Tolerate each other; bullying leads to violence
High school can be rough for teenagers, no matter if they are in the popular crowd or if they stick to themselves. It's the age where most youths feel acceptance is the most important aspect of life.

Bullying is a nationwide problem and is defined as encompassing an imbalance of power and a variety of negative acts such as physical hitting, kicking, spitting, taking personal belongings, taunting, malicious teasing, name calling, spreading rumors, manipulating social relationships, extortion, or intimidation carried out repeatedly over time.

Last week, three teenagers in Wisconsin were arrested for plotting to imitate a "Columbine-like" scenario at their high school. The boys claimed to be having girl troubles. They also said they had a hard time fitting in with their classmates.

Yes, their behavior is unacceptable, and yes, they were arrested and will most likely go to jail. But low self-esteem can trigger emotions in people that can be prevented by ending student bullying and teaching youths to be tolerant of every individual.

The plot didn't happen in New York, but the emotional stress of fitting in with the "cool" crowd occurs in every state and every high school. There are some teenagers who feel putting others down is a way to get to the top of the popularity chain.

They pick on the students that won't necessarily fight back. Or they tease someone for not being a carbon copy of the rest of the student body. Being different isn't necessarily a bad thing, even though some think it is.

Teenagers should remember that high school is just four years of their lives. Some have a great experience with high school. Others aren't so lucky.

We ask students to be kind to each other. It is the only way to prevent extreme scenarios such as Columbine. Even if it doesn't go as far as a shooting, teenage years are hard enough; don't make it worse for someone by making him - or her - feel the size of an ant.

We're not saying every youth fits this mold, but we are asking students to stand up for one another. If a person is being terrorized by one or more individuals, stick up for that person. Make those who are bullied feel accepted. Remember, one small gesture can go a long way.

Someone once said, "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world." A simple hello or acknowledgment can make a world of difference.

Stop the violence and the emotional taunting. Does it really make you feel like a big person to make someone else feel so small?