Learned behavior

I just watched the YouTube footage of bus monitor Karen Klein being bullied by students in New York. If you haven't watched it or heard about it, be warned, the language is terrible. I am not really even sure how old these children are but I imagine sailors speak more kindly (nothing against sailors). One thing I got from watching this, besides the urge to "break red" on the kids (if you can actually call them that, I prefer despicable subhuman beings) is that this comes from somewhere, I mean this is learned behavior. Is it their parents? Is it the media, TV or YouTube, social networking? I cannot imagine being allowed to treat someone like that, or even wanting to.

Some members of our society might not go this far, and some might.  There is subtle bullying going on with aspects of veiled racism in our town, some not so veiled. There is outright bullying of gay teens, to the point that suicide rates among them are skyrocketing.  Even with the "It gets better campaign", the Trevor Project, and "NoH8" gay people are still made to feel less than, many times by the same Christians that are charged to love and not judge.  The politicians are berating the "least of these" for being lazy, because if you are poor, it MUST be because you are lazy. Health care is not available to everyone, again, they must not deserve it.  I can see where kids could feel like it is their right to belittle others, they see it all around them.

I hope I have raised two boys who would have tried to stop the treatment of this woman, to love everyone regardless of size, color, or sexual orientation and accept them as the wonderful creatures God created.  I think I have.