Spring brings a new bully

Many of you know my son Zach. He’s that guy who is always first to dance at any of our local events.

Maybe you know him from Shoprite. He’s the one packing out the water aisle.

Maybe you know him from town. He’s the one listening to music while he takes a daily walk through our community.

Or maybe you know him from Stanley Demming Park. He’s the one hanging out, playing soccer, basketball , laying in the sun listening to music, or helping a mom whose child just fell on the playground.

He’s my son but he’s everyone’s friend.

Spring blossoms and a new group of high school kids head out to the park, out from the eyes of their parents and their teachers. Every year a new bully emerges. This year is no different.

I know you would be horrified if your child was the one that thought it was funny to get over on the “retarded kid.” I am asking our community to please talk to your children. Make sure they know that trying to get over on a guy like Zach is reprehensible and that you won’t tolerate behavior like that from your child. Especially speak to your children if they hang out at Stanley Demming as that is the spot that teenagers hangout now that the weather is beautiful.

Let them know that while Zach is alone at the park he is not alone in our community.

Tell them that if you steal from him, they will be worse than a thief.

If you sexually harass him, they are worse than a pervert.

If you attempt to drug him, they are worse than a drug dealer. If you use him in any way at all that they are worse than the lowest of humans.

These three things happened to Zach in one day at the park. Unbelievable, right? If only it were.

If just talking to your child doesn’t resonate with them perhaps the threat of police intervention might. Whatever it takes to make it safe to enjoy a day in the park must be done.

Zach needs you to teach and talk to your children and raise them to be upstanding citizens.

The world needs people that will come together for the common good and stand together against anyone that would hurt a child or an adult who may be child like when it comes to evil.

You can do this for Zach or you can do this for yourself. Don’t you want to live in a world where a person with Down Syndrome can go out in his community without fear that their neighbor would be the one to hurt them?

Andrea Wasiluk
Warwick