school activities, sports. music or art have no place to direct the restlessness of their youth.
Society has learned over the years that the killing of animals at a young age can show future signs of criminal activity starting with serial killings. There is a check list in place for kids who show early signs of animal mutilation. Surveys should help to find where bullies end up as they turn from young adult into full adulthood. Then a checklist can be written so early signs can assist in detouring the bad behavior.
Jamey Rodemeyer's story has had an impact on so many people, with the parents forging ahead taking this tragedy and making some good come out of it, the family still feels the effect of bullies. This scenario brings back Adam Walsh age a 6 year old boy who was abducted from a Sears store in The Hollywood Mall in Hollywood, Florida. John Walsh, Adams father was the voice and advocate for his son who's severed head was found in a drainage ditch while the rest of his remains have' never been found.
Tracy and Tim Rodemeyer have not turned a blind eye to what they can do by presenting Jamey's story to every news program or talk show that will allow them to talk about the issue of bullying. Cable and Networks should take this opportunity to work together without prejudice that can push legislation that will have severe consequences. In my personal life I have a three strike policy with everything in my life but bullying should only have on strike. Once that strike is used serious repercussions to the parents and the children should be in place. This should not be a financial gain to those that get bullied as the justice system is often used for this purpose. If a child dies due to bullying then it should be an option. In the meantime lets harness this situation because if it is not tackled aggressively bullies will use their power to cause more deaths.
Bullying is a hate crime and is described by Wikipedia as follows "1964 Federal Civil Rights Law: The 1964 Federal Civil Rights Law, permits federal prosecution of anyone who "willingly injures, intimidates or interferes with another person, or attempts to do so, by force because of the other person's race, color, religion or national origin" because of the victim's attempt to engage in one of six types of federally protected activities, such as attending school, patronizing a public place/facility, applying for employment, acting as a juror in a state court or voting.
Persons violating the 1969 Federal Hate Crimes Law face a fine or imprisonment of up to one year, or both. If bodily injury results or if such acts of intimidation involve the use of firearms, explosives or fire, individuals can receive prison terms of up to 10 years, while crimes involving kidnapping, sexual assault, or murder can be punishable by life in prison or the death penalty. U.S. district Courts provide for criminal sanctions only. The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 contained a provision at which allowed victims of gender-motivated hate crimes to seek "compensatory and punitive damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, and such other relief as a court may deem appropriate", but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Morrison that the provision is unconstitutional."
Our country favors criminals and those who take advantage of that fact are those with a previous record for committing the same crimes. Child bullying is such an ongoing crime that it is known to continue into adulthood in the workplace. So if the cycle is stopped early it would have a positive effect in the lives of those involved as everyone gets older.
STOP THE HATE!!!!
