Bullying is a world wide problem, it begins with children and if not stopped carries on into adulthood. It affects those being picked on, sometimes in the worst way possible, and it creates a mindset (if not stopped) in the bully that says it’s okay and cool to be “cruel” to another human being!
- Bullying another person is not okay, not never, not at any time, for any reason!
- A Bully has no reason to be!
- So if you see someone being bullied, pause with what you’re doing and make a difference, do what you can to stop him or her!
- Be an activist when it comes to stopping cruelty.
- You are a part of the reason it exists, if you do nothing!
There is no “EXCUSE” for not getting involved. Indifference is not okay. In fact it is just as bad as the bullying itself. So be responsible! Be involved, step up to the plate and … CARE!
~
Thank you,
~ Penny L Howe
The Why About This 
No matter the backstory – It’s not right to bully.
I just don’t get it.
A few months ago – I stopped my vehicle in the middle of a circle drive & halted traffic. Two kids were fighting & people kept passing by them. I walked out of my vehicle & broke them apart & told them to either go back to the school or be on their separate ways. I said – what the heck is wrong with you guys? This is ridiculous….Every time I correct a child that’s not mine – I like to see their reaction when I ask them let’s go look for your parent & see if they think what you are doing is ok.
Frustrating to see this though.
Thank you and a huge hug and thumbs up for not being indifferent! You are absolutely correct! 100% RoSy!
I love this and you are so right on target!!!! Indifference is not acceptable.
Thank you Ivonne for speaking out! Much appreciated!
This is an amazing post Penny and a topic that needs to have a light shone on it. I agree that it is unacceptable to stand by if you are aware this is occurring. Very sad to hear that teachers participate in this type of activity. The cycle of cruelty does continue if one does not step in and say enough.
So very true LuAnn. It’s the cycle that needs to be broken, the indifference, the not caring unless it does affect one directly and then even sometimes not caring. But more people who should and can be responsible would make that difference. One at a time. Thank you my, so dear, friend for your firm strong words of caring and commitment, all my love to you, Penny xo
It’s so sad really… what kind of monsters humans can be, and what kind of monsters teach their children to be monsters as well.
Sigh here Roxi. Morality has taken a turn for the worse right now, for lots of valid reason and all of us (yes, some way more than others) have a responsibility in this. It was so easy growing up and rebelling against obvious authority, and it was easy to be a little lax when our kids came along, and so forth and so on, plus the plethora of adult toys and “convenient” communications that took family further away from family. It’s all contributed and now it’s up to those of us and those we know who can and should take the responsibility to make the difference to turn things back around again. And it starts with what we do here, the simple act of loving and sharing my very dear friend. We are the beginning for the change! Much love to you Roxi, for caring so very much! Penny xx
I grew up as a military ‘brat’ so to speak. Another words… I was never permitted to act like kids today act.. we had rules, regulations, were expected to be respectful of others and their property, etc., and now… you need to be careful that some 10-year-old kid doesn’t shoot you with a gun because you looked at him/her the wrong way or whatever. I’d be very leery of bringing a child into this world we have now. If there is going to be change, it needs to begin with us. With all the ‘freedom’ of everything that is a given now days on a silver platter… and all of what people think they are ‘entitled’ to… nobody is obliged to be respectful or compassionate to people anymore. Instant gratification is the kind of world we live in now, nobody has to work for anything, or wait, or more importantly, earn it really. “I want what I want when I want it, and I want someone else to pay for it” …..
Yup, absolutely correct. Not military in my upbringing but it might as well have been. Do not speak unless spoken too. Rules, responsibility. You earned the money for your clothing when you were old enough to (4th grade) and so forth (picked fruit etc in the fields), so I go along with you. I admit I was carefree as a young adult but I did try to raise my children in a responsible way and am proud of how they in turn are raising theirs, but perhaps I was lucky, I know I did pass along a few hardcore rules of behavior though! In essence every word you’ve said is true, completely!
So important topic this is Penny. My nephew has been a victim of this for a very long time.. .has had profound effects on my sister and the entire family. Can relate to Alastair’s experience here too regarding the school administrators etc.
Definitely would like to see changes occur in this arena — masters was in school counseling – and though never got to practice – was hoping to work at middle school level (when so much is transpiring emotionally) … feel passionately about protecting our vulnerable children — Much Love xxoo will watch video now! Oh – and Agree it will carry into adulthood – no doubt!
It always does .. an unbroken cycle unless others step in, my loving friend. Thank you for your thoughtful and caring words Robyn, much love to you this day! Penny xo
You did exactly the right things Alastair, got involved and made a difference! I wish I could say I was brave at that time but I wasn’t, when I mentioned that something changed inside of me (when I was young) something really did.
So when I saw my little friend being mistreated, out of nowhere (quiet,soft spoken, gentle mannered penny) I exploded, ran over to the leader grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and pushed her into the lockers and told her to pick on someone her own size. (scared the crap out of her and her pals).
Afterwards when I stopped physically shaking, my friend “Sandy” said, “Gosh Penny I didn’t know you could be that way.” and I had to reply “me neither!” I do literally see red when someone is abused or disrespectful..
After the fact I was glad I helped my friend but sorry I had lost control of my temper. Now I think I have it pretty well sorted out, still have the strong feelings however about the subject (for all sorts of reasons related to my own past!) As do many of us! 🙂
You are so right. If people just had the courage to stand up for each other, the world would be a nicer place.
It’s true Mitzie, most bullies are afraid themselves (not all) but most, who would run or stop if others stood up against them. Thank you for your comment and for caring!!!!!
Well said, Penny!
Thanks Dianne, a huge issue that I have huge beliefs about. Thank you for caring my friend!
No jokes today, Penny, just agreement.
Thank you for caring and your agreement, very much appreciated my so very dear and special friend!
I couldn’t written it better ! Strong words Penny!
I have been bullied before and I know the feeling ..
I was bullied when I was in grade school and something happened inside me. In high school I was quiet, minded my own business pretty much, but one day I saw a group of girls picking on a small (in size), friend of mine, before I knew it I was in the thick of it (I won by the way) something inside of me snapped and I realized that I had a strength I didn’t know I had and that I would always be there (as i could) for those who needed help. A few more lessons came my way over the years that have cemented the “caring and fighting spirit” but it has grown with time and has made me who I am today. I have no (none) tolerance for cruelty! Thank yo so very much for your very caring words Tina, very much appreciated my dear friend, with much affection to you, Penny xx
I also was just so saddened to read Alastair’s post. In these time we have to stand up and not allow this kind of thing. I don’t see how anyone can stand by and allow this either, I can’t. Great post 🙂
Thank you, well said. Yes, most bullies are bullies because of their own fears. If everyone got involved to stop the cycle, it would stop. Not easily, not quickly but eventually it would stop. Thank you for caring and your comments, very very appreciated by me! Needless to say I leap right into the fray of things, when I see this happen, never been very good at being a passive observer and never understood (still don’t) those who are, and never will. Again most sincere thanks for your comments today! Penny
There is all kind of bullying – physically, emotional, psychological – and it’s all bad. Unfortunately a lot of young bullies learn their skills at home from a parent or parents who don’t recognize that they themselves are bullies. Like Penny, I believe that every time we take a stand against bullying, we are holding a mirror up to the world and showing it how ugly bullying truly is. When we mind our own business we condone the cruelty.
Thank you for your very important words. All true! Thank you for caring and making a difference, that’s really what it’s all about after all caring enough to be involved to stop the never ending cycle! And my special thanks for being you and wanting to be a part of those that do make a difference my friend! It is so very much needed now, Penny, xx
-hugs-
Received and returned! xx
Far too many children have a middle school and high school experience as inmate prey. Esp in low income areas where there are few avenues in which to exhibit stature except in thuggery. And it is glorified in rap music.
It is Carl, however, I had the great pleasure to recent sit in on a “listening” of a new album released a few weeks ago by a rap musician (who is also a teacher of special needs children – by that I mean those abused teenager that have been pretty much thrown away by society)
He, the singer is probably about 29 or 30, married. Anyway his rap is outstanding, he’s good, (and I don’t normally care for rap music) the difference is it’s about love and positive change for kids, the physical moves and popular way of being is still there in the singer’s m.o., only it’s non violence oriented (he himself came from that environment so he knows, someone came along at the right time and pulled him out).
So there is some small pieces of positive change going on. Yes I know much more is needed but there are some out there doing something good about making a difference and that counts!
This is a very relevant post to our times. And as I read Alastair’s comment above, I’m shocked such a thing should happen in his daughter’s school. It is terrible and my heart goes out to the poor child. Bullying can never and should never be condoned… even when it is couched in suitable words and carried out by adults.
Yes so very true – your words. The acceptance of it is every bit as bad as the bullying itself. The stand to take is a clear one. Stop those that do! Correct the children that do – that think it’s okay (because they haven’t learned yet that it’s not), Change can make a huge difference but only if we act wh.en we see this happening, not easy, but necessary for each and every person to understand – and as you say, most especially by adults! Thank you for caring, much appreciated by me, Penny. xx
Reblogged this on Alastair's Blog and commented:
Can you sit by and do nothing? I can’t
When my daughter was at one of her previous schools, she had what we call “a year of hell”. At the age of nine she wanted to take her own life. We took her out of school five or six times as she was being bullied, not only by other kids in her class, but by her teacher as well. Of course, confronting her teacher made no difference, and talking to other parents and asking them to take a stand against this teacher (they were all complaining about her as well) resulted in apathy. They were willing to sit by and allow this teacher to treat their kids in this manner when they were coming out and saying what she was doing. We went to the headmistress about this and she kept saying that we were overreacting even when the teacher admitted what she was doing. So we went to the board of governors. Whether it was coincidence or not, I don’t know, but at the end of that school year the head decided to take early retirement.
As you know I was bullied throughout my school life (and beyond) so I was not going to allow the same thing to happen to my daughter, So, I agree, indifference is far from acceptable, and that’s why I’m going to re-blog this
Bravo, Penny.
Alastair, you did so great. 🙂
Thank you Celestine. It was a very difficult time for all of us. Seeing her going through that was one of the most trying times
Yes he did and is Celestine, totally agree with you dear friend!
Being a responsible parent breaks the pattern that can sometimes continue or even start at home (as you know Alastair) you’re doing what needs to be done, even though you have to do it yourself.
Sometimes that’s the way it works. But being vocal, and taking a stand (even if you’re standing alone sometimes – and that can be scary) is the right thing to do.
That’s how we as a race evolve for the better. Thanks for the reblog, getting the word out, again and again and again, helps. Some people are slow learners and sadly some people will never want to be involved…
But most would if they really understood how important it is and the difference it can make at critical times in a child’s and an adult’s life. They could be that one person to make that special difference. Thanks dear friend, you are doing an excellent job with your children. Never forget that for a second. I’ve been through the trenches, I know of what I speak! With much love, Penny
I can’t remember if I tweeted this, so I’m going to now anyway. There was a lot of other stuff about bullying that I left out because it would have taken over half the page and bored people LOL.
I read what you did for your friend, and that was an extremely brave thing to do – and well done. It must have taken a lot of guts to do that.
A few months ago, I was on the sea front, I had gone down to an outcropping to take some better photos. On the way back, I noticed some lads throwing stones at another lad who was just sitting there, hiding his face every time stones went near him, and it reminded me so much of myself when I was that age. I yelled at the kids to stop it and became the target myself of the brats and their stones. So I phoned the police 🙂