The movie makes the case why spanking IS child abuse !

Thank you so much for this post. So few people see the truth behind this. I am so grateful, and hopefully this issue will become more apparent in this country immediately.

You're a moron. Spanking a child does not automatically equal child abuse. Get your head out of the sand and checkout the real world.

Who says violence is not the answer?

There is a huge difference between spanking your kid who is acting up and the abuse in this movie. A 10 year old could see the difference, yet you can’t? Talk about making the leap of desperate comparisons on your part.

I think parents think parents are wrong in thinking spanking is a punishment on its own. It should be used sparingly and always with explanation. I think parents forget to explain to children WHY they should or shouldn't do whatever behavior. i think the younger a child is, the more acceptable physical punishment (in consideration of an adults strength) bc the threat of pain can be a good deterrant from possible harmful behaviors. (for ex, smacking a hand of a child reaching for the stove top)

I think there is definitely a difference between punishment and abuse. and it a tricky area that you cannot make laws for bc different people were raised different ways and can raise their children the way that they want. (i was spanked a handful of times as a child, and was not abused in any way. each time it was desereved and explained to me what i had done wrong and why.)

"Choose NOT to be a d!ck." - Silas Botwin

"Some would say spanking is OK because it is in accordance to American traditions, but how many would say genital mutilation is OK in Africa if it is in accordance to African traditions ?!"

Give a rope to someone with an agenda and eventually they will "hang themselves"
Comparing spanking to female genital mutilation, are you serious? You call spanking "hitting", well two can play that game, spanking is merely a couple of swats across the backside. Look if you do not want to spank your kids, then do not (depending on the age of the kid I find time outs and groundings to be a joke). "Yes thats right Johnny, you will now spend one whole week confined to your room, you will have access to your computer and internet, but I'm taking away your I-Pod and X-Box". Wow, how do these parents find the intestinal fortitude to be so strong LOL.

Punching or kicking your kids, or spanking them so hard and repetitously, that their butt is red, is obviously BAD. Spanking comes down to intent of the parent, ie discipline with love, and letting your child know why they are being disciplined. IMO spanking should also be confined to a certain age group, done sparingly and moderately (1-3 light to moderate swats), and always done without malous intent. Jeez, most kids hurt themsleves worse and numerous times every week just by falling down, or knocking into something. Though that was before the internet and video games, when kids actually played outside getting exercise, instead of spending 6-10 hours each day on the computer or texting.

Children are far more resilient than the bleeding hearts and social workers, would have us think, but then again with all the molly coddly going on in todays society, perhaps that should be changed to "used to be resilient"

If you find spanking reprehensible then DO NOT SPANK YOUR KIDS, but to interfere in others parents rights, or insinuate that there is some correlation between spanking and the custom of female genital mutilation, is patently absurd.

The world is beecoming such a dumb place its unreal. Me and my whole generation, and the generation before and the generation before them were all spanked/smacked as children when we were bad. I had recieved a smacked ass many times when I did wrong as a kid. Even used to get a twisted finger lol.

Did we grow up bad? Would I consider myself abused as a child???

Are you frickin kidding me??





"What your mother and I must know, is.."

No, spanking a child does not equal child abuse.

Child abuse is when an object is used or if the child has bruises, welts or other lasting marks. Attempting to say a swat on the butt of a child is the same as the disgusting torture in this movie, or what has happened to actual victims of child abuse cheapens what abuse really is.

While you complain that the "spare the rod, spoil the child crowd" will be out in full force against you for your post, what do you expect? A very good argument can be made that the removal of spanking in American/European society has led to societal disorder.

Speak to any teacher in an inner-city school about the attitudes, language, and discipline of children and it's obvious we have a problem in this country. Look at the flash-mobs going on. Look at children who literally run rough shod over their parents knowing if Mommy was even to swat their rear ends, Mommy would go to jail. When that type of control is given to a child, not mature enough or experienced enough to handle it, they will abuse the situation, as is happening now. Parents have either been convinced spanking their child will turn their little darlings into Jeffrey Dahmers (not true) or they fear the government will be at their door taking their kids away if they ever do spank, they won't do it. End result? Children who have absolutely nothing to fear from acting out anyway they so choose.

Does that mean spanking should make a huge come back? Maybe. I can remember being in elementary school when corporal punishment was still legal, an no it was not that long ago. Children were much more respectful, more disciplined and rarely acted up in class. Now that my own child is attending school, having sat in on her classes, I have watched the same children act out, disrupting the class and therefore preventing them from learning. The teacher nor the principal can really do anything to gain control back in the class.

You can argue all you want that spanking is abuse. I say its more abusive for society to be forced to deal with children who have absolutely no fear or respect for authority. Until the anti-spanking crowd figures out a way to instill discipline and respect in a child they should open their eyes and take a look around. Has removing spanking helped or hurt?

There are now Psychologists, Psychiatrists and other researchers who are breaking from the mold and looking into the affects and effects of removing spanking as a means to discipline a child. What they are finding is what many of us have known, spanking does, when used and done correctly, does not harm a child psychologically or make them violent as adults. Children who are spanked tend to do better in school, are less likely to quit school, turn to crime, gangs, drugs or alcohol. Do some research into the issue, you'll be very surprised what research, not someones feelings is showing.

I think it depends on what the child, years later and all grown up, thinks. I was spanked as a child, did it scar me? No. I can hardly remember being spanked. Do I feel I was abused? No. I guess it all depends on who you ask, but only the children who were spanked should be allowed to make that judgment call.

Peace is not the absence of affliction, but the presence of God. ~Author Unknown