Should Karen H Klein Press Charges? She says No, I say Yes

Karen H Klein now has over $602,959 in her Indiegogo account after three days of exposure. ABC News is reporting that although the Police say that the video proves a clear case of harassment Karen is still refusing to press charges. She thinks the boys should be punished, but should be punished by the school.

Disclaimer: I do not personally know Karen or these boys. I am going to be making general statements based on what I do know of the situation. Karen has the option of making her own decisions. I am going to express what my decision would be and why.

"He (the king or ruler of the land like our government now) will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor." Psalm 72:4

"For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight." Psalm 72:12 -14

Proverbs says even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right. These boys have been allowed to get away with many bad behaviors.

Often nice people feel that they are being unkind when they are asked to press charges. In reality, by pressing charges they are allowing the government to perform the function that God established for our protection.

What good could come from the boys being prosecuted? Obviously, up until this point nothing has happened in their lives to make them believe there are consequences strong enough for them to stop their bad behavior. I would bet that you would be able to find other people who have suffered similar taunts from these boys. Going through the court process would be a good lesson for them. They would have to get a lawyer, go to court dates, and have an impartial Judge pronounce a sentence. We know they would be guilty because it is clear to see they harassed Karen. This is the only way to show the kids there are consequences for their behavior. Getting suspended or expelled or kicked off the bus is not going to leave as much of an impact.

The other reasoning that seems so powerful is right now they are minors. They will be treated like minors in the court system.

The Bible says, in Hebrews 12:6, that God disciplines those He loves. For the same reason that I discipline my children. I don't love disciplining them, but if they are running toward the street and a car is coming, I need to know they will stop if I yell stop. It's not a game, and it's not time to count to three. I need obedience the first time I call.

You've heard the punishment needs to fit the crime. Meaning, the next time those boys think of treating someone else the same way, the thought goes through their head, "I don't want to get a lawyer, I don't want to have court dates, I don't want to see my family upset, I don't want a Judge to tell me what I did was wrong, and I don't want to have community service!!!" The other reasoning that seems so powerful is right now they are minors. They will be treated like minors in the court system. Meaning their sentence will reflect lessor punishment now, than if they are emboldened thinking they are invincible and can get away with anything.

Eventually, we'd like to see the boys refuse to treat anyone the same way they treated Karen because they understand it hurts that person.

In any situation, we need to let the police and court systems do their jobs. If we tie their hands, they cannot protect us the way God designed them.

~Julia

Who is Karen H Klein?

What does the Bible say about Bullying?

Fox News Interview

$413,465 Newest Numbers for Karen H Klein

The support for Karen has been overwhelming to put it mildly. God loves a cheerful giver, and so does Karen. After one full day random people around the world have $413,465 in an account waiting for her. The average donation to her on Indiegogo is about $20 per person. Over 19,000 people have decided to give.

Is anyone else totally amazed by this? Instead of riding the school bus, Karen's new job is hitting refresh on her Internet browser to see the generosity of people directed toward her. She is just shy of 26 years of her current income given to her in one day.

In her interview on Fox News, Karen said even more than the money was the support that the money represents. Keep in mind this interview was $300,000 ago!!

I hope that the message being communicated is clear. We do need to do to others as we would have them do to us. Matthew 7:12 While these boys were unkind to her, it is reassuring to see so many strangers taking a stand when they see amoral behavior.

For more information on this story:

What happened to Karen?

How should we respond to bullies?

~Julia

Raising Bullies

I have to admit, I've remained a bit synical with regard to the rise of anti-bullying campaigns infiltrating every media outlet, school and social circle you run into these days. I can't help but feel like it's nothing more than a fad. Take it with a grain of salt because for every 3 kids that are finding support and help to rise up against legitimate bullying, 2 other kids are going home and getting their parents all worked up because they were supposedly bullied at school (when in reality, it was a simple misunderstanding between friends or a immature boy saying the girl's feet stink). Bullies have always been around, most of us could say at some point in our childhood we were bullied by someone. So why all the hype and attention to it now, I ask.

Then I watch videos like this of Karen H. Klein, and I am reminded how desensitized and hateful many kids have become. This may not be the way it is everywhere, and not every kid is going to run into a situation like this in their lifetime, but it is a growing problem. The bullying of today is way more raw and hate filled then the bullying that went on in years past. No one can deny this. There was a day when the worst you would be called at school was "four eyes" or "chicken legs" but now, elementary age kids are throwing expletives in with those phrases and adding things like "i'm going to slit your throat" (yes, I've heard this first hand). This is not just happening in inner-city schools or areas of the country with higher crime rates. It's also happening in small towns and private schools across the nation.

Kids have become way too callused by the exposure they are getting in the media and through video games. Parents are continually becoming more disconnected and withdrawn from their kids and way more lenient in holding them to any kind of a standard. I was shocked and horrified the other day when I watched a grandmother and her two grandsons (who looked no more than 3 and 4 years old), sit down next to us in the theater for the Avengers. It was a movie my husband and I were excited to watch, but not something I would ever think appropriate for a 4 year old! If kids are already watching violence like that at 4, it's no wonder how they can move on to video games like The Call of Duty, and not be phased by it's graphic nature at all. Why are we so shocked when stuff like that starts playing out in the way kids treat other kids their own age, or in the case of Karen, adults?

With all the traffic being directed to our site due to these Karen Klein updates, I wanted to make sure we had something positive to provide on the topic of bullying. We are obviously a Christian site (you may not have known that when you first dropped in), but everything we do and write about is based on biblical principles. I want to leave you with some basic thoughts on this from scripture and some links to further faith-based, bullying resources. Because ultimately, the campaign against bullying has to start at home. Kids need to be taught respect for one another and for authority. What are you doing now to make sure your kids do not become bullies themselves?

Some simple things you can do: teach them respect for authority, don't use vulgar language yourself, model respect for others, do not put others down or make fun of people (especially in front of your kids!), serve along side your kids at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, model godly character and love for the outcasts and unpopular, teach your kids to stand up for what is right, teach your kids to help one another out and come to the aid of those in need, teach them to not follow the crowd when it entails having fun at someone else's expense, equip them with the knowledge of what to do when they are in trouble or see someone hurting, show them how to call for help or go to the authorities, encourage them to speak up.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is for building others up 

Eph. 4:29

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone 

Romans 12:18

Do to others what you would have them do to you 

Matthew 17:12

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you 

Luke 6:27-28

Other Faith Based Bullying Resources:

The Protectors

Focus on the Family: Bullying