I swore I wouldn't write anything controversial. I shouted from the roof tops that certain things I would just keep my mouth shut about. But I can't not talk about this.

Before me is an article which I have read twice in disbelief. Twice have I read it and now I simply have to write. This article is about the columbine shooting, and some of the motivations behind it. The real motivations.

The article displays a suicide note from one of the shooters. It's more profane than I'm interested in displaying here, so you'll just have to see it in the article. Don't worry, it's toward the top and hard to miss.

The article and the suicide note together illustrate better than I ever could some points I've in the past made. Childhood teasing is a problem, folks. Kids are more cruel than even Adolph Hitler. That's what they do. Their brains have a bit of difficulty grasping higher levels of humor so they ridicule for amusement. I've seen it before. I grew up living it. Every class has their kid who it is cool to pick on. I was that kid.

Before I go on, I must state that in no way am I making excuses for or justifying the actions of these shooters. This was not right. Period, end of story. There is no excuse, there is no justification. Be clear on that.

With that said, reading that note inspired a strange thought. In the back of my mind I realized something. I understand. That pain is a pain I know very well. Obviously I handled it much better since I'm very much still alive. But I do understand that pain. And that is why I am brought to say this.

Parents and teachers, teasing and belittling is a major problem in this country and around he world. Too many see this as a harmless activity, but I can tell you that the memories of it live on for life. It is scarring and scary. It is depressing and destructive. It is the reason some children do not leave their bedrooms. It is the reason some kids turn to drugs and alcohol. It is the reason some people will do anything and everything simply to fit in and not be alone. Because when you're The Target, you truly are alone. And it's because you've made the choice, the conscious decision, to be alone. You've made this choice to defend yourself. You've elected total isolation from the world as opposed to being exposed to the terror that comes from unbridled hatred directed straight at you.

So parents and teachers please, for the sake of your children and for those children all grown up, be involved in your community. Get involved in the schools. Help find a way to provide a healthy and safe environment for our children. Help stomp out the constant unhealthy teasing and taunting that goes on every day in schools. It needs to stop, and by standing up and saying so you will make a difference.