I AM MALALA!  (I will just
assume you know whom this means; if not, find out.)


Our government is just now finding
out that most of us (as a new poll proves) are independent, intelligent, do not
fit in a box, do understand what's going on, and are a threat to their often
assumed "automatic" vote to reelection. 


I think we're taking the wrong
approach with kid cyber-bullies. Instead of trying to get kids to not cyber-bully,
we should get kids who are vulnerable to being bullied (i.e., all kids who are
bullied) to think differently.  I know it might not work, but it's worth a
try.  

          Hey,
kid:


When
these cyber-bully jerks are pitiful adults, you will be in your best years—it
is worth waiting for.


Those
who bully you on the web (or in general) are either responding to a bad thing
in their lives, think they are cool, or are just plain mean. This should mean
nothing to you; it's all about them, not you; toss your cell phone and ignore
them. 


One
day you will be the cutest, coolest, smartest, nicest, have the best home,
husband/wife, kids, job, travel plans...and they won't.  It's always this
way, just ask anyone who's ever been to a high school reunion. So, hang in
there and ignore them; you WILL have the last laugh, probably sooner than you
think.


Yes,
it hurts, it's mean, and it’s not fair.  But the old saying about
"sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me"
is just as true now as then.  I know it feels like it's killing you, but
YOU have the ultimate power...not to talk back, respond, or suffer.  Even
if you have to throw your phone in a river, tune out and tune in to good
things, good friends, or a good book. One good thing is worth more than a whole
lot of cyber jerks.  They hate to be ignored.


It's
just a fact of life that the Ugly Duckling often ends up winning the beauty
contest later… or the bullied geek, the Nobel Prize… or the shy kid turns out
to be a millionaire, or gets the cool spouse, who is, hmmm… a kick-you-know
what Marine.  Please don't give in or give up.


I could write this a thousand
ways...but it would still be the truth.  Adults, help kids understand that
good does triumph evil, though it sometimes takes time.


And if you still feel bad about your
life, in the meantime, I can send you a list of kids who can't cyber-bully
because...well, for a lot of reasons.


God Bless the Georgia high school
football coach who lets handicapped kids have a chance to be the 'player of the
week' and ride on the bus, run through the hoop on to the field, go to
training, and all the "I'm one of the team" things; you are part of
the problem or part of the solution.  He put it best; "I'd rather be
a great guy than a great coach."


Apparently, a lot of kids are
choosing to wait to get their driver's license.  Good!  The traffic,
weather, or stupid drivers won't get better, but you will get smarter, more
mature, and better able to cope with the chore of driving, all in good time.  


If someone can become famous by
creating cast iron skillets in the shape of U.S. states, then any of us can
achieve anything.  In the meantime, I sure would like to make some SOUTH
CAROLINA cornbread!