What happened to it?
June 22, 2012 (Friday)
Karen Kline of Rochester, New York used to be a school bus driver; now she is a bus monitor. A few days ago, some Middle School kids taunted her on the bus. A kid who was observing the taunting made a video recording of the insults and rude behavior, along with the kind responses of the 68-year-old who was being mistreated. Well, the video made it to the internet, and has been viewed by millions of people worldwide.
When word got out that the lady would really like to take a small vacation, money began coming in for her. Almost $400,000 had been received at her school for her as of Thursday. The emails were coming into the school’s office computers also, at the rate of 30 per minute.
Many of the emails and tweets were supportive of the elderly lady who was being treated shamefully by the kids. But a disturbing trend is being seen in the responses and comments coming into the school’s office. Vitriolic calls for violence, both against the mean kids and the dear old lady, along with the school’s administrators. Rumors of involvement by people who were not on the bus and have no first hand knowledge of what went on have arouse the ire of thousands who are calling for action against them.
This one incident is an example of what is commonly known these days as “incivility,” which thoughtful people are beginning to see as a trend that can only bring harm to this nation, and, judging from the worldwide response in this case, to the world. This trend can easily be seen during the course of an average day, in virtually every aspect of 21st century life.
Much has been spoken and written about the causes and cures of this disturbing trend. There probably is no simple answer to “Why?” But there is a simple solution: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” It’s at least a start.