I just assumed it was a passenger. I don’t see anything in the original post that implies that it was the driver. But for some reason a lot of people on here seem to be assuming it was the driver. How odd.
It was a passenger sitting a few rows back from where I was standing with my little brother. I know, I probably should have pummeled him into a bloody heap right then and there, but the next stop was ours and it was a hot day and I was really tired… I just gave him what I hope was an extremely dirty look, and then concentrated on comforting my brother.
Then again, I looked back into the bus as it was pulling out of the stop, and it looked like the lady sitting next to him was laying into him pretty good… There is still hope. 
I will be sure to relay all your kind words to my brother.
Whafuck?
Big strong stud there. . .making a five-year-old cry. Kudos to you auRa, for not pounding the shithead into jelly.
Damn, glad I wasn’t there.
Of course, if I had been there it probably wouldn’t have helped much since I don’t speak Finnish.
I, too, thought it was the bus driver at first. Now that I know better, telling you to report him in a pretty stupid idea.
Instead, carry a brick in your purse. If he’s on the bus again and says anything to/about your brother other than an appology, I say you give him a speach impediment for a while.
Yeah, yeah, okay, so it’s a bit of an overreaction. Replace the brick with a soft ball.
That’s fucking terrible. I don’t understand what’s wrong with some people.
I’m glad to hear that it seems someone told that asshole off, but how heartbreaking this must have been for your little brother. Hugs to him!
My God, I never even thought of this. One our the kiddos in the afternoon has a speech impairment and often only pronounces his vowels too. I never imagined that people would think that the speech impediment would make people think he (or your brother) was retarded-poor kids. It’s hard enough for them to correct it with the help of a speech therapist, and to have to deal with that too… 
I guess it’s just that, what with the top-quality reconstructive surgery for this particular defect in Finland, my brother doesn’t look any different from other kids his age. If you look really closely, you can see faint scars from where his upper lip was sewn together, but not unless you know what you’re looking for. People might just be shocked by hearing what they perceive as a “perfectly normal child” speaking in such a strange way. (Not that that is, in any way, an excuse for insulting a five-year-old.)
The day-care center my brother goes to has a group specially for kids with speech impairments. He’s become much more intelligible since he started there, since to understand each other, the children really need to pronounce as clearly as possible. The speech therapy has also helped considerably; when he was around 3 years old, we jokingly referred to his way of speaking as an “inverted Wheel of Fortune” (“Can I buy a consonant?”).
Arvi is feeling better now. (The original tears were dried by letting him take the dog for a walk, which he has been dying to do for the longest time. “I wouldn’t take a stupid boy out to walk the dog with me, now would I?” “No… :)” ) I just hope he won’t encounter someone like that again any time soon.
I was also confused by those who assumed it was the driver…
I don’t think I would have had your restraint in that situation. Heck I’d have probably missed my stop just so that I could tell him what I thought of him. People who are mean to kids just piss me off.
Boy, I should hope so. Not many things make me angry, but if I’d been there I would have had to ask him to either apologize or settle it with me outside at the next stop. Any decent person would let him know what a scumbag he was.
It almost makes you think the guy was a little crazy.
I’m glad that you were able to negate some of the effect this “man’s” words on your little brother. Kudos to you for being such a great big sister.
I think that the next time (and sadly there will be) you should not refrain from correcting someone who is ignorant enough to say something like this. When this occurs - your immediate concern should not be to belittle and punish the speaker. You need to have the very next thing he hears to be something positive about him.
By changing the subject right away you are showing him that stuff like that isn’t really worth getting worked up over. And by continuing to have him participate in a conversation and giving him your undivided attention you’re showing him that he is worthwhile and has nothing to be ashamed of. Don’t ever give him time to internalize those awful comments.
Lots of hugs to you and Arvi.
**It hurts to even think about typing those words in reference to your little brother. I’m sorry.