CHILDREN OF VIOLENCE

Violence and mayhem are everywhere.  It's a part of the American culture. Rightly or wrongly, we all are somewhat desensitized to it.  It's the only explanation as to why we tolerate it in any form still.  We send our children off to schools where they are bullied into committing suicide regularly.  This isn't a rare phenomenon anymore.  I will be the first to state that suicide is an extreme solution and I wish they were able to understand that their problem is ONLY TEMPORARY and that SUICIDE IS A PERMANENT SOLUTION!!!  I am so sick of seeing the stories of children bullied to the point that they take their own lives.  I'm sick of people blaming the victim, referring to them as weak and the inability to tolerate anything.  The real problem here is parents raising children who have no regard for other human beings, humanity and life.  Your first duty as a parent is to protect your child, but protecting one's child from the ails of society is almost impossible.  So no matter what, your child is going to be exposed to some negative aspects of our culture.  You can't avoid it.  Somehow parents have to give their children the courage and ability to withstand whatever comes their way and I know that is not an easy thing to do.  Children are being jumped in school, beaten and tortured beyond the point they can handle.  It seems to me that most of these assaults take place in the gyms and bathrooms.  Perhaps it's time to monitor these places and have an adult present at all times in each.  I know that cutbacks make it likely not to happen, but this is where parents and people in the community need to step up and volunteer to monitor these areas and make sure that children aren't being assaulted in any form.  I know we didn't have to do this when we were growing up, but times have changed.
Exploiting and abusing children unfortunately is not new in our society, but it has gotten so much worse. People seem to think that children exist for their convenience.  Well they don't.  Each child that is bought into this world deserves unconditional love from their parents, food,shelter and clothing.  You certainly don't have to dress your child in designer duds, live in an extravagant home or eat buy only organic food to be a good parent.  You just need to love them unconditionally, provide for them and discipline them when needed.  Providing structure and a loving environment for your children is your job as a parent.  That is how they grow their confidence and learn coping skills.  Preparing your children to face the world daily without you there is just is much a part of your job as feeding them.  For the parents out there doing their best, I applaud you.  For the parents out there who know their children are bullies and don't try to alter their behavior, careful someday your child is going to mess with the wrong person AND get the lesson of a lifetime and that person might just be you!!!!