The recent suicides of bullied young people are obviously tragic. Unfortunately, so are our reactions. Tears may be necessary and candlelight vigils may be therapeutic, but I’m not any of that changes anything. Our bully culture only seems to worsen as we glorify people who can dominate other people. Schools, corporations, and even parents, reward bullying. Young or old, no one is praised for being meek.

Authority figures often seem more disgusted with those being bullied than with the instigator. The Florida dad who confronted the bullies on his daughter’s bus faced a lot more trouble than the children who were tormenting his daughter who had cerebral palsy. Sometimes the bullies are adults–even parents–who are judging these kids to death.

The bullying-suicide connection is so clear that “bullycide” is now a term. Some of the most recent victims were 18, 15, 13 and 11. The good news is that a lot of people are now talking the problem. Dane Cook is a comedian, but the message in his Oct. 4 video is serious. It’s also simple but true. It’s our responsibility to act.

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