Having a few hours of free time last Friday night, hubby and I went to Barnes and Noble to relax and read and I noticed an article about school bullying in the latest issue of People Magazine. The media has picked up on the bullying problem and reported a program which some schools across the country have implemented in their district. Actually, there are several different programs to choose from, some better than others but the idea of bullying have been reported in schools everywhere and school administrations are realizing the widespread problem this has been causing their students.

This past Wednesday, a letter to the editor was printed from Olaf Childress of Silverhill. His comment to the Baldwin County Board of Education was disturbing. Not so much about who started World War II but the questions he asks about getting both sides of the story of Nazi bashing. Last month, Hilmer von Campe gave a series of lectures to the seniors at Robertsdale High School on his personal memories of Germany’s rise to National Socialism and comparing these experiences with those of this country. I believe this would have been an excellent series for students to hear from one who had been there and how this would be detrimental to our country. Our youth need to be taught about the consequences of Hitler’s actions as to keep it from happening again.

Mr. Childress suggests that someone should play “devil’s advocate” and present Hitler as a human being. Why would anyone want to do this? There is enough evidence in the record showing the horror and indecency of what had happened during that time in history and we would not fair better by knowing any good side to Hitler. In most people’s minds he was a bully and as bullying goes, it needs to be stopped. Too bad there wasn’t a no-bully program when Hitler was growing up. Maybe the whole situation would have been avoided. Yes, our nation has a prison problem with murderers but showing the human side of one of the most notorious bullies in history is not the answer. The problem with the legal system is another whole story.We should abhor Hitler's actions not romanticize them. This would only encourage other bullies to do the same thing.

We do have a problem with too much government (they are bullies in their own right) but glorifying another horrific time in history is not the answer to preventing “Global Communism.”

There are bullies of all kinds in the world and we must guard ourselves against all of them. Whether at school or in government, there is no future for bullying.

Loxley resident Valerie J. Steimle is now the author of four books. Her latest, "Dogs, Blogs and Hobbits: Writings from a Widow's Perspective" is available on Amazon.com. Contact her at valeriesteimle@yahoo.com or visit her website at www.stregthenyourhome.com.