When someone succumbs to a fatal illness or dies in an accident, a rational consideration of the circumstances, while not eliminating the emotional pain of the event, can often provide some answer to the question “why”. Amanda Todd’s death was avoidable. The reason “why” she died is because those around her apparently did not recognize the red-flags. Although the push for anti-bullying laws is well-intended, laws do not eliminate the problems. They may simply discourage the low-risk takers and can often challenge those more prone to risk-taking. What we need to do is focus more energy on reaching out to those whose pleas for help are often ignored. Family, friends and schools must pay more attention and act in response to the red-flags that more and more teenagers seem to be waving.
Commentary and photography on a wide range of topics for the purpose of stimulating thought and discussion as well as providing a temporary diversion, informative and/or entertaining, from the daily routine. db
Friday, October 12, 2012
Amanda Todd - A Tragic Loss
Notwithstanding the
reporting on sports, entertainment and other mundane happenings, newspapers are
driven primarily by reports on news, particularly news items with less than
cheerful story lines. Faced with an ongoing barrage of gloom, it is understandable
how readers can become desensitized to shocking events, that is, until you read
the story about 15-year-old Amanda Todd that apparently took her own life, a
victim of bullying. In this instance, the B.C. teenager had recently made a
video and posted it on YouTube regarding being harassed online and shunned at
school. Given her plea for help, why didn’t anyone intervene?
When someone succumbs to a fatal illness or dies in an accident, a rational consideration of the circumstances, while not eliminating the emotional pain of the event, can often provide some answer to the question “why”. Amanda Todd’s death was avoidable. The reason “why” she died is because those around her apparently did not recognize the red-flags. Although the push for anti-bullying laws is well-intended, laws do not eliminate the problems. They may simply discourage the low-risk takers and can often challenge those more prone to risk-taking. What we need to do is focus more energy on reaching out to those whose pleas for help are often ignored. Family, friends and schools must pay more attention and act in response to the red-flags that more and more teenagers seem to be waving.
When someone succumbs to a fatal illness or dies in an accident, a rational consideration of the circumstances, while not eliminating the emotional pain of the event, can often provide some answer to the question “why”. Amanda Todd’s death was avoidable. The reason “why” she died is because those around her apparently did not recognize the red-flags. Although the push for anti-bullying laws is well-intended, laws do not eliminate the problems. They may simply discourage the low-risk takers and can often challenge those more prone to risk-taking. What we need to do is focus more energy on reaching out to those whose pleas for help are often ignored. Family, friends and schools must pay more attention and act in response to the red-flags that more and more teenagers seem to be waving.
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