I've really messed up this time. I started another thread because I thought this had been deleted for some reason. I'll copy my post and hope that a clone will delete the duplicate.

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Although I hadn't posted to the thread about the Somali boy who was bullied by another student with a ham sandwich, I was following it with great interest. I found it interesting that, with the exception of heric and a couple of others, most of you don't seem to understand how harmful bullying can be.

I just want to say that in order for children to learn, they must be in an emotionally safe environment. If they feel teased, picked on, threatened, de-valued, ostracized or bullied, they are emotionally unsafe and are so busy dealing with their feelings that they can't learn. District policies vary but I would say that any kid who intentionally taunts another child should be reported to the principal. What the principal does with that information depends on district policy.

I find it odd that some of you are seemingly insensitive to the needs of a Somali child who probably came to the U.S. via a refugee camp. Do you have any idea what these kids have been through or the culture shock that they are experiencing? Sitting quietly in a lunchroom with non-Muslims would be a feat in itself. I'm surprised the Somali kid wasn't pushing his way to the front of the line so he could be fed. Thats what refugee children have had to do to survive.

I have no sympathy for the little jerk who threw the ham sandwich on the table in front of the Somali Muslim. It was a deliberate act of cruelty. I'm glad the bully's parents backed the suspension by the principal.

Some of you think that because you were teased as a child, its O.K. for kids to tease and bully today. Its not! Alot of things used to be acceptable in the past but that doesn't mean they were right. Past actions are no justification for today's bullies. You can't have it both ways. Either schools protect all children or they protect none of them. You decide.

Ron - I'm sure that you are right about the response of most American Jews. If however, the Jewish boy had come from a refugee camp (or any other camp) in the desert where he had to fight for food, I think he might have been affected in a similar manner. Keep in mind, the Somali boy was probably adjusting to many cultural differences. His response was perfectly normal. He just wanted to fit in.

Why compare the Somali to a Jew on the basis of ham alone? There is really no comparison. Muslims are considered the enemy by many in the U.S. Somalis are usually black. This child was probably learning English. Your comparison is not really about a Somali child, its about your need to show that Jews are in some way superior. I'm disappointed to learn how arrogant you are. Have you ever experienced war, hunger or homelessness as a child?

btw - I doubt very much if it was the Somali kid or his parents who complained. It was probably other kids who witnessed the act of unkindness and reported it to a teacher. Good for them! Any so-called news agency who chose to distort this story and make it seem like Muslims demanding special treatment should be called to task. The real story was about bullying, the hate crime was committed by FOX.