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Cruelty within the U.S.A. Bullying in the Movies August 15, 2008 There's a new movie in town. Tropic Thunder is a big-budget summer comedy, rated R, made by Dream Works/Paramount, co-written, directed by and starring Ben Stiller who artlessly portrays Simple Jack, a character with an intellectual disability One would like to think, hope, dream that Hollywood luminaries would know better than to poke fun at the defenseless, especially in this day of political correctness. But perhaps that's the issue: it's okay to poke fun at those who can't defend themselves. A national coalition of disability advocacy groups has objected to the frequent use of the word "retard" in Tropic Thunder and in its promotional materials which, at one point, carried the tagline "Once upon a time ... There was a retard." The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children is proud to stand with groups who are objecting to such flagrant disregard for the dignity of all of God's children. Bullying in Elementary Schools June 25, 2008. Portland, Oregon. In today's issue of The Oregonian (section C-3), Leanne Italie of The Associated Press writes of bullying by "Barbie brats," stating that three-fourths of 8- to 11-year olds report they've been bullied. Italie quotes researcher and public speaker on bullying Meline Kevorkian who, in 2007, surveyed 167 educators, 25 percent of whom said bullying occurs most in elementary schools. What are reasons for bullying at the elementary school level? According to the article, it could be as simple as wearing the wrong color socks, the wrong brand of shoes, or missing the Hannah Montana concert. Maybe the child's lunch smells funny. It could be anything. Sometimes it's nothing. In Beaverton, Oregon, seven-year-old Allie Long became a victim of bullying simply because she refused to participate in a whisper campaign against another classmate. For that transgression, she was victimized by unrelenting taunting and teasing. Her mother said Allie "cried herself to sleep on and off for several months." Bullying among the very young is a topic that is gaining attention, resulting in more research and intervention. Parents, schools, and churches alike should embrace the opportunity to address the problem--presenting a united front to children to be kind and caring, empathetic and inclusive. Failure to put a stop to bullying at this age will surely result in an escalation of disrespect toward people of all ages. For free classroom/assembly materials teaching children, grades K-6, to respect others, go to www.johnsonsforlife.com and click on SOHL Education. The Trouble with Bullying December 16, 2007. Portland, Oregon. Recently in The Oregonian a series by Steve Pokin highlighted what has become a national tragedy—the issue of bullying. Bullying is despicable involving, as it does, aggression toward those who are perceived as weak. As subjective as that is, someone might qualify as “weak” because of his size, mental capacity, nationality, or any other characteristic that makes him “different.”
Once upon a time the word bullying brought to mind someone bigger picking on someone smaller, usually on the bus or playground where there was limited adult supervision.
Everyone knew who the bullies were and tried to avoid them. When that was impossible, some children were forced to grovel at the feet of the bullies—that, or be pummeled. Such groveling added to the shame of being singled out and persecuted.
Over time some of these children fantasized about getting even with those who had so mercilessly treated them.
Enter high school massacres, such as Columbine and Springfield, where we learn that bullying played a role, claiming many victims—innocent bystanders as well as those directly involved. No one wins when bullying is allowed.
That’s what makes the recent events involving Megan Meier of Dardenne Prairie, MO., particularly heinous. The perpetrators were not juveniles who, one could argue, are too young to understand the gravity of their actions. No, they were adults.
When Megan and her girlfriend had a falling out, the other girl’s family (including the girl, her mother, and an adult family friend) began to harass Megan covertly using the internet as a means to humiliate the thirteen-year-old. (The father of Megan’s former friend had knowledge of the harassment but, apparently, did nothing to stop it.)
On MySpace, they pretended to be a young man named Josh who wanted to be her friend and found her pretty. This, to a young girl struggling with self-esteem issues, was heady stuff.
However, these adult bullies soon pulled the rug out from under Megan by turning Josh against her. On MySpace Josh said cruel things to her, even telling her that “the world would be a better place without you.”
It was too much for Megan who immediately ran to her room in tears. When her mom went upstairs twenty minutes later, she found Megan had hung herself in her closet. She was dead.
This tragic story doesn’t end there. Megan’s parents later discovered the identity of the culprits who continued to prey on Megan’s family even after Megan’s death. On one occasion, they asked them to conceal a Christmas present they intended to give their own daughter as a surprise.
Added to their grief over the loss of their daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Meier also have had to deal with rage and bitterness. The entire episode highlights the horrors of bullying.
One might ask, “If adults can stoop to this level, what hope is there for children growing up in this world?” Indeed. That’s why it’s critical that people unite for change. The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Humans (SPCH) exists to point people to a better way, a Christ-like way of gentleness and meekness, loving God and one another.
Over the past few months, we've been concentrating on the prevalence of child abuse in our country. A new study published in the Internet Journal of Pediatrics and Neonatology is discussed below. The excerpts cited are taken directly from The Post-Abortion Review Spring 2007 edition, Vol. 15, No. 1, a publication of The Elliot Institute. A history of abortion is associated with more frequent acts of physical aggression toward subsequent children, according to a new study published in the Internet Journal of Pediatrics and Neonatology. Priscilla Coleman, a professor of human development and family studies at Bowling Green State University and lead author of the study suggested that the link between abortion and child abuse may be influenced by a number of key factors, including unresolved grief, having felt pressured into an unwanted abortion, and disruption in maternal bonding with subsequently born children. This latest study confirms the general findings of previous studies linking abortion with a higher risk of abuse or neglect. Previous research has also shown that abortion is linked with a subsequent increased risk of alcoholism, drug use, anxiety, rage, anger, and psychiatric hospitalization. Coleman's team suggested that professionals should be aware of the links between abortion and maternal mental health problems and "sensitively inquire about any history of abortion and related, unresolved negative emotions when working with women engaged in or at risk for aberrant parenting." Read the entire article including references by visiting The Post-Abortion Reviewhttp://www.afterabortion.org. It's interesting that one of the early selling points for abortion was that there would be no more unwanted children, that every child born would be truly wanted and safe.
Excerpts from the following article (found in The Oregonian, June 26, 2007, page A-1) highlight the need for people to step in and help children who enter the child welfare system. In Oregon, a program exists that meets that need. For more information, click on Hall of Fame to read about CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) for Children. Child Abuse, Neglect at a 10-year High Salem, OR. The number of Oregon children who became victims of neglect and abuse reached a 10-year high last year, according to a state report released Monday. The annual report "The Status of Children in Oregon's Child Protection System," said more than 12,000 children were victimized in 2006, a 7 percent increase from 2005 and a rate that is growing faster than the population. The report's key findings: As a point of comparison: In 2004, 12 of every 1,000 children in Oregon had been abused or neglected. In 2006. that grew to nearly 14 of every 1,000 children. Officials attribute the continued rise to methamphetamine and other substance abuse. The state received 60,746 reports--mostly phone calls--of suspected child abuse and neglect in 2006, more than a 10 percent increase from 2005. Of the total, 25,606 were referred for investigation. A number of families were the subject of multiple reports. Seventeen children died as a result of child abuse last year. Fifteen were younger than 5, and two had open cases with the state at the time of their deaths or injuries. In 2005, 18 children died of abuse.
To read the complete report, go to http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/children/abuse/and click on "child abuse and neglect annual reports."
Incest. Does anything make your blood boil faster than to hear that a sexual predator has been committing incest with a young member of his own family? Rather than protecting and providing for her, he has been molesting her within the confines of the family domicile (68% of incest incidents take place in the victim’s home).*
Over time, it is highly likely that she will become pregnant. Finally his treachery will be uncovered! But not if he can conveniently whisk his innocent charge off to an abortion mill. Not if he can hide the evidence. In so doing, he gains the opportunity to continue to forcehimself upon this child indefinitely - until the next pregnancy, and the next. What of her? Who will step in to protect her? No one will ever know.
Incest is more of a problem than was ever suspected. In her book The Secret Trauma, Diane Russell states that “4.5% of women report an incestuous experience with fathers or stepfathers before the age of 18.”** RAINN (Rape Abuse and Incest National Network) is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that operates a national toll-free hotline for victims of sexual abuse. VOICES (Victims of Incest Can Emerge Survivors) in Action is an international organization providing assistance to victims of incest and child sexual abuse. Apparently, this heinous crime knows no boundaries. When incest is discovered, the child needs to be protected and the perpetrator needs to be punished. At the very least, we all need to be observant and unafraid to report any suspicious activity directed toward children. * Russell, Diana. The Secret Trauma, Basic Books, 1986. As quoted in Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA) Incest Info Sheet.
**Ibid.
For additional news relative to child abuse (from a pro-life perspective), click on www.lifenews.com.
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