Sticks and Stones

For decades, one of the most pressing issues of society has been bullying. Numbers of suicides and killings are growing due to this wretched act. As I was researching a topic brought up in my english class about a boy committing suicide at Rutgers University, I found many other cases where people of all ages are being bullied and are suffering. All too many times the bullying goes unmentioned and helpless people end up hurting themselves, and in worse case scenarios, taking their own lives.

Many television stations, websites, and celebrities have broadcasted support programs and awareness sessions to try to stop this problem (video on "Websites Take on Bullying"). The growing issue of bullying can be found anywhere. Whether it is an adult at work, or an elementary student on the playground, hurtful words damage people in many ways. Previously, when I thought of bullying, the thought of the jock pushing the nerd into a locker came to mind. As I researched and began to think harder on the matter, I realized that bullying happens every day in some of the most unseen places. It could involve one adult bashing another's reputation, or it could even happen between two bickering teenage girls. No matter what the situation, bullying should always be reported and made aware by an outside party.

One example specific to SMU is the popular gossip site, College ACB. If you're unfamiliar with the website, it is full of ongoing threads talking about different students, greek organizations, events etc. Few of the comments posted are positive, and some are so hurtful they have been asked to be taken off. Since it is an anonymous posting site, people think that they can say whatever they want. I read a post the other day about a friend of mine. I was shocked to see that some people would actually comment and say that he is "rude" and "so cocky," when in reality he is genuine and completely harmless. Later, when I found out that his best friend was actually the one posting some of the comments jokingly, I told that person how awful it was to participate in this foolishness, even if it was meant to be funny. It is frustrating to think that something so popular is so obviously a form of bullying.

Personally, I think the trouble lies in awareness of the bully themselves. Many times, someone who is saying or doing these hurtful things does not know the affect they are having on the victim. The best friend of the College ACB victim, for example, was too wrapped up in the joke of the matter to realize a simple form of bullying was taking place. It is painful to think that a few words said by someone could change the life of a person and their family forever. If we urge people to speak out and make the bullying known, we can stop it before it's too late. 

Something's "Fishy" Around Here

Last year I saw a documentary entitled "Food Inc." It was a film exploiting the unknown in the food industry. This experience was extremely eye-opening to me and convinced me to become a proponent of all organic foods. I would urge my mother to buy organic milk and eggs from when she went grocery shopping. After seeing that documentary, I knew the cruel things that farmers did to chickens and cows just to make them produce more at a faster rate. It became so important to me to eat real and healthy foods. I had no idea that even tomatoes were injected with chemicals just to make them grow faster and stay red longer.

 

When I saw this article, it brought back some memories of that enlightening time in my life. The article states that there is an argument rising between the food industry and the FDA over the allowance of growth supplements in salmon. According to the article, scientists have found a way to inject the eggs of salmon with a growth gene in order for them to grow larger and faster. I can see how producers and consumers would like to see this pass. Fishermen would be able to sell their fish at a higher price without having to do extra work, and consumers would think they were getting more for their money. However, is it really worth putting wildlife and ourselves in danger? Food Inc. exploited the meat companies that force extra weight on chickens in order to produce more meat to sell. The chickens gained so much weight that the muscles in their legs were not capable of holding up their heaving bodies. Giving salmon a growth supplement is parallel to the fattening of chickens.  The fish would not be able to adapt to the weight difference. This could eventually lead to difficulty swimming just as the chickens lost their ability to walk. Personally, I would like to think that the food I eat is all natural and has not been injected with growth hormones or other chemicals. I also don't think that the act of toying with genetics is right. Of course, they are just fish and not on the same level as humans, but I don't think science should be altering the God-given genes of salmon. If we start now, it will only get worse over time. Salmon first, people next.

The Tween Scene

I once read an article about young teenagers talking back to their parents and being disrespectful to adults. It really made me stop and think about how it must feel to be a parent going through this situation. The article depicted a mother and daughter scenario where out of nowhere the teenager snaps and yells at the mother for no apparent reason. The article went on to describe a situation where a nine-year-old talked back to the parent after being asked to clean her room. Are these typical situations in a modern-day American home? It is sad that society has gone from one of utmost respect and gratitude towards parents and guardians, to one of hurtful depreciation and lack of communication.

We've all been there; snapping back to our mother or father because "they just don't understand." It seems that our generation of teens and "tweens" are becoming more and more comfortable in the way they speak to adults. The snapping back to a mother or father is starting at an earlier age, and the parents are becoming more and more tolerant of it. You can see from these scenarios that it is painful for a parent to hear those things when it is coming from a child that they have raised to be respectful.

In contemporary society, parents often give in when their kids disrespect them simply to avoid conflict. In reality, without discipline, nothing can be accomplished in a household, and the child will continue to be disrespectful. I believe the parents themselves are to blame. How else can a child learn the difference between respectful and disrespectful behavior? Growing up, one of my best friends struggled with this issue. She would tell her mother to "shut up" at the age of nine. Her mother would walk out of the room and allow her time to calm down until she could bring up the subject again. This tactic backfired, and my friend never fully learned how to show her mother respect.

Although it may be cliche to say, I do feel that the internet and instant connection to the outside world has something to do with this growing problem. Statistics show that kids are spending less time with their families and more time on their ipods, laptops, and video games. We are all guilty of it, and it is something that will only progress as time goes on. Sadly, society has made it acceptable for children to disrespect their parents even if it is a small comment or expression.  Children seem to feel that they are maturing faster than they are. When parents begin to show more authority, hopefully American culture will turn itself back around to a time when adults were always shown respect.