Anti-bullying campaign should be year round

Published 8:41 am Sunday, October 4, 2015

There is a young girl in Orange County who is one of three beautiful girls, and one half of a set of twins.

When the twins were born, no one expected the joyous moment to immediately switch to a heart wrenching state of concern for mom, as well as the babies, as one infant was rushed to another hospital.

One infant was inflicted with tests upon tests as the family, immediate and extended, was left wondering what happened.

Without an inkling of trouble during the pregnancy, there was no warning that one of those precious babies was facing any issues until she arrived.

That same sweet child, now five-years-old, has faced over two dozen surgeries to correct a cleft palette as well as fitted for a glass eye.

She may look different than other children but she thinks and acts like ones her age. She is full of curiosity of how and why, just like any youngster.

It is difficult enough to raise children with a single income as one parent stays at home to care for the extra needs of a child facing surgery upon surgery. To be forced to bite one’s tongue as they hear the comments strangers make becomes more difficult when the child starts asking WHY strangers say such mean things.

That same child is old enough to be aware of the comments strangers make when they are shopping or eating out as families often do. These strangers are adults not children.

Those same comments would be classified as bullying if one child said it to another at the playground or at school.

It makes one wonder what happened to the saying “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then do not say anything at all.”

An anti-bullying campaign has swept the country in an attempt to unite communities nationwide to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention. October is National Anti-Bullying month.

Should one wait until October to be aware of bullying? No, this should be a daily part of ones life as shown with the added Be Kind to Others Day.

Have we really become a society that needs to be reminded to take a day to be nice to others? Shouldn’t random acts of kindness and anti-bullying education be a part of every day life?