#CyberBullying in 2013

In this day and age, what makes kids think that rape, assault, bullying and cyberbullying is okay? Or even cool? 

When I was a kid, I was taught no means NO. I was brought up believing that no one should harm another living being. I learned that bullying was wrong, no matter the format; and that if I saw bullying, to step in or get help. But I lived in a different kind of world than the kids today live in. There was no Facebook. No Twitter, no real social media - unless you were rich or a hacker. Bullying was done on the playground after school. Or on the way home from school. It was still bullying, but at the end of the school day, you could actually escape from it; go on with the rest of your day. Sure, it would still be on your mind, wondering what would happen the next day when you went back to school, but the bully had no way of reaching you inside your own home. 

In today's society, that world no longer exists. Now, a kid who is bullied at school can't just go home and forget about it. No, they now have to deal with the bullies being online. Spreading rumors that reach further than they ever could before. And up until recently, no one really knew how to deal with the issue. School Administrators would claim that if bullying was done off school property, they could do nothing about it. Authorities would say that it's just kids being kids, and until proof could be presented - or someone was physically harmed - there was nothing they could do about it. Parents would be left with no recourse to protect their children from cyber bullying. Leading kids to think that no one could help them. That the bullying would continue. Leaving them no hope for a normal life. Leaving them thinking that the only escape is death.

There have been several cases in the news recently. Rehtaeh Parsons; Amanda Todd; Jane Doe from Steubenville; Jane Doe from Connecticut; Jamie Rodemeyer. And those are just a handful. The list seems endless. Kids so young facing bullying. And losing their lives over it. All their stories are different; the only thing they have in common is that they were all bullied. Bullied to death. 

In this day and age, you would think that things would have changed. But, if anything, it's only gotten worse. Thank you, Social Media. If anything, we've warp-jumped back in time to the dark ages. The victim STILL gets the blame. They are STILL persecuted in many different ways. 

There are always more than one story when it comes to bullying: The Bully's Story; The Bullied's Story; The Bystander's story; The Parent's Story; The Friends' Stories; The Teachers' Stories. I want to hear ALL of these points of view. No judgement, no finger-pointing. Anonymity is always assured. 

The next part of this series will be based on what laws were in place, and what has changed. We'll also look at what MUST be changed to protect the lives of our kids. 

If you would like to submit your story, you can email me at TheStoryBlogger123@gmail.com - No matter your point of view or experience, I want to hear it. 

An Ordinary Woman
June 9, 2013
*this letter can be shared, however I do not authorize any alterations without my approval  

#GUNS. An #OpenLetter to the Supporters of the #NRA

To the supporters of the NRA

I wonder, sometimes, how you can support an organization that seems to have no problem glossing over gun violence and deaths of innocents that could have been prevented.

I think it's because after everything is said and done, you get on with your lives; things return to normal.

But what you don't realize, or choose to not see, is that for so many families in 2012, and every year before that, life does not go back to normal. Time as they knew it has stopped. And they then have to blindly find their new version of "Normal" as they try to try to come to grips with the loss of their loved ones to gun violence - often preventable gun violence. Life will no longer be the same for them. Life will go on, of course, but the sense of loss. The sense of anger. The anguish. The grief. The knowledge that the loved one is gone. That whatever needed to be said will never have a chance to be said.

Put yourself in their shoes for a moment before you go back to your "Normal" life. Think about what you would have experienced, if you had been one of the countless families that have lost someone to gun violence.

More recently, put yourself in the shoes of the parents and teachers of Newtown, Connecticut. Their children, gone. How do you imagine it feels for those parents who will never get to say goodnight to them again? To never say I LOVE YOU to them again, never to cuddle. Dote on. Even argue with.

What would your new normal be? I bet it would be just like those parents. BLEAK.

Perhaps instead of defending your "right" to keep and bear arms to "Protect yourself or go hunting", you should think about it. Do you REALLY need an assault weapon? A semi-automatic? Because if that's what you use for hunting, I'd say perhaps it's time to find a new hobby. And let's get logical. You do NOT need a semi-automatic weapon of ANY kind to defend your home. I'm quite sure a regular gun would do just fine.

And perhaps, as you tuck your loved ones into bed tonight, you might want to think about them. If you really feel you MUST have a weapon in your home, please PLEASE, at least store them properly. Away from tiny hands.

Now. Both sides of this whole issue need to grow up. No one wants to take away your legal firearms. But seriously. you DO. NOT. NEED. some army-issue or whatever semi-automatic weapon. THAT is what really needs some regulation.

So how about it? Let's discuss it. - LIKE THE ADULTS WE PRETEND TO BE. Do it for your loved ones. Do it for the families who have lost innocent lives to guns. Do it for yourself. Whoever you do it for, let's do it right.

I would love to hear your feedback. Especially on such a sensitive topic. All opinions are welcome, but Trolls and abuse (Like usual) will be reported, deleted and banned.

*And maybe one day I'll tell you some secrets I know about the NRA.  Yep, I know a couple of them :)

With thanks,

An Ordinary Woman
January 2, 2012
*this letter can be shared, however I do not authorize any alterations without my approval