This is the second blog I felt compelled to write on bullying in my short time as MP. We all no doubt feel a great deal for the family of Amanda Todd. She committed suicide because she felt no hope, felt she had no future, and she felt deeply alone. She was a victim of bullying.
The pain and suffering her parents are experiencing are feelings none of us who are parents would ever wish to experience.
Amanda’s story is one that hits home and heart. Like all parents, I worry about children and youth who are bullied. The suffering that occurs, often in silence, would pain any parent. Moreover, technology like social media is now so widespread that bullying seems to have reached a new level of cruelty.
Jackie Cutcliffe of Colonel Gray High School and other teachers are taking a leadership role in tackling bullying by listening to youth on this issue. We must support these efforts.
And while Members of Parliament from all political parties have been debating bullying legislation in the House of Commons, it is also important to continue hearing from the youth on what is occurring in our schools and online. We really need to listen to them. We need to listen to their solutions and their ideas. Adults, all of us, must also take serious this issue of bullying in our schools and in our community.
I encourage anyone to contact me in a variety of ways that has thoughts on solutions to bullying by facebook, twitter: @seancaseymp, my website: www.seancasey.liberal.ca , email: sean.casey@parl.gc.ca, by calling me at 566-7770 or by dropping in at 75 Fitzroy Street for a chat.
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