Writing, anything, as least as it pertains to myself, is strictly just what I feel like sharing, at any given moment.  And, I am a Writer, as far as I am concerned.  Words that fly from my fingers, after escaping like jailbirds from being incarcerated in my brain for way too long, aren’t always pretty.  But, they’re mine.  I write the way I speak.  Brutally honest but always, always, from my heart.  

I came across a blog post from a friend recently, gave it a few re-reads, and sat on my response for a bit.  This friend gave me much encouragement when I first started writing, years ago.  I’ve shared bits and pieces from my, still a work-in-progress, book of memoirs with her, always grateful for her critique.  A later step in establishing my own website was based on the title of that book.  My domain, my little internet footprint, has become my space to share and sound-off, now and then, at the indignities of our world. 

But this isn’t about me.  It’s about you, your family, neighbors and people you don’t even know.  You see, these fractured personalities tend to lurk everywhere, often going unnoticed, more likely, deliberately ignored.  Why is it that there almost seems to be more pro-activeness on the part of parents and schools where drugs and alcohol are concerned, more attention given to situations where kids have access to dangerous weapons but…bullying…tends to slip through the cracks of acceptable behavior?  Don’t think so?

Trust me, it sure as hell does! 

In fact, I’m a bully and so is everyone else who has, and does, engage in what I call…indirect bullying.  Think about every time we throw a shot out at some politician or some celebrity.  A joke, snide comment or downright insult, all which may garner a few chuckles or a lot of “likes” on social media but, hey, it’s not being done in a direct manner.  And none of these individuals who are the brunt of our jokes will ever really know, or give a rat’s ass, about our comments.  Maybe, in some twisted way, removing any reaction justifies what we do.

Think some more.

Around us are children, impressionable and very judgmental.  Most tend to copy the bad behaviors of their parents and families, only to inflict those negative actions on others, generally in a school environment.  Given that there is strength in numbers, the power of even a small group of bullies can be overwhelming to any child.  To prey on a perceived weakness, to ridicule over any issue where a particular “group” seeks to marginalize another kid, for any damn reason…is beyond unacceptable, it’s downright criminal.  Where is the accountability?

Why should any family be forced to basically withdraw from life around them, even going so far as to relocate in order to escape the constant torment their children face at school?  Why should any young person be pushed to unreasonable limits where they question their existence because of bullying, or worse?  How can any parent feign self-serving shock at the very thought their child engages in hurtful and destructive interactions with other kids?  And, please, save any misguided ideology from a parental perspective which involves kids doing what they do; stop passing any blame on the internet, video games, social media, rap music, affluency, poverty…. just stop it!  Kids are not bullies by nature, that reprehensible behavior is learned from adults. The communication every parent has with their child is instrumental with helping them grow into a decent human being.  In simple terms, children learn what they live.  Remember that.

It begins with you.