I continue to be saddened whenever I read the accounts of teens that commit suicide as a result of constant bullying. Today I want to honor Phoebe Prince, a young lady I never knew, who lived just a hundred miles outside of Boston. Her story is so disturbing.
I could focus on her death but I want to first celebrate her short life. She had moved to Mass. from Ireland. She was a teenager that had much to live for. She is a beautiful girl who had loving parents. She deserved so much more and yet she was treated horribly.
As I write this I have tears in my eyes. Why? because the DA has stated that Phoebe was harassed, and assaulted at school in the library with a teacher watching and that teacher did nothing. Other students witnessed what was happening and did nothing. Nine people made this young ladies life a living hell for three months and no one would help her. They raped her and assaulted her repeatedly. Unfathomable.
Phoebe looks like many teens in our own city and in our own schools. I could be writing about a teen that goes to my youth group. That makes me very upset. WHY WOULD SHE HAVE TO SUFFER ALONE?.
This afternoon as I drove to Moncton I was listening to a local talk radio station and they were discussing Phoebe's case and a number of people called in. One guy stated that he thought bullying wasn't a big deal it was kids being kids. He did admit that this was sad and what happened was wrong but bullying was being blown out of proportion. I got to tell you those remarks made me angry. I wonder how he would feel if Phoebe was his daughter.
Every teen that suffers from abuse and bullying is someones son or daughter. If it was my son or daughter I hope that someone would help and not turn a blind eye. I am committed to helping every teen that comes to our ministry who is suffering under this awful abuse. No one should suffer alone.
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