Iowa Parents Defend Bullying of Aspie teen

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Since it's the Aspie teens fault anyway.

From Gawker

Iowa teen Levi Null, 13, struggles with Asperger's Syndrome and ADHD. He's always been picked on, but recently the bullies began ramping up their behavior: they started making videos of Null at school—some of them videos of his involuntary movements caused by Asperger's—and then posting them online with school computers.

According to Null's mother, the videos showed students hitting Null, smacking him, and teasing him all while the teachers are shown turning away. On Monday, Josh Ehn, principal of Melcher-Dallas High School, told WHOTV that the video was taken offline, destroyed, and all those involved were disciplined.

But the parents of the kids involved in the video are now standing up for their kids. The father of the teen who uploaded the video, Levi Weatherly, says Null is asking for it. "I would say three-fourths of this stuff he brings on himself and and probably a fourth of it is bullying that shouldn't be going on," Weatherly said.

Since airing the news story on Monday, the news station has received over 100 comments— not in support of Null and his family—but in support of the bullies. Most of the comments blame Null for his disabilities:

Jamie Harrison wrote: "He called my nephew a nasty name and my nephew Cole cocked (sic) him in the mouth. I`m proud of my nephew for doing that."

Nate Goof wrote: "This kid has done things to get people mad that I think he could probably control."

The principal ultimately ruled that the video did not even "meet the criteria" for bullying and the school board President, Bob Lepley, says he stands by the principal's decision.

Now, because of the backlash, Null is afraid to go to school. However, his mother also notes that at least two students have come forward to apologize for their behavior, saying they didn't know how much it impacted Null.

Anybody who believes that physical violence is an appropriate response to a verbal insult is an insufferable Neanderthal.

That is pretty bad!

I can't stand this "well, if you were less weird you wouldn't be bullied"-stuff

Anybody surprised??

This was my experience as a kid, and it's still the same.

I hate it, but I teach my son: "Just shut up. People are mean. Just shut up."

That's better than, "Just shut up. You are different, different is bad, you have no rights. Just shut up."

I'm sorry, but the fact of human nature is that, if you give someone an excuse to hurt you, even if you can't help it, they are going to take the opportunity.

That's The Monkey, folks. The Monkey lives in everyone.

That is why we will never be accepted, and why I'd be standing in line with a prayer on my lips if they said they'd found a cure.

You don't get to control other people. That's how it is.

Is there a source for this?

I still can't believe what I just read!

disgusting

"There's a slow leak in Iowa." -1950s comedian Steve Allen, when asked who watched his TV show

I think it's unnatural for kids to be in school anyway. They should spend more time with their families (I know this isn't going to happen.) But I think putting people in groups and confining them leads to the worst in people.

I pour wine and drink deep

To kill care for a time.
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And my servant's worn out.

How can I pass my blight?