Miranda Gavitt is a Junior High School student. In the cause of discouraging bullying, she says that we need to pass laws to make repeating a rumor a crime. Let's give Miranda the benefit of the doubt and say that she's not yet studied the U.S. Constitution in school, so she doesn't know about the Bill of Rights that says the government can't tell us what we may and may not say.
Because of her age, I guess little Miranda doesn't yet know that life is not fair. We must develop thick skins to stand up to all the personal affronts we'll suffer through the years. Miranda says if we'd just pass the rumor law, we could put a stop to bullying. Despite Miranda's optimism, no law can stop one kid calling another names or otherwise making fun of him. If it were that simple, we wouldn't have murders, bank robberies, rapes, fraud, or any of the hundreds of other things that are against the law. I've never heard of any legislation that has successfully eliminated the evil it outlaws.
Just a word of advice, Miranda. You may want to outlaw someone else's right to call you names, but what about your right to say someone is a bully when you report him to the teacher? What if he doesn't consider himself a bully, and feels that you are bullying him by calling him that? Does that mean you are guilty of breaking the law you espouse? Be careful what you wish for.
". . .and a rumor crackdown." The Dallas Morning News; November 11, 2011; p. 18A.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
Miranda Gavitt is the sweetest person I know. If you have nothing better to do that pick on a girl's innocent and optimistic perspective of the world, than the bully articles that were written were directed at people like you.
LOL! Disagreeing with someone is neither "picking on" them nor "bullying" them. Bethany seems to think she and Miranda have a right to speak without anyone offering a contrary opinion. It looks as if little Bethany has a lot to learn, too!
Stop calling me "little Bethany". Little Essie May has a big attitude and picks on those who she feels are beneath her. You have a lot to learn about treating people right. Apparently little Essie has a big head.
There are many different opinions in the world and everyone believes theirs is right. Just because you disagree does not mean you have the right to be rude. Maybe you should learn to voice your own opinions in a less demeaning way.
LOL! The more you post, the more you prove the point that little Bethany has as much to learn as little Miranda does.
Let's apply Miranda's wish to your posts. Do you have the right to say I have a big head just because I point out the fallacies of your arguments? I think you're picking on me.
Everyone may believe his opinion is right, but it is impossible for everyone to be right. If my opinion is contrary to yours, then one of us has to be wrong.
To quote your own post, "Just because you disagree does not mean you have the right to be rude." Do you mean rude as in "Little Essie has a big head"? On top of being silly, is Little Bethany also a hypocrite? LOL!
"Little Miranda" has something to inform you of. This was a 7th grade language arts assignment with the goal of coming up with a creative way to stop a specific aspect of bullying. My aspect was the spreading rumors. I believe I covered the topic well, as I made a 100 on the assignment. I enjoyed reading your article and hope you have a wonderful life.
Little Miranda,
p.s. "Little Miranda" is 5' 9" and enjoying life
Hmmm - looks like little Miranda's teacher didn't know much about the Constitution and the First Amendment, either. Maybe that's why little Miranda doesn't understand freedom of speech.
Post a Comment