The Bus Monitor

There is a video that has gone viral of a school bus monitor who is being bullied by the middle school students she is riding with. I lasted less than two minutes in my attempt to watch. As more ganged up on the elderly women it reminded me of the novel Lord of The Flies and how much  struggled to read this book as required of me by my own middle school. Cruelty is hard to witness and it's hard to read about - even in fictional terms. The only defense I have heard is the often used - children can be cruel. True, and yet so can adults. I don't believe that is is a child's essential nature anymore than it is of an adult. Yet cruelty is an aspect of our nature. It exist and needs to be examined in the light of compassion so that we can rise above and move beyond it. The children in that video partook in a shameful act and will regret it for the rest of their lives - not because they may be punished for it - but because their shame is lasting and grows through the years and they become more fully aware of their misdeed. The bus monitors tears will water their dreams and sleepless nights and perhaps through these tears something will grow - perhaps the seeds of compassion and reverence for others will be nourished. We can not only hope - we can tend this fragile garden as well. As a friend of mine is fond of saying - kindness counts.

Peace,
Eric