BULLYING AND OTHER ACTS OF DISRESPECT AGAINST OUR YOUTH AND SOCIETY..........

For the past month or more since the new academic year has begun, we have seen an increase in reports of bullying of students.  That has led to more than a handful of suicides by young people, around the country who cannot cope with the ridicule, pressure, embarrassment, and outing, the bullying and disrespectful actions of their fellow students has caused them.  A stop must be put to every form of bullying, mockery, invasion of privacy, or ridicule, being perpetrated upon others, for these wanton acts are not only wrong, and an infringement on civil liberties, but a moral outrage, as they strike at the dignity of the human person.  As a disabled child in the 1960's and 1970's, I too had to contend with my share of bullies and other ignorant, self absorbed kids, who either attempted to taunt me with words like, 'gimp', and 'cripple', or laugh at my physical disability and the orthopedic brace on my left leg.  So I know the extent of frustration and pressure many of these young people must be undergoing as they are bullied, and especially given that the pressures placed upon them is all the more ratcheted up by the intrusion and inveighing into their sexual orientation, while still in adolescence when they are coming to terms with their sexuality.  Every act of bullying that invades the privacy of another person, and intrudes on the dignity of their humanity, that results in a hate crime of violence or death, should be dealt with, and prosecuted accordingly.  It is encouraging to see in these current circumstances parents, fellow students, school and college officials, and our civic and governmental leaders, standing up, speaking, out, and showing solidarity, for those who are being victimized and abused.  No child, young person, or adult, should ever be bullied by anyone, for any reason.  And those who commit such indignities need to be called out, admonished, punished, and in no way tolerated for their stupidity, self centeredness, and insensitivity.  What are we doing to change this very bad circumstance into a better and brighter existence for those who are being subjected to bullying in our society ?  Unless we stand in full support and solidarity in opposition to bullying and its violent, deadly, affects, then we are as guilty as the bullies themselves of lacking common decency, Christian morality, national patriotism, and international respect, for the right of all peoples whatever their race, nationality, gender, or orientation, to live in freedom without fear that their disability, or difference, may target them for ridicule, or retaliation, by cowards who do not respect their own humanity, much less any one else's..........In The Hope For An Ever More Enlightened, Accepting, And Humane, Response To All Persons By All Persons,   Fr.  Troy