Bullies come in all different shapes, colors and sizes. The most important thing to remember about them is that they are cowards. Bullies are usually unhappy about something in their own personal lives, and they deal with those issues by picking on others. Sadly enough, in the midst of it all, it is hard for the person being bullied to remember this. Instead they internalize this negative behavior sometimes resulting in self-hate, self-mutilation, and possibly suicide.

Just today I read a headline about a young boy in Long Island, NY that committed suicide possibly due to “bullying,” related to his sexuality. It was too painful for me to read beyond the headline, so I can’t imagine what he felt like living in it. We failed him and so many others. Schools have fallen short on protecting the children they are supposed to protect. No, they can’t be held responsible entirely but school should be a safe place. That’s no longer the case in 2012 nor has it been for a long time. Parents have failed also. They have forgotten to teach their children to think for themselves and not collectively abuse someone their peers deem as “different.”

Bullying has gone beyond the name-calling and has moved to physical abuse and cyberbullying.  I think it has become imperative that every school adopts a curriculum that will address this behavior. Parents still have the greatest responsibility in teaching their children about differences and empathy. They are supposed to lay the foundation and be a role model for them. It doesn’t always work that way. Adults bully people too. Adults in general need to be better role models. For example, a television news reporter last week was attacked via email about her weight. The individual has since apologized but does he not realize that the damage has already been done? No apology can erase his unnecessary attack on her.  That is the same for children and teens that are bullied for a period of time. We need to combat those negative experiences by empowering them.

Sadly, bullying is a daily occurrence. Rising above it has to be a collective effort. I don’t think bullying will ever disappear. I can only hope that it will. As a people we need to empower those that have been bullied and encourage the bullies to modify their behaviors. We need to look at our similarities and move away from the constant focus on differences. Black, white, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, heterosexual, bisexual, and homosexual, are labels we've adopted that describe small components that make up our whole selves. When people realize that our differences make us unique and that we’re not all that different, things will change.  Until then, bullying will continue and many lives will be lost.