The Smackdown

[pfloyd]

Time for a Rant...
It's time for a smackdown, literally, on some more of these super-religious types that are out there.

This all stems from a news story I saw last night, on the national news, no less.
Apparently there are those Christians out there who believe that the Bible sanctions spanking or other forms of physical punishment.
"He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly," so the scripture says. The parent who they interviewed stated, "The bottom line is people who do not think it is OK to paddle their children do not believe in God's word."
Yeah, fine, okay. But this is from the Old Testament, when God had a bit of the Tarantino streak in him. Should we follow this set of writings to the letter then, like you do? Okay, then were are your slaves? Have you stoned to death a daughter that has become pregnant before marriage? Where's the calf you intend to slaughter to appease your God?
Folks, this has gotten way out of hand. People are now using religion as an excuse to hit not only an enemy, but also a loved one. However, they will argue that it's never out of anger, it's out of love, and a way to have the message they're trying to teach... erm... hit home.
One lady said that God gave us a fleshy part of the body that can take a little sting and not leave any lasting damage. Yeah okay fine, but what about those who may take things a little too far and really whallop the kid?
Then there was this guy who creates paddles with "Never With Anger" stamped on them, and gives them away free on the Internet. I'm wondering if this guy has watched those scenes in Animal House and Dazed and Confused a few times too many. I'm not talking about ping-pong paddle size implements either -- these are like three feet long and a good four to five inches wide, with a thickness of less than an inch. I shudder to think what sort of wood he would use -- hard or soft? And to top this off, there's another device that's a nylon whipping stick that's designed solely for giving your child the good news.
All this business causes me -- and other Christians out there, apparently -- to cry: WTF?
Now don't get me wrong, Christians are divided on the subject. Many other Christian groups, including the United Methodists and even some Catholic dioceses, are against this sort of thing. They'd rather take the kinder, gentler approach that Jesus -- the Dude that all Christians follow in their own way -- took, considering children as the greatest of all treasures, or something to that effect. "The greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

And here's another question: at what age does the child become too old to spank? I would love to see one of these Stricter-than-thou people when they're about sixty or so, putting their thirty-something child over their knee and giving a few whacks just because they mouthed off or something like that. There's a picture to behold.

At what point does this become abuse? At what point does this instill a sense of "violence is okay" into a kid? I know, it may or may not happen. I was spanked as a child, and I'm not a violent person.

Here's another question I would like to pose, aiming at those readers of mine who have children: when was the last time you spanked your child? Have you ever spanked your child?
When was the last time you were spanked -- as a child, I mean, not because some woman in black leather told someone to give you twenty with a cricket bat.
Does anyone have any painful memories or odd quirks from being spanked? Me, I haven't been spanked in at least 25 years, yet I still get a slightly nervous feeling whenever I see Mom reach for the Wooden Spoon. That thing really hurt, you know.
Me, I doubt I'll spank my kid. I know there may be reason to do so at some point, but I would feel that using physical punishment like that is more of the last resort than anything else. I would rather ground Marcus for a week or make him do extra chores around the house than spank him. It has nothing to do with religion or anything like that. It's just that I could never see myself raising a hand against a loved one, no matter what. It's not in my nature.
Which puts me against these people. I don't care how many times they have to spank their kids in a lifetime. Once a day or once a life, it may be too much. The kid may be scarred. If you have to do it once and the kid learns the lesson and you don't need to spank again, okay, maybe it's good. But don't go overboard with it, please, please, please don't tell me that God told you it's okay to do it.


The above ravings were the product of my own thought processes and not influenced by anyone else, save a certain Mr Miller for way of thinking and spewing forth the words. These words do not reflect the opinion or mindset of anyone else connected with LiveJournal. They do not reflect your opinion. Discussion is welcome and encouraged.
But then again, I could be wrong.

Comments

[dunkelza.livejournal.com]

Fuck religious excuses...

I'll hold with Col. DuBois on the issue of spanking children.

[silent-iniquity.livejournal.com]

"He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly,"

I guess the definition of Rod is up to the interpreter then. I imagine some people (like myself) might find that our "rod", or weapon of choice, would be a good verbal undressing.

Though there are a few think I think the belt would come out for.

[7threality.livejournal.com]

I was spanked as a child, I'm fairly certain spankings stopped well before I started school. I don't have kids (and am not likely to, but who knows). I am not against spanking.

I have a friend that was not spanked as a child, and he feels it was a lack. He spanks his kids.

The concensus seems to be a few swats on the fanny, do not go overboard, just make sure they get the point and understand why you are doing it. Think of it like paper training, rub the nose in it and then swat. They know the reason, they know the consequences, they learn not to do it again.

As the kid gets older, and can understand the verbal of why you are doing it, and why what he did was wrong, why he shouldn't do it again, then the spankings can taper off and probably end.