12-Year-Old Clifford Rodriques Dead by Suicide in New Bedford

This in my third article in just over 17 hours, and all three were dealing with another preventable loss of a young life.  On Monday, January 31st, Clifford Rodriques died by suicide.  It remains a mystery as to the why of this case.  Police investigation is ongoing.

I don't think I need to state anymore the state of emergency that we are in.  Talking about it isn't changing anything.  Well, it is.  It's making us more and more angry.  And, that's not a bad thing at all.  Perhaps, we can begin turning the anger into positive action.  No longer can we wait for somebody else to initiate the change.  Each and every one of us has to do our part, to the best of our ability, to prevent this from continuing.  Sometimes, simple steps go a long way:

• know the warning signs.  I can't emphasize enough how important that is.
• Talk to your son, daughter, sister, brother, or friend, if they appear to be in distress.  More importantly, listen carefully to what they're saying.
• Don't hesitate to get the proper authorities involved.  
• Have resources readily available if you know of someone who's voicing suicidal ideation.
• Wipeout Homophobia on Facebook isn't just about the LGBT community.  They're touching, and saving many lives.  They have a wonderful section on suicide support on their website.  Use it.
• Keep this link handy: Befrienders Worldwide.
• And, definitely have this number readily available:  1-800-273-TALK (8255)  That is the number for the national suicide prevent lifeline.  They have a website as well as a facebook page.

Being highly involved, sadly, won't save Clifford Rodriques' life.  However, being highly involved will go a long way towards ending this maddening cycle of teen suicides.  I hope I'm able to see it within my own lifetime.

Yet Another Young Life Lost to Bullycide: Eira Maghuyop, 14, Rest In Peace

I'm reaching the point where I don't know what else to say.  The redundant pace of this alarming epidemic is leaving me heart-wrenched and at a loss for words.  Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 14-year-old Eira Maghuyop added her name to the growing list of bullycides.  She was a freshman at Ursuline High School in New Rochelle, NY.  A freshman.  I look back through my high school yearbook and see just how young we really are when we're freshmen.  Ursuline High School is mourning one of theirs today.


According to the news reports, she was a victim of cyberbullying.  The New Rochelle police have her computer to investigate.  It is my sincerest hope that they're able to pinpoint who was doing the bullying and dole out punishment to the fullest extent of the law.  The message still isn't being heard:  WE WILL NO LONGER TOLERATE BULLYING OF ANY SORT!!  It is also my hope that the already-swelling number of ordinary, and not-so-ordinary citizens continue to scream that message to the top of their lungs until we can finally close this deplorable chapter of our existence.  


Eira's friends immediately set up an anti-bullying facebook page in her honor.  It has swelled to over 10,000 members at last glance.  That needs to increase tenfold.  There is also several YouTube videos already posted in her memory.  I'm really tired shedding tears as I watch these wonderful young people's images who lost their lives senselessly.  We need to work even harder.


By all accounts, Eira was a sweet, bubbly young girl, full of laughter and promise.  And, it's evident that she was loved dearly by those close to her.  One of her closest friends wrote this on her tumblr blog:

This  is Eira Maghuyop.

She was 14.  We didn’t talk all the time, but we talked occasionally.  Every time we talked, she managed to make me smile or laugh, and we both loved Vampire Diaries and The Secret Circle.  This summer, we were going to meet uup in N.Y.C. and she promised to give me a tour.  She was the sweetest and bubbliest person alive.  That’s why it was all a shock last night to learn that this beautiful girl took her own life.  When I heard the news, I was so…shocked.  I had no idea she was depressed, or thinking of suicide.  It was so sad.  Ii cried for about 2 hours upon learning she had died.  She killed herself due to the fact that she goy bullies.  Really?  What the actually f**k.  F**k you b*tches that bullied this sweet girl until she couldn’t take it anymore.  I miss her, I miss Eira.  She was only 14.  That’s way too young.  She had her whole life ahead of her.  We would always joke about who was older, and who was more mature since her birthday was 6 days ahead of mine.  She told me I was going to make it big one day.  I took those words to heart, babygirl. :’)

R.I.P. Eira Maghuyop

F**k I hate this world…Why does this happen to such good people.  You see what you guys done.  yeah.  f**ked up

What's needed now, right now!, is for more and more people to continue to band together and take action, whatever it takes!, to make absolutely sure that we bring this scourge of our society to a screeching halt.  We need to FORCE the politicians to listen and take answers.  We need to compel teachers and school administrators to be much more PROactive, and diligent, in preventing bullying.  And, particularly in the case of bullycides, we need to MAKE SURE that those who are guilty of the bullying are made to understand that what they did was just as bad as pointing a gun at their victim and pulling the trigger.  The end result is the same.

Eira had a beautiful family.  Now, they're enduring the deepest level of sorrow imaginable.  It shouldn't be that way.  Rest in peace, Eira Fatima Maghuyop.  I know you will be missed.