What heartbreaking national news of so much cyberbullying with its difficult impact on youth, their families and friends. How tragic, too, when it results in untimely and senseless death.
A recent Deseret News article ("Dad responds to daughter's cyberbully in unusual way," Oct. 17) covered a local case where a young girl who was the target admitted that a tweet upset her but decided not to let it get to her. After receiving a nasty message on Twitter, the 15-year-old victim said, "Usually when people say stuff like that it's because they want to feel better. They just need that love in their life." It appears the perpetrators are also suffering. My sympathy extends to them, too.
Throughout my long life of nearly 80 years I've remembered the early motto my parents taught five children about kindness and proper behavior toward others: "If you can't say something nice to someone, just don't say anything at all."
Some time ago I heard an insightful youth speaker (17 years old) deliver such a strong, poignant message that I've never forgotten it. The young man's sobering wake-up call declared that we can never afford to hurt another human being, for people are God's greatest creation.
Carolyn Freebairn
Salt Lake City