Bullying Must Be Stopped!

Bullying

Have you ever been a victim of bullying when you were going to school? Were you a bully yourself? Unfortunately, everyday school kids all around the country have to face this problem. Studies show that bullying starts as early as kindergarten.

It Is A Serious Issue

If schools shootings aren't enough for people to take bullying seriously, then what is? Thousands of kids who are bullied don't end up doing horrible things to others, but, as you will see at the end of this article, many resort to fatally punishing themselves while others have to deal with broken self-esteem and a sense of loss of dignity, sometimes for years.

When Bullying Turns Into Crime

The line is usually crossed when verbal taunts turn into physical assault and humiliation that goes beyond a push or shove but place the kid being bullied in a position of being deprecated from self-respect, sometimes in the presence of other kids. When forcible physical abuse and humiliation occurs, it's typically translated as "hazing", which is illegal.

Utah Law

The Justice Department says 1 out of every 4 kids will be abused by another youth.

76-5-107.5. Prohibition of "hazing" -- Definitions -- Penalties

"... (iv) involves any activity that would subject the individual to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, extended isolation from social contact, or conduct that subjects another to extreme embarrassment, shame, or humiliation;..."

Source: http://www.stophazing.org/laws/ut_law.htm

Bullying goes beyond school boundaries

Bullying can even take place in churches or wherever you have a crowd of young children or teens. Churches? Yes. Worst things than bullying have originated from within the walls of or in association with churches. Want proof? Googled Results.

Crazy, isn't it? Who'd ever expect bullying to take place in a church setting? Well, unfortunately it does. Bullies typically don't care much about religion so if you find one attending church it's usually because of a) hypocrisy, b) because parents force him to be there, c) for socializing or d) they have easy access to someone they can bully!

Indifference And Apathy

The following can be heart-breaking for kids and their families:

1) Parents and youth leaders who see nothing wrong with, live in denial or even defend a bully's behavior problems.

2) A few uninformed youth leaders(?) who would rather crawl in a dark hole or in their comfort zones instead of taking action when bullying happens under their supervision.

3) People who pretend nothing happened, ignoring what happened or, in some cases, even denying victims' rights to emotional and spiritual support.

4) Suggesting that nothing can be done so they do exactly that, nothing.

Lack Of Action Is The Same As Condoning Bullying

Everybody has a strong position against evil doers, right? That's just not true anymore. There are a few spineless people out there who do nothing when faced with injustices and evil. Unbelievably, there are those who actually side with criminals, bullies, law-breakers and wrong-doers. Examples would be beyond the scope of this article.

As ridiculous as this may sound to you, some people even go to the extent of excusing bad behavior. The "boys will be boys" or "It was just a prank..." or "not that big deal..." or "overblown out of proportion...", "that kid has problems..." - no kidding- thus minimizing the seriousness of bullying and its effect on those who have become victims.

Some Kids Can Cope Well

Other times, the victim of bullying can effectively cope better with his or her experience and realize the stupidity of the act and behavior of perpetrators and those who see nothing wrong with them. Parental support is critical here.

Kids who can cope better usually move on and realize that the world they live in is subject to having maladjusted individuals who can and will cause them harm.

Some Kids Don't

Not all kids can cope or overcome the gradual deterioration of their self-esteem. Those who are already facing emotional and psychological challenges, when bullied, can take desperate measures to alleviate the pain they feel inside.

Taking The Bully By The Horns

1. If your child is facing a bully, teach him or her to be assertive, confident and most important, to avoid getting into a fight.

2. Teach him or her how to ignore and avoid the bully altogether. Sometimes this is difficult to do because bullies tend to follow their victims around. If that's the case, you will need competent intervention.

3. Don't let your kid be a loner or walk to and from school alone. Help him or her make as many 'good' friends as possible. It's worth the effort.

4. If everything fails, ask for legal assistance. Authorities take bullying very seriously now, especially when you have a solid case, filled with evidence.

A Religious Point Of View

The Bible clearly states that there is good and bad people in this world. Watching and reading the daily news provides us with enough of evidence of this. So does history and current events around the world.

So it's important that we ourselves don't become evil and teach our children to be good and do good to others. Not to be mean. Not to tease. Not to hurt others or living things. Everyone loses when society is filled with angry people who become evil, people who are indifferent to victims of evil and people who just plainly don't care.

Bullies and those who support them, take heed:

Christ wasn't protective of those who harm children.

In fact, the Bible is very clear about his position. Matthew 18:5-7:5. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

6. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

So, those who don't side with the victims and their families and support them, might as well embrace the Devil and his followers because the Devil loveth his own.

There Is Hope For The Bully

1. A bully can change. His self-esteem can be enhanced or restored. Parents need to pay attention to the things that cause or may have caused a child to become a bully in the first place. Ironically, a bully could have become that way as a result of being bullied. Sometimes, love and counseling can help a bully change his ways. After all, nobody is perfect. Everyone can change if they put forth the effort and find support from others who care about them. It's wise to change before hitting a point of no return.

2. Bullies should be separated from friends and others who might actually encourage the behavior just for "fun". If a bully enjoys the attention he gets from his peers, he may continue his bad behavior. Eliminate the source of the problem at the root.

3 . Show him that his future may be at risk he or she continues to exhibit bad behavior. When they're over 18, they can be held legally accountable for actions that affect the well-being of others around them.

If the bully still doesn't care or doesn't want to change, it's a serious challenge that requires urgent professional help! In a perfect world, everyone would be nice and treat everyone else with respect, even among kids, teens and adults.

If you have been a victim of bullying and you're young, remember, you can overcome what's been done to you.

I have.