Letter: Bullying at root of society's breakdown
Another shooting. More grief. The same questions. Why? It is not the guns. It is mental health, but how? The Walmart incident gives an important clue: bullying.
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is a very important principle of society. We are all connected in ways that we do not realize. Bullying usually starts in childhood. The weak or different are chosen as the "losers" to be the targets of the cruelty of others.
Many people need "losers" to make themselves feel more secure. "Losers" are not allowed to be successful.
Bullying is not just vicious teasing or physical abuse. It is also rudeness and coldness. Even things such as tailgating in cars and cutting in lines are forms of abuse and bullying.
Bullying is from fear and anger. It moves from person to person and focuses on the weak or different. It creates depression, anger, and rage in those who it becomes most focused upon.
The increase in shootings has correlated with a general breakdown of society and increasing bad social behaviors in everyone. Fear and anger has increased greatly. The shootings are to be expected and will get worse. It is not just the mental health of the individual. It is the mental health of society.
We all need to look at ourselves. What are we doing? How are we treating others? Even the smallest acts of unkindness are like harmonics. They can pile up on each other and build up into huge problems.
It only takes a small harmonic push to move water into a huge powerful wave. Human behavior is the same. It works for bad and for good.
Rich Lorimer
Streamwood