A Shame

Columbine was - without a doubt - a tragedy. If combatting the real cause of that tragedy, bullying, was only as simple metal detectors, lock down procedures, and evacuation drills.

Phyllis Schlafly is quick to note on her radio show, Eagle Forum, how toxic the liberal agendas are in schools or how video games lead kids to act out their aggressions, but a real problem is that kids can be cruel.

To read about how some of the girls, who bullied this girl to death, actually laughed at her wake (one, of course, must wonder why they were allowed to attend (and obviously ruin) it) reminds me of things I read about how Nazis viewed the Jews, Gypsies, and others as subhumans.

The way the other boy who committed suicide was treated used to be glossed over as "well, boys will be boys" (I can't help but think of that saying about a dozen times when I listen to a Schlafly show. It's always easy to let "boys be boys" when you are one of the boys and not one of the other end of the bullying). I think this is a smart send up of that old attitude.

I am fortunate, though, to work in a school that fosters a far more accepting environment than the ones mentioned above. Professors, teachers, and other people I talk to about this generation of Millennials are in awe of their tolerance and acceptance. Here at LHS, there are all ranges of kids (from wealthy to poor, jock to goth to emo to hick, and all kinds of ethnicities) who go about their business with little to no hassles.

Yet, when I in high school, when we played Sacred Heart in football, and they had a Mexican quarterback, it took all of a nano-second before the racial slurs were flying.

Now, I'm sure Phyllis - who sure sounds like Hank's wife to me - would frown heavily on all of this acceptance and sensitivity. All you need to do is listen to a few of her shows of indoctrination (it pretty much screams Christian white American majority) to know that we have become far too damn sensitive. But I would say this to Phyllis: just look up the term "catholic" in any dictionairy - here's the definition (esp. of a person's tastes) including a wide variety of things; all-embracing. See note "at universal."

All-embracing. I like that concept. We need a lot more of that in our world today.

Could you imagine Christ saying "well, boys will be boys" as someone was being kicked or belittled?

That reminds me of dozens of times during my youth when I'd be guilty of laughing at or making fun of someone and my dad would not only let me have it, but then he'd also say to me, "How do you know that person isn't Jesus?"

I still think of those lessons every single day. It doesn't mean I'm perfect, but I sure think long and hard before ridiculing or picking on someone I view as 'different.' It also makes me think about what lessons I'll impart to my children as they grow. And I'll certainly think about the void the father, whose daughter killed herself because of bullying, has in his life.