Date: 07/07/12
Writer’s Name: Dominique Wilkins
Title: Stand Your Ground and Do What’s Right!
As time goes on, it is obvious to anyone who has their eyes open that the world we live in gets worse as the days go by. If this is a surprise to you, I apologize for being the bearer of bad news. This is the truth. Everyone has a guess as to when the world is going to end; no one knows for sure, but all of the guesses are falling between now and very soon. As you wake up and turn on the news and watch the stories replayed from all around the world, it is clear that either the anchors have an excellent talent in telling horror stories or the domination of bad news has taken over our lives. It spans from the weather to the way children can demean another child so extensively that they are driven to suicide! Children!
As late as yesterday, I watched the news as they discussed how a woman posted a video on Facebook, showing her instigating a fight between her baby and another young child. I believe the report stated the girls’ ages to be around 8 or 9 years old. The aggressor continued to attack the other child who was unable to defend herself on the video. For anyone who wonders where the bullying epidemic comes from, I believe this video may provide some clarity. Of course kids will be kids, but they are taught to handle things in a more civil and structured manner through teachings and examples given and reinforced by their parents, teachers and the police. If the same people that are supposed to be teaching corrective behavior are instead encouraging destructive behavior, where does that leave us?
Bullying is only one of the more serious problems that are plaguing our communities. We have so many to fight. My son was personally a victim of an extreme bullying situation where he ended up being committed to a mental hospital for almost two weeks. In his case, I blamed it solely on the adults on the school’s payroll. They refused to protect him. They refused to acknowledge his cries for help and keep the repeat offenders off of him. In the past, I would laugh at kids that mimic their parents when they say they are stressed out! Now, I believe that even children can be stressed out. They can go through extreme abuse at school and come home and possibly be neglected there. I believe that in my son’s case, he had told the teacher, while I told the security, administration and the principal. After all of that, with no suspensions, expulsions or parent conferences, my son had concluded that no one cared. I concluded that the school made money off of the children being in attendance and preferred them to be in school wreaking havoc on their classmates and teachers for funding instead of removing them, to provide a safe and welcoming learning environment for children who wanted to be there.
There are several factors overall that contribute to this epidemic: One is the fact that there are babies having babies. When I was a child, I could not possibly entertain the thought of handling my problems by walking away or talking it out. How can we expect the teenage youth to multiply and teach something that they personally have not grasped?
Another factor is the death of respect and the birth of fear. In this time period that we live in now, the youth no longer have the respect that the older generation grew up with as a way of life. Years ago, there were rules that were well known and followed. For example: It was understood, that when an adult was around, if your conversation or language was not appropriate, you would not speak loud enough for the adult to hear it or would simply relocate. In addition to that, if an adult confronted you, your only rebuttal would be to beg for forgiveness or attempt to desperately explain the misunderstanding to avoid punishment. These key breaks in the rules have caused widespread mayhem amongst the communities. Adults fear confronting children or even being in their midst, in view of the fact that it can cause a seriously adverse effect, with the child being the aggressor. Often, these confrontations, proven by the news, could end up in an attack on the adult or even death. With this knowledge, many people become less interested in intervention and more interested in life preservation! No consequences opens the door for bad and worse behavior by kids who bully that grow into adults who bully as well.
Unfortunately, the world has become a “dog-eat-dog” place. Only the strong will survive and not for long. Eventually, with no boundaries, even they will not last long. The difference will only be made when the times of old come rolling back in - when love, respect, and trust make a come-back. Until then, we can only pray for peace and change. Without it, our single efforts can be futile…
Writer’s Name: Dominique Wilkins
Title: Stand Your Ground and Do What’s Right!
As time goes on, it is obvious to anyone who has their eyes open that the world we live in gets worse as the days go by. If this is a surprise to you, I apologize for being the bearer of bad news. This is the truth. Everyone has a guess as to when the world is going to end; no one knows for sure, but all of the guesses are falling between now and very soon. As you wake up and turn on the news and watch the stories replayed from all around the world, it is clear that either the anchors have an excellent talent in telling horror stories or the domination of bad news has taken over our lives. It spans from the weather to the way children can demean another child so extensively that they are driven to suicide! Children!
As late as yesterday, I watched the news as they discussed how a woman posted a video on Facebook, showing her instigating a fight between her baby and another young child. I believe the report stated the girls’ ages to be around 8 or 9 years old. The aggressor continued to attack the other child who was unable to defend herself on the video. For anyone who wonders where the bullying epidemic comes from, I believe this video may provide some clarity. Of course kids will be kids, but they are taught to handle things in a more civil and structured manner through teachings and examples given and reinforced by their parents, teachers and the police. If the same people that are supposed to be teaching corrective behavior are instead encouraging destructive behavior, where does that leave us?
Bullying is only one of the more serious problems that are plaguing our communities. We have so many to fight. My son was personally a victim of an extreme bullying situation where he ended up being committed to a mental hospital for almost two weeks. In his case, I blamed it solely on the adults on the school’s payroll. They refused to protect him. They refused to acknowledge his cries for help and keep the repeat offenders off of him. In the past, I would laugh at kids that mimic their parents when they say they are stressed out! Now, I believe that even children can be stressed out. They can go through extreme abuse at school and come home and possibly be neglected there. I believe that in my son’s case, he had told the teacher, while I told the security, administration and the principal. After all of that, with no suspensions, expulsions or parent conferences, my son had concluded that no one cared. I concluded that the school made money off of the children being in attendance and preferred them to be in school wreaking havoc on their classmates and teachers for funding instead of removing them, to provide a safe and welcoming learning environment for children who wanted to be there.
There are several factors overall that contribute to this epidemic: One is the fact that there are babies having babies. When I was a child, I could not possibly entertain the thought of handling my problems by walking away or talking it out. How can we expect the teenage youth to multiply and teach something that they personally have not grasped?
Another factor is the death of respect and the birth of fear. In this time period that we live in now, the youth no longer have the respect that the older generation grew up with as a way of life. Years ago, there were rules that were well known and followed. For example: It was understood, that when an adult was around, if your conversation or language was not appropriate, you would not speak loud enough for the adult to hear it or would simply relocate. In addition to that, if an adult confronted you, your only rebuttal would be to beg for forgiveness or attempt to desperately explain the misunderstanding to avoid punishment. These key breaks in the rules have caused widespread mayhem amongst the communities. Adults fear confronting children or even being in their midst, in view of the fact that it can cause a seriously adverse effect, with the child being the aggressor. Often, these confrontations, proven by the news, could end up in an attack on the adult or even death. With this knowledge, many people become less interested in intervention and more interested in life preservation! No consequences opens the door for bad and worse behavior by kids who bully that grow into adults who bully as well.
Unfortunately, the world has become a “dog-eat-dog” place. Only the strong will survive and not for long. Eventually, with no boundaries, even they will not last long. The difference will only be made when the times of old come rolling back in - when love, respect, and trust make a come-back. Until then, we can only pray for peace and change. Without it, our single efforts can be futile…
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