An Opinion Piece
A few weeks ago, after the community was rocked by the suicide of a teen who had become the target of bullies, the local newspaper took a bold stance against bullying. The Sioux City Journal in Sioux City, IA, ran a full page editorial advocating for the community to come together to combat bullying.
While the Journal admits the story of 14 year-old Kenneth Weishuhn is far from unique, it was his senseless death committed by his own hand that prompted them to make this statement. Kenneth had recently told his friends and family that he was gay. Soon after that many classmates at his high school soon began bullying and harassing him mercilessly until Kenneth succumbed to the relentless humiliation and pain of being continually attacked for simply being himself.
The Journal places the blame squarely on the shoulders of the whole community who has stood by and not stepped in to stop the bullying and harassing of the youth who have been targeted. The Journal's editorial board asserts that the community must take a firm stance through its actions and words that bullying will not under any circumstances be tolerated.
Community Action
Sioux City is a tri-state area of hard-working, community-oriented people. I know these people and this city. We lived in Sioux City right after I graduated from law school. I worked in the courts there. We have dear friends there. They are no different than any other community across the country.
I agree with these editors. It is a community issue. The war against bullying must be fought in the trenches, at home, on the street, in school, online and anywhere else that it rears its ugly head.
The state laws governing bullying are notoriously weak and ineffective. The battle will not be won with laws; not in this case.
But the battle can be won by adults and teens standing tall against those who are weak and feel they must act out in hatred, in violence and in depravity to look and feel strong. We can show them a better way of dealing with fear, weakness and misunderstanding. We can show them that everyone matters and our differences can be our strong points.
The Scoop
So, don't sit idly by when you see a youngster acting out in violence, taunts or threats. Do something. Say something. Be the positive change. Get help for the bullied and the bullies. Make a difference.
Kenneth was targeted for being gay, but bullying can happen to any person for any reason. Bullies can even make up a reason for their purposes, just as in the case of Rachel Ehmke {from Monday's post}. And there is not one single reason that makes bullying OK.
This evening I will post 5 Things You Need to Know regarding bullying leading to suicide. Over and out....
Anna
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