Reader's view: Let’s stop treating bullying’s symptoms

Two issues are being raised in current social discussions and in the media: the damage bullying does to and in our culture and the problems in the socialization of our young people. We need more than Band-Aid answers to these problems. We again are trying to treat symptoms rather than getting to root causes of problems.
Have we the right to treat certain segments of citizens with less respect? Is it acceptable to teach future generations that some people can and are more valued than others because of their physical, mental or economic attributes? Thank God we humans come in many forms and patterns. It is difficult to avoid thinking that humans with similar attributes to our own are “better” and deserve more positive recognition and life reward (money and accolades). This is the root cause of bullying. Many of us attempt to avoid letting these attitudes lead to overt bullying, but “unfortunates” are still at the bottom of rewards and top the list of many identified “problems” in our society.
Many solutions involve further stigmas and the isolation of certain people. “You must treat this person well, because he/she is ‘different’” is a familiar solution. We humans thankfully exist in an amazing variety. It is difficult, if not impossible, to equally reward physical, mental or economic situations. Could we say to future generations that our entire society will suffer if we select certain citizens to belittle, devalue or disregard? Every human has positive attributes; let us find them.
All of our faith directives have the answer: respect for all humans.
Margaret Olson Webster
Tamarack