Rise Up Against ... BULLYING!

Hello everyone,

This post will be a bit different than my usual...

Today is Blog Action Day. What is Blog Action Day you might ask...? Well, it's a day that brings bloggers from different countries together to blog about one important global topic on the same day. I found out about this last night and was excited that I was just in time to register my blog to participate. This year's topic is focused on Human Rights. Bloggers around the world can choose a human rights topic that is important to them and share their thoughts. I chose to write about something that continues to break my heart whenever I hear stories about this... I chose to write about BULLYING!

One of the most common types of bullying happens in schools with young kids. However, bullying can also happen at home, in the workplace, in relationships, etc. It can consist of one-on-one bullying or a group against one person and the behavior is repeated. Bullying, as defined by some, consists of emotional, verbal and/or physical abuse. The "bully" shows aggressive behaviors towards someone they feel they have power over by using different forms of intimidation and harassment.

Bullying can rob a person of so many feelings, choices and it interferes with a person's human rights on many levels. Bullying strips a person of almost everything that is positive like their dignity, their sense of well-being, hope, happiness, joy, security, peace of mind, freedom and any reason to enjoy their lives. It causes a person to live in fear, even in fear for their lives. It causes depression and many health issues that may sometimes be irreparable. By no means am I an expert on this subject, but I will give you my personal take and feelings and why I feel this strong need to speak out against it. I'd like to focus on BULLYING in schools because this is affecting our children of the world.

"Last night I read yet another article where a 12 year old girl committed suicide because of bullying from girls at her school. The bullying was not only at school but with the explosion of social media she was being sent awful text messages as well as being harassed on the networks. So not only was this happening during the six to seven hours that she attended school, but just when she could be looking forward to going home so this could end for the day, the torment continued by phone and social media. How in the world could this young lady ever find peace of mind? I'm sure her sense of security even at home was non-existent. Her mother finally took her out of school and began home schooling her but the bullying did not stop. The text messages escalated from bad to worse to the point where one even said "go kill yourself."  Sadly, that is exactly what she did. When she could no longer take this nonstop abuse, she thought her only way out was to jump to her death..."

The heartbreak, anger and sadness I felt while reading this article last night was profound. So many questions went through my mind. Questions that have no logical answers:

WHY? I asked myself this question repeatedly. Why such a senseless, unnecessary tragedy of a young life just starting out. Why was this allowed to go on for so long - over a year?

HOW? How in the world can this type of behavior be allowed to continue without any consequences?

WHERE? Where are the parents of these bullies? What are they teaching them as they grow? What is their home life like that they feel the need to go out into the world and torment others that have nothing to do with what they're going through? Where are the adults in these situations to put a stop to this?

WHAT? What is being done to finally end this type of behavior? These are OUR YOUNG for heaven’s sake, the future of our world!

Does ANYBODY have the answers to any of these questions? Does ANYBODY care?

The repercussions of BULLYING in schools are endless. The way this type of aggression affects the victim is immense. It prevents them from wanting to go to school first off. Even if they do go, they cannot focus on learning and getting the education that they rightly deserve. The bullied victim can become violent in later years whether it's anger issues or becoming physically violent themselves. Living in fear every day is not healthy for anyone let alone a young child. Speaking of health... How about the onset of depression, suicidal thoughts, the young lady in the article even began cutting herself, it can cause poor appetite or over-eating, problems with the nervous system, anxiety, panic attacks, the list can go on...

Something needs to be done to save our children. To give them back their rights as human beings to live freely, securely and to just enjoy their young lives. School is a place meant to learn and expand your mind. To make friends and to have people that you can turn to for help not a place where you dread going to because someone or a few people are making your life a living hell. The world needs to stand together and find ways to prevent more senseless deaths, to prevent more kids with health issues and children who are just unhappy because of their situation.

While there are a few organizations that focus on anti-bullying, I personally feel that it has to start in the home. Parents have to try and pay more attention to what their kids are doing. If you notice that your child has aggressive tendencies, find out why and get your child help early on. If your child is the shy type, teach them that there are ways for them to defend themselves and not accept any type of harassment towards them. Talk to the teachers, visit the schools, check their phones, pay attention to who their friends are, talk to other parents and in this technological world of social media, see what they're doing on their computers. Tell your kids the importance of showing respect, being kind, having empathy and just being nice to others so that the same can be given in return to them. If I were a parent, I would certainly do all the above as my single mother did with me. Again, I am no expert in this matter I'm just someone whose heart breaks every time I hear these stories and am anxious to find a solution. Someone who wishes more was being done to avoid this ongoing problem. I do not stand for this type of behavior from anyone and never have.

As a united front, let's try and do more. If you know someone is being bullied, stand up for them. ONE person that does this can make a difference. Bullies are usually cowards so the moment someone steps up, they usually back off. Rather than just shake our heads and then forget, let's all try to find a better way to let our children of the world know that they have a right to live free of fear, to attend school and get the education they deserve without being harassed and most important, that suicide is NOT the answer. There is always a way out if they only seek help early enough. They should not be afraid to speak up and find somebody who is willing to listen and to help them. If they're not comfortable going to a parent, let them know that they can find another adult who they trust and let that person know the situation they're in. There are many ways that we can all pitch in. If we all make an effort, we can make the world a better place for our beautiful children because these children are our future. When we're gone, they will be the ones teaching their kids what a beautiful world this is free of the word BULLY! Let's all take a stand to end this kind of treatment so our children can flourish into what they were meant to be. I for one am going to take a stand to do more and participate more in any way I can to help put a stop to this issue. Do you?

Thank you for listening. These are my personal opinions and were not intended to offend anyone. If you have any suggestions on this topic, please feel free to comment respectfully below. Maybe you have gone through this yourself or know of someone who has and has gotten through it. I would love it if you shared your story. It could enlighten me and others on what more we can do to help. So by all means, please leave a comment and let's start a conversation on how to end BULLYING, and make this a better place for our children.

Thank you again,

-AnnaCris