Last night, after an almost unbearable television essay about teens who ended their lives on account of relentless bullying, I endured yet another twenty minutes of a show in which Dr. Phil, and another prescriber-of-cures-for-social-ills whose name I don’t remember, gave teachers and legislators a grade of C- for their inability to stop bullying in high schools.
Really?
If CNN has its finger on the pulse of adult America, then it must be that America no longer has a pulse, at least not when it comes to its idea of itself. Can it be that America really blames its teachers and legislators for the lack of tolerance populating American high schools?
Didn’t we all just recently witnessed a bunch of adults booing and hooting an American Iraq war veteran who confessed his sexual orientation?
Didn’t anyone witness the clapping and roaring when Rick Perry announced that he had no crisis of conscience regarding his noted highest record of executions of any governor in Texas?
Did we already forget that Evangelist Pat Robertson declared that the New Orleans flood and consequent devastation of that city was caused by the sexual orientation of its sinful citizens?
Didn’t we today hear an evangelist declare that Mormonism is a cult? Do we not support celebrities like Sarah Palin, who thinks that the problem with America is that its politicians need to “man up”?
Aren’t there myriads of apologists in the Tea Party and in Congress who justify the spitting upon, beating, harassing and name-calling of congressmen and senators?
Doesn’t Rush Limbaugh nod cautious approval for Anti-Abortionist who burst into churches and fire their Constitutionally-protected rifles and guns on doctors, their children, and on innocent bystanders? Didn’t we all hear him call Obama’s pre-teen daughters dumb?
Where do you really think that your children are learning intolerance?
America, do you know who you are?
How do you think our children learned that the dominant dog is the one who has the biggest weapons? That the one who shouts the loudest is the one who dominates?
Addendum to the post Oct 28
More examples of widespread, well-advertised natural-killer adult bullying:
Tea Party Sign – subtle, yeah, that’s democracy for you:
This guy returned safely from Iraq, but could not survive unscathed Oakland CA:
And here is the icing on the cake, a Tea Partier calling it as he sees it, using the n-word on those n-word people and saying he’s sick and tired of being called a racist. Ok. You’re not a racist. You’re not a bully either. Just a good ole American Constitution supporter. Yep. Click on the video link and enjoy.
Where, I wonder, oh, where are our children learning that bullying is the way to get ahead in this world?
Author | Laura Valeri 
Hey Sister,
I couldn’t have said this any better myself. What a nicely put and eloquent essay!
While reading this, I was hit with the thought, “Gosh, what a nice feeling it is to love my
sister-n-law.” It’s something special to be able to appreciate that. I’m so glad my brother
found you sugar. You’re the best thing that ever happened to him!
I had no idea you had a blog & wish you had told me. I’m going to
enjoy reading your archives & be sure to check back often for new entries & know I’ll learn
some things from you here as well. Now, if I could just get you to teach me Italian!
You may want to consider not torturing yourself w/ Dr. Phil’s comments. The
man’s an incompetent. You’d learn more watching “The Simpsons” than “Dr. Simpleton”.
I just sent J.C. a very long birthday riddle Haiku through FB. It was sent directly to him, not
posted. Remember I told you how I don’t really write Haiku? It’s always there, sitting at the corners & the words & rythmn seem to flow out on page by themselves? Well, this was a whole different monster. I had to work at it. It took me all night, 12 hrs. to finish as it had to be researched as well. It’s one long Haiku riddle in 3 pts. I’d appreciate it if you read it. I also just spent an hour writing J.C., explaining how it was laid out, what each section
was related to, to look to numerology, kabala, world events & people associated w/ his
birthday, etc;., so he might (hopefully) understand what I was trying to do and then
attached it to the letter & sent it. But am not sure if he got it. I can’t find anywhere on the FB
webpage that shows the letter was sent although other correspondence shows up.
I’m really starting to resent FB which is why my visits there are rare & brief. Every time you log in
the layout has changed in some way.
Anyway, would you please ask Joel if he got it? I’d appreciate it. If not I’ll resend. If you want,
I can send it to you. Didn’t want to clutter your email & thought you could read it on JC’s
Mac. Hope you are well. Thanks for posting your thoughts here. It’s nice to have a
a member of the family who has your kind of passion. Which is always appreciated.
KEEP WRITING. There are not enough great writers out there. I know. I read a lot.
You’ve got the gift.
Love Ya, Dylan