I was looking at my Site Meter this morning and noticed that I have gotten a large number of hits based on searches for Chelsey Shores (the young woman who tragically took her own life earlier this week in Auburn).
There seems to be a lot of interest in this story. And I think that's good. Despite being bombarded daily with tragedy in the media, we still can feel the pain when something like this happens. There is a sense of collective responsibility and need to know why it happened.
With my earlier post getting a lot of traffic, there have been several good comments left behind by others. One commenter takes me to task for blaming her death on "mean" girls when there were other factors involved. Of course, I don't blame just the "mean" girls. I did not say that in my post. I only condemned the "mean" girl's behavior as it may have contributed to Chelsey's state of mind. I can't begin to understand all the factors that went into Chelsey's decision to end her life and I'm sure there were many. It just doesn't help anything when we treat each other badly.
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4 comments:
You may not have blamed the girls out right, but you did shame them. I am sure that Chelsey's entire class feels guilty. I was a teacher of Chelsey's. I saw how she was treated. I saw how she treated others. I, along with many of my co-workers, tried to reach out to Chelsey. Chelsey was very determined be alone. I know that is hard for people to hear or admit, but it is true. She picked on others as much as she was picked on. When others tried to help her, she demanded to be left alone, claiming that she could deal with her life on her own. Chelsey's statement will be a strong lesson for most in that class. I know that most of us who knew Chelsey feel guilty, even if we never made fun of her and only tried to help. Your words of shame are not needed.
I was in her class and I am sad at what happened. I am surprised though. Chelsey was dark and mad at the world. Me and my friends thought she would take her anger out on others, possibly at graduation. We never thought she would hurt herself.
As for the teachers...yeah, some of them tried to help. Others just turn their heads.
Shame.
What's in a word? Jesus once said there are no good men, only God is good, and I for one, despite my love for my family, and country, would have to agree.
The longer I live the more I see a dark underpinnings of human nature. Perhaps a little universal shame is due? We've strayed so far from what God desires of us, we need to come to terms.
Perhaps, Dave, you should have included those who saw what was happening, and did nothing, or those who create, and sustain systems of abuse whatever the institution? Shame on us all for concentrating so much on ourselves, and things that don't matter that we don't focus on what's really important - love one another.
As far as those who may have played a role in harrassing, assuming anyone did, they know what they did, and if they were taught the difference between right, and wrong, then perhaps they are already suffering in a world of guilt over every little comment they may have made. If so, please seek help, go to your parents, your couselors, your pastors, and talk it over. Get down on your knees, pray for forgiveness. You will be forgiven, your life will go on - don't let this destroy your life.
Don't let an angry, and unwise act of this girl ruin your life. Live a life worth living, and sin no more.
Work Buss...
Many of the twenty-somthings at work were talking about this today. Some said they were subject to cruelty at High School, some said they were popular, and didn't like the social warfare despite their popularity in High School. Interesting that even the popular kids, once out of High School admit the abusive nature of the institution.
The Social Ladder...
Has anyone seen the Humvee commercial in which children arriving on their first day at a new school nervously step out of their parent's car into a gauntlet of staring children. Every childs fear. Only to find that they are staring at the Hummer? The boy confidently walks in. No trouble, his parents money, and social status saves the day! Talk about confession, there's one right there.
I'm not the only parent who finds their child pressing them to buy a new car so they'd be cooler to the other kids at school. I heard this at work from other parents too. One parent saying they have to drop their child off in such a way that the other kids won't see their old car.
Lord of the Flies Rant...
We see the worst in High School, because High School has been made devoid of moral character. Commercials promote mindless commercialism. Videos, and music promote sex, without love, but endorse gang culture. Movies promote violence without remorse, or consequence. Video games - don't even go there - much of it seems like training for mass killers.
And there's the parents themselves, many children never hear the word "no". Many parents simply raise their kids to be lacking in concern for anyone but themselves - with no moral compass to guide them.
Ultimately we're talking about human nature. We can blame videos, music, even the parents, and the kids themselves - and YES, everyone single one of them needs to accept responsibility.
So indeed, shout it from the rooftops! Shame on You!, Shame on Me!
Shame on us all! But rejoice in our salvation through Jesus Christ, and God's grace, and forgiveness!
ET
Hey Dave~ I hope you still check this. I have something to add to this. We moved recently from Springfield to the Auburn area,so our children could go to a good high school.We were thrilled about our decision and confident that we had made the right one. Our oldest lasted until today Jan 17th. She endured 5 months of sheer Hell. We pulled her out because not only of the phycological effect it was having on her, also she flunked all but 2 of her classes.I'm typing this on my phone and would love to go into more detail. I will tell you this: the term they used the most to bully my daughter was"why don't you just go kill yourself".
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