WHAT TO DO
Bullying is not a problem limited to primary and secondary schools and college fraternal organizations. It has existed throughout history in a variety of forms and persists in numerous venues in this society, including sports at all levels, the financial sector, government, criminals, care giving, home life, and religion. Bullying in a number of those venues is carried out and approved by apparently responsible rational members of society. Children are not stupid but if they are confused, is it any wonder? Adults tell them they should not bully others, but they see instances where adult bullying seems to benefit and win approval for the bullies. The problem of bullying in schools will not be resolved until there is a successful effort to eradicate it from American society and culture generally. Perhaps we need a Bullies Anonymous organization modeled on AA. That would be helpful to bullies who wish to change their attitudes and behavior, such as myself. I consider myself a bully in recovery.
Just as there are alcoholics who don't care to change, there are bullies who prefer the way things are. One of my favorite quotes is applicable here.
"With the reasonable I will reason. With the humane I will plead. But with tyrants I will yield no ground, waste no argument." William Loyd Garrison
Replace "tyrants" with "bullies" and we have a method for dealing with active adult bullies set in their ways, whether its the premier of China or the child molester next door. If your children see that their parents are boycotting products made in China because the Chinese government is bullying Tibet, they are less likely to bully their siblings and peers. Bullies need support. Support reinforces the bullying. If you want to be part of the solution, stop supporting active bulllies.
Don't buy any product and/or service from which active bullies directly profit. Don't vote for them. Don't browse their websites. Don't purchase their literature. Don't attend their churches nor speeches. Don't contribute to their causes.
Contribute to legitimate organizations which are working to stop specific forms of bullying such as SPLC (www.splcenter.org), AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL (www.amnesty.usa.org). We can talk to children endlessly about the evils of bullying and urge them to stand up to bullies. Another method of learning that lesson occurs when children see that their parents , teachers and other responsible adults are serious about stopping bullying in our society and in our world.
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