Bullies...

So I read an article on how nine kids in the New York area are being charged in the suicide death of a 15 year old girl because of "relentless taunting". Response from state governments has come in the form of creating new "anti-bullying" laws.... anti-bullying laws....... anti-bullying laws. Really?
My heart truly goes out to the family of that little girl. I couldn't imagine losing my daughter so I have no idea the depths of the pain they must be feeling now. But all that aside...
A law that prohibits bullying? That’s the answer to this horrible incident? Is this suppose to mean that if anything bad happens in my community, we just need to create a law prohibiting it and it'll make all things better again? Does that make our city and state officials sleep better at night, knowing that by passing some law they've solved yet another problem and provided another case for their re-election?
Outlawing bigotry doesn't make bigots go away. Outlawing harassment doesn't make bullies stop wanting to be bullies. You're trying to legislate how someone thinks and feels. My question is, what got these nine kids to the point where they felt their actions towards this girl we're justified and normal? Where did they learn that emotional terrorism, whether perceived or real, was an acceptable behavior? Well, I have an idea.
We have created a “lost generation”, a generation of misguided kids that have no concept of responsibility, authority, reason, or accountability. They’ve been denied nothing by their parents, well, except for discipline and consequences for their actions. I’ve heard all the excuses - Don’t scold him because you’ll stunt his emotional growth. Don’t keep score because everyone is a winner and we don’t want anyone feeling bad. Give them what they want so they never feel empty. No child left behind.

The bully does what he or she wants because they believe they’re entitled. They can do or say what they want because they have no one to answer to except themselves. They look at the world only as it relates to them. Instead of being part of a greater whole, they are the beginning and the end. And the only reason they are this way is because of the way they were raised. It ALL boils down to parents.
Legislating behavior is just ridiculous. It’s the chicken shit way out of any problem. Instead of having the courage to tackle the problem straight on – the parents – we create new, unenforceable laws that don’t do anything but keep lawyers busy. If you want to go after anyone, go after the parents. And I don’t mean throw them in jail. I mean make it so two people have to earn the privilege to have children. Make it so parents truly understand the huge responsibility for creating a child. Not just a life form, but an integral part of our community.
I wish I knew who coined this phrase, “You need a license to drive a car but anyone can be a parent.” What if it took a license to be a parent? Hmmm, just a thought….