Welcome to my little space on the web. I used to write blogs often on myspace and I did one on facebook not too long ago. Now I bring my stuff to the world wide web. I'll be writing mostly about whatever is on my mind at a particular time. Plus an occassional poem or shot story thrown in. Now off to my first topic.
The story of Phoebe Prince is one of the most saddest stories I have ever heard. Worst of all, it was one that should not ever had happened. This link from Irish Central detailed some of what happened to her. http://www.irishcentral.com/story/news/periscope/phoebe-prince-bullied-by-two-separate-gangs-new-evidence-shows-89863757.html
To those who are not local to New England, Phoebe Prince was a 14 year old girl who immigrated to the United States from Ireland. Her family settled in the Western Massachusetts town of South Hadley. It was there, for various reasons that she fell out of favor with a couple of cliques at South Hadley High School. What followed was a barrage of bullying and insults that no one deserves to go through. Among the popular insults thrown her way was "Irish slut" and "Irish whore". Most disturbing off all was that members of the South Hadly High School administration know about what Phoebe went through, but little was done to stop it till it was too late. Phoebe eventually committed suicide.
Now one can't help but ask "Why was this allowed to happen?". Conduct that is not acceptable among adult coworkers seems to be tolerated if it's done by children. If members of the South Hadly High School science department treated someone in the math department in the same way and matter that Phoebe was treated by her classmates, they would all be fired and a series of lawsuits would pop up. But you hear many stories similar to Phoebe, but few with the tragic consequences of her story. Did they think it'll go away by ignoring it. Did they buy in to some BS notion that bullying is a teenage rite of passion. Fighting among teenage cliques has always been around. But what happened to Phoebe crosses the lines of decency.
Imagine being this young girl. It's Sunday night and your weekend of peace is over. The alarm clock on Monday morning gives you another rude awakening. What follows is five straight days of hell. Five straight days of bullying, insults and dealing with a clique of students intent on making your life as miserable as possible. Friday gives you a two day furlough from hell, but you leave school knowing that hell will resume on Monday morning. This is too much for ANYONE to take, never mind a 14 year old girl.
It was too much for her to take. On her last day on earth, she was attacked in the library, allegedly in front of a member of a staff. Later on, during her walk home, of group of her bullies drove by. One of them threw a can of Red Bull at her, hitting her. Later on that day, Phoebe Prince hung herself. Ending an all to brief life.
The local District Attorney recently files charges against a group of her alleged tormentors, charging them with various charges including stalking and statutory rape. The Prince family has hired a lawyer and hopefully he's a good one. If this is not a wrongful death lawsuit, then I don't know what one is. Worst of all, a young girl is dead. A young life is taken before it has a chance to realize it's full potential. Does it bother you? It should.
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