Too Quick to Jump the Gun

On Tuesday, October 22nd, a thirteen year old boy by the name of Andy Lopez Cruz was shot and killed to death by a California police officer. He was walking the streets of Santa Rosa with two fake guns, a replica of an AK-47 and a hand gun. "The Santa Rosa City School District family is deeply saddened by the loss of Andy Lopez Cruz," a school official statement said. "This is a tragic event for family, schools and the community. His administrators and teachers will remember him as kind, intelligent and capable."  Two police officers pulled over to the side of the road, and shielded themselves behind the open passenger door. They yelled at Cruz to put his weapon down, and as he turned around the cop began to feel extreme fear. The statement from the report said the officer thought the barrel of the assault rifle was rising up and turning in his direction. One officer shot Cruz and was immediately handcuffed. An ambulance was called, but nothing could be done about the wound. The fake handgun was tucked into the teen’s waistband and the rifle lay beside him.  Middle School Assistant Principal Linsey Gannon told CNN, "He was a very popular student. He was a handsome young man with many friends and a lovely family. He will be missed." On Wednesday night, a crowd gathered to hold a memorial. They grief-stricken members of the community congregated in the dirt field where Cruz was shot. It turned into a rally against the police officers that shot the teen. Cruz’s’ mother was too upset to comment. Obviously this casts a black shadow over the Santa Rose police department. Recently, school shootings have been out of control. Are people going to understand the officer’s brash reaction? Or was the police officer too quick to jump the gun?

Boy who cried "bully"?

Are we too quick to cry 'bully'? That's what some researchers are now saying. After the tragic teen suicides in Connecticut, New York, Nova Scotia and Britain, the world has closely related even the slightest amount of teasing to bullying. Since the beginning of October, many new campaigns expressing the importance of ceasing all acts of bullying have erupted. The word "bullying" has been abused in the last few years. Joking, teasing, or fighting has been automatically assumed to be bullying. The issue should, by no means, be taken lightly. But the casualness of the word has depreciated the problem, and people are failing to see the seriousness of it. The awareness campaigns have started an uproar in many schools. But despite the positive energy these campaigns produce, there are unfortunate side effects that were not intended. "Everyone wants to adopt it," said Elizabeth Englander, a professor of psychology and founder and director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University. CNN states that "people sometimes confuse bullying with the unfortunate -- but normal -- moments of angry, thoughtless or hurtful behavior. Actual bullying, many educators and social scientists say, is intentional, repetitive abuse by a powerful person toward a less powerful target." Say the word "bully" in school, and people are quick to react. The situation is handled differently around the country and different punishments are given for different types of bullying. Some states passed laws on the horrible act, but most states, educators, lawmakers, parents are to play it by ear. The reaction is mostly helpful, but some say it hinders the child's ability to cope with minor conflicts independently. So the question is, which cases should you investigate? Or should all educators, parents, and lawmakers revert back to the old days -- look the other way?

October 3rd, historically known as a "busy day"

As you look through the past, history is made literally every day. Some days are "busier" than others, which is why October 3rd is such an amazing day. I'm actually from Buffalo, so to learn that on this day, in 1964, the first Buffalo wings were introduced to the Anchor Bar. 

Pretty awesome, right?

Or how about that on October 3rd, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln officially proclaimed the national holiday of Thanksgiving? Or even more modern, Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy was attacked by one of their show tigers in 2003. 

Scary.

Also, in 1974, incredible racial barriers are broken. Frank Robinson was the first black manager of a major league baseball team. He signed with the Cleveland Indians, and forever forced that wall between races. In 1990, Germany became a whole nation once again. The German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany, and Berlin was once again reunited into a single city. This picture is historically known as a huge democratic win for years to come. In 1993, two US Special Forces Helicopters were shot down in Somalia, killing 18 Americans. That was twenty years ago, and still this casts a long shadow of wrongful foreign intervention. In 1995, the O.J. Simpson case was watched by millions of Americans everyday. He was convicted of murdering his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman. O.J. was acquitted o October 3rd of all murder charges. Now here comes the fun part, not only was O.J acquitted on this day, but thirteen years later convicted of a different crime. In 2008, he was found guilty on a couple felonies. This includes kidnapping, robbery, burglary, and assault with a deadly weapon. Somehow these were all in connection with a Las Vegas hotel room robbery. This man that caught the attention of the world and passed by came back into the system. I think it's karma. Simpson is currently serving a 33-year sentence for armed robbery at Lovelock Correctional Center.