Developing a Healthy Foundation Instead of Programs

     America is in a crisis like no other since the Great Depression. We are now confronted with problems such as falling stock markets, job losses, failing mortgages, and a concerted fear of an unknown future. Many of our dreams seem to be disappearing right before our eyes, as we ask ourselves, "What are we going to do?"

     I believe we are on the eve of a new revolution much as our forefathers experienced in their lives. It will not be an agricultural or industrial revolution and nor will it be just a technological revolution, as we have experienced in the last fifty years. Our next revolution will be about the energies of the world – energies such as coal, oil, wind, solar, nuclear, and the next new discovery around the corner. It is my belief that the energy revolution will finally bring all of our people in every corner of this great country to a new thinking, and generate an explosion of new ideas to solve the problems of the world.

     The search for the answers to these problems will not easy, but be assured, we will go forward! We'll calm our fears as best we can and find the inner strength that lies inside each of us and then we will reach out to each other - creating an unbreakable bond in order to face the crisis at hand - the bond of 'Dignity, Respect, and Understanding'. These three words will lead us to the solutions of the problems at hand and our awaiting future. To some people this vision of a new world will seem extremely idealistic if not fictional. Others will see this new vision as a beacon of hope and discovery.

     My first exposure to the concepts of 'Dignity, Respect, and Understanding' was as a child. The architect of this notion was my grandfather, a man of vision far ahead of his time. He taught my mother these beliefs, who in turn taught me. I have raised my daughters to understand these three words with conviction and deep appreciation. Now, they are instilling the same beliefs and my grandchildren.

     In order to move us from the beliefs of idealism to hope, we must first establish a greater comprehension of each word. 'Dignity' is an introspective review of our own behaviors – simply said, “We must see ourselves in the light others see us.” To behave with dignity, we must reflect a behavior that is acceptable and appropriate with all people and at all times.

     'Respect' is the behavior of which we treat others. Again, this behavior must be acceptable and appropriate with all people and at all times. We must learn to treat all people with respect at all times and without exception - even if we do not like them.

     'Understanding' is the key to our future. We have to begin a new thinking based on the belief to understand each other first and more deeply - even before sharing our own thinking.

     Imagine a world where people first looked at themselves and not at others to answer the question, 'Did I truly behave in a dignified manner?' Imagine a world where people looked at themselves to see if they truly were treating people with respect at all times and without exception. Imagine a world where people found it more important to understand others first and to share their ideas second.

     So where do we begin? Everything starts with each of us developing a new understanding of the world around us and our relationship to it. This is a time in which we must embrace real change. We must construct 'Dignity, Respect, and Understanding' as our cornerstone to a new and better foundation of our families, businesses, clubs, churches, schools, and more. Change can no the longer be our fear, but instead be our vehicle to a greater future.

     The second stone in our foundation will be the understanding of how our interactions with each other in both positive and negative ways affect us. Let's begin by looking at the interactions of a husband and wife. These two people create a system of two people. The success of this system will depend upon their abilities to behave in a dignified manner, treating each other with complete respect at all times and under all conditions, and taking the time to understand each other even before sharing their own ideas. If we had two children to the family, we would now have a simple system of four people. The same strategies of dignity, respect, and understanding should not change. The success of this system (family) will be proportionate to their understanding of the concepts.

     Now let's take a look at an organization that is made up of many systems. A school would be an example of such an organization. For example, a school is made up of many grade levels. Each grade level could have several systems interacting with each other and with other systems throughout the school. Take for example, the teachers making up the third-grade. These teachers would be the members of a simple system interacting with each other. The students in that grade level are a separate system. We could go so far as to say that the parents of these children would make up a third system in that same grade level. So if we look at the entire third-grade we would see many systems interacting with each other. The success of that grade level will be based proportionately on the abilities of all systems to treat each other with 'Dignity, Respect, and Understanding'. Businesses, churches, clubs, and government are but a few of the many complex organizations which have multiple systems interacting with each other.

     The third stone in our foundation is to remove the practice by individuals of power over others from the organization and all systems. A continuation of this inappropriate behavior in any organization will eventually lead to the destruction of that organization and the systems within it. What does that mean? It means simply - we must stop bullying behavior at all times inside the organization and within every system.

     If we have done those things, then we have built an organization and all its systems that will more than likely lead to success. It is at this point that we can truly begin looking at programs built upon our new foundation.

     Is bullying in our schools getting better? The answer is a clear and resounding ‘No’! The question that we are now asking ourselves “Is the expanded numbers of bullying due to our increased awareness of it, and therefore we are identifying the behavior more easily , or is this because the problem is actually getting worse?”

     I believe the answer is actually both a heightened awareness of bullying and an increase in the behavior.  

The National Center for Education Statistics 2007 found that eighteen percent of the students at the sixth grade had been bullied at least once per week. This was followed by fourteen percent in the seventh grade and twelve percent in the eighth grade.

     These numbers led to a six percent number in the twelfth grade. Some would say this number is nothing to be concerned about – until you realize that six percent of our population is coming into adulthood with the traumas of being the victims of a bully… and what about all those bullies entering the workforce as long time bullies!

     We must intervene on the behalf of both the victim and the bully at the earliest point in their lives. Our awareness of the problem and the destruction it causes must be clearly understood and acted upon though out our society.