This week, the Internet is buzzing with the viral video of bullied bus monitor Karen Klein.
The video shows a group of young kids teasing the 65-year-old woman in an extremely rude and inappropriate manner.
People from across the country viewed the video with a mix of shock and outrage, and began an online campaign to raise money to send Ms. Klein on “the vacation of a lifetime.”
The fund has long surpassed its goal of $5000, currently raising over $650,000.
Klein told the Today Show “I keep thinking, ‘What have I done?’ It’s like I almost don’t feel like I deserve it.”
Sorry folks, but I have to agree with her. She doesn’t deserve it.
Don’t get me wrong, I think situation is heinous, but will $650,000 make it better? It seems that the issue here is not that Ms. Klein should be rewarded for her pain and suffering, but that the kids should be held responsible for causing it.
A few have come forward and issued lukewarm apologies, but it goes beyond that.
Some of the families have reported that they are receiving hate mail and threats and that boys have learned their lessons. Have they really?
Did they learn a lesson about compassion and treating others with kindness, or did the tables being turned on them spur their lesson in “empathy”?
Treating people with thoughtfulness and dignity should not be optional. Showering someone with money and gifts should not be considered the antidote for enduring the pain of bullying.
Teaching our children how to be respectful of others should be mandatory. Bullying should be viewed with zero tolerance.
Ms. Klein has indicated that she will buy her children cars and donate the rest of the money to charity. Perhaps the boys that did this should be required to do something charitable too, in order to compensate for their behavior. Then perhaps they will learn the true lesson here.
photo: Glasshouse Images
Tags: bullying, bus monitor, current-events, fundraising, hate, inappropriate behavior, Karen Klein, kids mistreating older woman
Indigo jones 
June 27, 2012 at 2:40 pm |
Useful info. Lucky me I discovered your web site by accident, and I am stunned why this twist of fate didn’t took place in advance! I bookmarked it.
June 29, 2012 at 10:19 am |
I felt awful after watching that video, but I am glad that Karen Klein is getting somewhat of a happy ending. I think she deserves it and I’m glad that she is donating some of that money to charity and good causes. I wrote an article yesterday about her story and the power of the Internet and social media. Here’s the link if you’d like to check it out:
http://caseykurlander.wordpress.com/
Thanks!
Casey