What is wrong with the world today?

[pattrose]

In case this is too long, I better put it under the cut.



I find myself wondering what prompts a child to attack another child. If there is no reason, why would one do that? Just because the other one is different isn't a good enough reason. Flutterbev posted something about the attack on her son Rowan and I was appalled. The poor kid will proabably never get over this and we can only hope that the authorities throw the book at the animals that chose to change a person's life yesterday. I'm still so shocked over it all and wish I could do something to help. When I told my grandson, Vincent about it he said that the low lifes that did that won't learn from any punishment. They are just evil, mean and cruel. Vincent is 25 and has always hated bully's. He said that sometimes you'll get beat up just because you happen to look a certain way. Isn't that just dreadful? Were these children never taught the difference between right and wrong? And what about respect? I'm not talking about respecting elders, I'm talking about respecting yourself or another person in your own age group. How horrible that your children aren't safe anywhere. I remember once the school called me and said they suspended my daughter for a week for beating up a child in the hallway. I went to the school and picked her up and asked her what was going on? She didn't beat up people for no reason. She said right in front of the teachers, four jocks smacked a downs syndrome boy against the locker. We just so happened to have known him and Chris couldn't believe that the teachers did nothing. So, she decided to teach them how it felt. She punched all four kids out. Four kids to beat up a downs syndrome child? I took Chris out to lunch and explained to her that she couldn't just beat up people when she felt the need, but at the same time, I like that she was sticking up for Johnny. He never went back to school after that day. He was devastated. And what do you think happened to those monsters that did this? Not a thing, but my daughter who was defending a friend got suspended for a week from high school. Two weeks later, Chris got suspended again, for the same thing. The jocks were beating up a child in a wheelchair. WTF???? Again, the boys didn't get any punishment, but Chris got suspended again. She was an angel child, but you didn't want to piss her off for any reason. And picking on someone that couldn't defend themselves was past what she could understand. Since the teachers did nothing she took matters into her own hands. I told her about Rowan today and she was heartbroken. She didn't understand it when she was young and she doesn't understand the logic behind beating someone up for no reason even at this stage in her life. She said that they will get what's coming to them, but at what cost? She's absolutely right. My thoughts and my prayers are with Rowan today. (((((Bev))))) I hope you're feeling better today and I hope that Rowan gets stronger each and every day.

Comments

[stargatesg1971.livejournal.com]

I hate bullying! It's wrong on oh so many levels. It makes my blood boil everytime I hear of someone being attacked, but its always that much more upsetting when it's someone you know or are connected with in some way is. I am SO sorry to hear that Rowan's become a victim of such an assault and like you I hope and pray that he gets stronger every day.

Chris sounds like a great girl...too many stand by and watch stuff happen. I'm a bit like Chris and jump in when I see someone defenceless at the hands of bully, and have gotten into trouble for it myself more than once. It's crazy how the bullies get away with things.

[pattrose.livejournal.com]

She is a great girl, but I had to teach her that her way wasn't the answer, either. She still disagrees with me about that. As I said below, we're dealing with small dangerous minds.

[stargatesg1971.livejournal.com]

I agree that answering violence with violence isn't the best way, but sometimes its not always possible to find a peaceful solution, mediation doesn't always work even if we want it to.

[grey853.livejournal.com]

Bullying is epidemic, especially in the school system and it's worse with the jocks. It's like they're given a free pass to have gang mentality. Like most bullies, they pick on the weak or different.

Some schools and school systems are trying harder, but with so little staff and personnel, it's hard to catch it all. It's like there are hundreds of kids for every adult and there's never enough security personnel.

I'm so sorry this here this happened, but sadly, it's not a rare thing.

[pattrose.livejournal.com]

Years ago, it wasn't like that, but now it is. And it's too bad. I really hope that Bev's son does all right. Poor kid.

[grey853.livejournal.com]

Sadly, in my experience it did happen years ago. When I was in high school, there were always bullies. The athletes often led the back, but there were girls who bullied and boys who bullied any time they thought they could get away with it. Hell, I remember a couple of my teachers who were bullies.

There seems to be more awareness of it now, but it's always been around.

[pattrose.livejournal.com]

We had two teachers that were bullies. And that was in the 60s and 70s. Isn't that sad? But you're right, it was around, just not so common. I was so shy, I never hardly noticed anything or anyone while growing up. Hopefully, things might improve, but then again, we'll never know for sure. Sad.

[krisserci5.livejournal.com]

Appalling! How were the boys never punished? At least today with the smart phone, I hope others take pics and video to prove to the stupid teachers.

Yeah to your daughter for sticking up for for the defenseless!!

Poor Rowan!

[pattrose.livejournal.com]

Yes, poor kid. He wasn't doing anything wrong. As far as I know, just the wrong place at the wrong time. Stupid jerks. They must have thought they were so hot shit or something. Small little dangerous minds they have.

[fluterbev.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for your support, Patt, you and your family are very kind people. It's not been the best of weeks for us! Please give them all a big hug from me.

Much love xxx

[pattrose.livejournal.com]

Bev, how is he doing today? Gosh, I've been so worried about him. And you. I send virtual hugs to your entire family.

[fluterbev.livejournal.com]

Thanks Patt, hugs are very welcome ::hugs back::. I will make an update post in my LJ later, I don't want to say much out of friends lock because of legal stuff. What I can say is that Rowan is improving day by day, but he's got a long road ahead. We saw his post-op x-rays yesterday, with the two titanium plates in his jaw, which prompted him (he is a huge Star Wars fan) to declare himself at least half-droid.

Friends and family have been amazing, and the police are keeping us in the loop. We're getting loads of support so we're doing as well as we can do right now. Thanks again for all your compassion, it means a lot xxx

[pattrose.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad to hear he's got a sense of humor about it. Way to go, Rowan. :) Keeping you all in my thoughts until he's better. You take care, too.

[finlaure.livejournal.com]

I was not "normal" through out school,,, and still don't qualify. But I was constantly bullied. Thing is, I could fight back and often did. Even if it got me in trouble at school, I just told my family that I had to defend myself because no one at school cared. I have learned after deciding not to attend my 25th reunion, I just didn't care about most all of those creeps. they are living their miserable lives behaving much the same as they did in high school. It is Soo sad that kids are still soooo mean and cruel.

[pattrose.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you. I wouldn't go for mine, either. I was very shy and quiet and no one really bothered me, but I knew some peoople that got bullied all the time. It's too bad that it's become such common place that it seems almost normal to hear the stories. And unless it affects you in some way, you might not even notice it. My daughter would have defended you like crazy. She hated bullies. She has a very good soul. I told her about Rowan and she was just so upset. And she doesn't even know, Bev or Rowan. I just hope he's going to be all right. Poor thing.

[suemc.livejournal.com]

I was bullied at school fortunatley not too often, because I tried never to react and they would get bored and move on to someone else. It would reoccur every year when the exam results came out. My crime, I was very good at maths in an all girls school and girls aren't supposed to be good at that.

Poor Bev and Rowen, nobody has the right to do that sort of thing.