My country Australia and neighboring New Zealand has had it hard over the past few months, with floods, cyclones and earthquakes causing loss of life and enormous damage to homes, roads and towns.
In a time of tragedy, one of the few positives that can be reflected on, is the way wider communities come together in friendship and solidarity.
First let’s reflect on the story of Jordan Rice’s courage and self-sacrifice:
To then bully Blake Rice, the poor younger brother, is just disgusting!
Blake Rice, 10, has been unable to return to school since he was set upon by the gang, who reportedly recognised him from media reports. The teenagers later set up a Facebook page called “We Bashed Jordan Rice” to boast about the assault.
The incident comes after a series of verbal assaults and threats on the Rice family following the January floods that have forced John Tyson, Blake’s father, to consider moving the family away from their home town of Toowoomba.
Mr Tyson and Blake became well known across the world after Jordan, 13, died in a flash flood in January after telling rescue crews to take his younger brother to safety first. The boys’ mother Donna Rice also died after the family car was swamped in the flood.
The family believe that coverage of Jordan’s heroics have stirred up resentment in the town.
Debbie Anderson, a family friend, told the Toowoomba Chronicle, that they were sick of the way they had been treated by some parts of the community.
She said many members of the Rice family had been bullied, abused and picked on because of what occurred in January.
“They’ve laughed in our face about Jordan’s death,” she said.
The attacks have shocked and appalled the wider community, with Julia Gillard, the prime minister, describing them as “a low act” and Anna Bligh, the Queensland premier, saying the behaviour was “disgusting”.
The local authorities have promised to prosecute the teenagers responsible with “the full force of the law.”
Toowoomba, one hour’s drive west of Brisbane, and the Lockyer Valley were hit by a deadly flash flood on Jan 11 that killed more than 25 people. Communities in the region are still trying to recover.
Bullying of all kinds is vulgar. It is a reflection of the worst society has to offer. At a time when Blake needs the support and care of his wider community, he is being harassed, beaten and forced to flee.
Unacceptable and downright awful!
Topical Teaching 