Before I give a bit of my opinion on this, I wish to start by saying that I am always careful when posting opinions such as these. I do not wish to downplay the seriousness of the bullying problem nor do I wish to attempt to know the grief that the surviving family of Megan Meier must be feeling because of their loss.

That being said....

The biggest crime being committed here, aside from the fact that it was done at all, is that there are criminal charges against those who did the bullying. Do you realize what will happen to our children, teenagers, and parents if the verdict is guilty?

I try my hardest to be the best Dad I can be. I try to teach my children (all four of them ranging in ages from 2 to 8) how to be polite, respect others, and treat others how God would have them to do, but they are kids. I'm sure all of us can remember being bullied, and I am also sure that if we are honest with ourselves we can all remember a time where we probably did some bullying too. Maybe not to the extreme measures that have taken place here, or as the bully threatening to beat up your classmates if they didn't hand over their milk money or Little Debbie snack cakes, but we have all been on both the receiving side and giving side of negative peer pressure at one time or another.

I remember when I was in the 3rd grade there was a bully in my class named Shane. he was much bigger than all of us (as he had been held back several years). He tormented me. I was the kind "small" kid in the class and I had a tender spirit, or as my brother likes to say....I was a wimp. I still remember the pain and agony that I felt as well as the fear. My father was not a violent person, and he tried to handle the situation in what ways seem appropriate at the time. He instructed me to ignore the hurtful words, and just go on as if he wasn't there. He instructed me to ask Shane nicely to stop. When all else failed, we had a family meeting around the dinner table to discuss the facts of "Bullies". My father instructed me to stand up to him. So the next time Shane threatened to beat me up, I told him he could have his chance. he had to meet me after school, because school was not the place for that. We set a time and place, and I waited for quite sometime, and he never showed. I didn't make a big deal out of it. I didn't announce the next day that Shane didn't show, but that was the end of it.

I realize that my situation was in the third grade, and that not all situations should be handled that way. however, my family was involved. They didn't call the school, or the teacher, or Shane's parents, but they invested themselves in me,and I trusted in them. I learned valuable lessons about deciphering what was constructive criticism and what was worthless name calling and how to deal with it emotionally and physically. My parents taught me street smarts, and common sense. They taught me how to choose friends, and how to control my emotions and pride. I'm not perfect and neither are my parents, but the principles are there.

Where was Megan's mother when she was spending hours on the internet. Where was Megan's parents when she was depressed and emotionally hurt? Where was the concern and care from her friends and family?

I do not pretend to know the answer to those questions. I do however know a few things about parents and kids. I was a childrens pastor,a high school teacher, and a karate instructor of many kids ages 5 to 16. There is a lack of discipline, involvement, and love in many households today in the name of "Jane needs her space", or "Its John's room, I have no right to look through it", or "I want my children to like me, I couldn't spank them, or ground them, that would hurt them".

There were times when I hated my parents for checking up on me, giving me curfews, and wanting to know where I was going and occasionally checking to see if I was there. I felt untrusted, I even "felt" unloved at times, but as I have matured into a man and father I realize that they loved me more than life itself. My parents realized that they were to be my parents, not necessarily my friend. The two did coincide often, but love is tough, and they were. I'm so glad they were....now.

There is no doubt that the lowest form of cowardice is bullying, and it is disgusting, evil, and shameful that a parent would engage in bullying and lying with their child in order to harass another child, but it is not against the law, nor does it "cause" someone to kill themselves. A lack of love, discipline, and involvement, coupled with depression and aided by an inaccurate self view that is encouraged by parents, is more likely the case. the bullying was just the proverbial straw. Megan's parents should be on trial. Megan's "friends" should be on trial.

May God forbid that my children should be victims, or that I should ever be so caught up with myself, that I "can't" be there for them. May God help me to be a parent!

With the election season over and America preparing for a new President, many have taken the time to look to the inside and see where their party or voter base went "wrong" or "right". After all, we are to learn from the past whether good or bad.

Some however, have taken to more mudslinging and the blame game instead. Mike Huckabee's book is hitting the newsstands today, and it is full of lashing out at others in his own party as well as denomination and more for his loss in the primaries.

Don't get me wrong, I believe Huckabee is a very Godly man, and loves the Lord, but that does not automatically qualify him as President, nor does it automatically qualify him as a Conservative. For example...

"Many conservative Christian leaders — who never backed Huckabee, despite their holding similar stances on social issues — are spared neither the rod nor the lash. Huckabee writes of Gary Bauer, the conservative Christian leader and former presidential candidate, as having an "ever-changing reason to deny me his support." Of one private meeting with Bauer, Huckabee says, "It was like playing Whac-a-Mole at the arcade — whatever issue I addressed, another one surfaced as a 'problem' that made my candidacy unacceptable."He also accuses Bauer of putting national security before bedrock social issues like the sanctity of life and traditional marriage. "

Hmmm, maybe if Mr. Huckabee understood the constitution as a true conservative does, he too would see that putting an issue such as National Security (which is a federal issue) versus abortion or traditional marriage (which are state issues) is precisely what a Conservative should put first when running for the highest office in the Federal Government.

Don't get me wrong. I too believe that abortion is a heinous crime, and totally reprehensible. I also believe that the establishment of marriage is that of one woman and one man joined together. They are both major thermometers of the direction of the country, and toward the integrity and values of the President, but should not be the main concern of a President. In fact to legislate (on the Federal level) such things as marriage and abortion, is as defined by the Constitution providing for more Federal involvement, and "Bigger" Government, something a true conservative does not believe in. I do also understand those issues all point to the types of Supreme Court Justices that will be apointed, but they alone do not make a person "conservative"

Conservatism is not a two or three issue position, and Mike's stance on economic issues and National Security issues are far from conservative. Raising taxes (whether to appease the Democrats or for other reasons), giving immunity to current illegals, and other stances should have most conservatives concerned.

Mike Huckabee should have a place in the future of the conservative movement, but not as its leader or poster child. A proponent of the sanctity of life, no doubt. An example of Christian values and morals, definitely. But the leader of Neo-Conservatism no thank you. Men like Senator Jim DeMint, and Former Senator and Presidential Candidate Fred Thompson should be the voice of the conservatives, both in word and in deed.

Link on Huckabee's book. Click Here