“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches

Last night, one of my son’s friends posted something on Facebook, well, more than something. I put friends in italics because this boy is no longer a friend. He crossed a line. At 14 years old, he has decided that posting racist, inflammatory and hate filed remarks were funny. Yes, I said he thought he was being FUNNY. He also posted pornographic images (think women spread eagle and close up and men’s penises). Yes, he thought he was being funny.

I reported him. I told his mother.

I’m going to caveat this with saying that I am not a prude. I have NO issue with public breastfeeding (in fact, I still nurse my youngest at 17 months), I have NO issue with adults doing as they wish so long as it harms no others. I DO have an problem with a 14 year old boy thinking this type of behavior is ok. It’s not. A – he’s underage, so who knows where he got those pictures from to begin with. B – he’s going to get himself hurt. He has/had people on his FB that are of different cultures and they were PISSED. Who can blame them? C – he is going to regret his actions later in life as he has no idea that this stuff STAYS THERE FOREVER. Even if you delete, FB has it saved in their servers. YIKES!

As I said, my son is NOT friends with this boy anymore. I have raised my children to be respectful and tolerant. We are human, we err. BUT we do NOT insult or threatening or demean anyone – I don’t care what colour you are, I don’t care what your orientation, gender, sex preference, what ever – you don’t do something to someone else that you wouldn’t want done to you.

The boy needs a lesson in tolerance, respect, and so much more. After last night, I’m afraid he won’t or if he does, it will be an extremely hard lesson.

Remember – love each other. We have one world, one planet, and we are stuck here with each other – learn to deal with it, embrace it.