Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Chardon Shooting: Why?

On Monday, one 17-year-old teen fired a handgun into a crowded cafeteria in Suburban Ohio, killing 3 students, and seriously injuring three more.

These random acts continue to happen in the United States, and for the most part we don't know why.

Many people say bullying is the cause. These kids aren't prepared for the world around them - get teased and bullied in school - and then lose their patience, and so it would seem, their sanity.

Time and time again, we hear from people who say they would love to transport kids to 5 years into the future, and show them none of what happens in high school bullying matters. In many cases, bullies end up on the welfare line, while the victims of bullying are leading the world in research, or scientific discovery, or show financial prowess.

Many say we need to get rid of bullying in schools to ensure incidents like the killing of three students at Chardon High School never happens again.

But I'm not so sure.

Bullying is still used as an adult - it just comes in different forms. For adults to pretend otherwise is disingenuous. We play favourites, as our 'mini-me's' do on the playground. We have friends, and foes. We have people we consider friends and colleagues, while others are associates, and co-workers.

Bullying is a way of life, for as well. However, our minds are, for the most part - fully developed. We can distinguish what we see, hear and feel, and move on. If bullying didn't exist in adults, there would be no anxiety disorder, depression, or insecurities in us.

Dealing with bullying as a child is a necessary evil for children, so they can exist as adults.

And it will always be that way, until adults can put their bullying aside too.

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