I’ve Beat This Drum, But Better a Drum Than a Kid

Posted on July 6, 2008 - Filed Under Mommy blog, family, kids

Violence against children is still violence.  I know I have spent a long blog post on this topic already, but it pisses me off and breaks my heart at the same time.  Here goes…

A woman in our play group was going on about how appalled she was about something that happened to her friend the other day.  Not realizing which party in the story was her friend I was at first confused, and then put my XL size ten foot in my mouth.  Then I thought better of it and was damned glad I said something.  It’s easy to rant in a blog, but you don’t necessarily make a difference in the world if you’re too chicken to butt yourself into something in real life.

So the story goes that a woman in the local town called the police on a Dad who was seen spanking (ie sounds like some good old fashioned beatin’ to me!) his son in the WalMart parking lot.  I guess the boy was about six and the Dad had his pants down and was hitting him with (yes, it’s true) a belt.  The woman who saw this called the police and reported child abuse.

Well, I of course, thinking this an abusive, archaic and just plain ignorant act, said so.  No one ever accused me of not having an opinion when one was needed, or even not needed. I agreed that I was also appalled that parents were still allowed to get away with abusing their children… and in a public place?  REPULSIVE!  ABUSIVE!  SICK!!  TWISTED!!!  PERVERSE!!!!

And of course it turns out that the person doing the spanking was not a random stranger, but rather the husband of her friend.  And her being appalled was at the audacity of a stranger “butting in” to a family matter.  A family matter made VERY public, in the ahemmmm, PARKING LOT OF A WALMART!  

Hmmmmmm, at first I thought “Shit, why didn’t I keep my mouth shut?” and then I was glad I didn’t.  The woman in our play group went on for quite awhile about how parents had the right to discipline children as they saw fit because it was a way to TEACH.  Most of the other Moms were pretty quiet and honestly, not one spoke up in support of this opinion.

“Ahhhh”, I responded (smart ass comment alert), “so I can go to work and punch a staffer in the face if it is to TEACH something?  Or your husband can pop you a good one if you burn dinner, right?  Or next time you’re stopped for speeding, the police officer can hit you because you would be TAUGHT something valuable about motor vehicle safety?  Right?  Huh?” 

Needless to say I will not be invited to playgroup at HER house.  However, I was pleased at how many of the Moms agreed with me (albeit after the fact) and three even called me afterward and said they were glad someone spoke up.

So I remain, as always, an anti-spanking , anti-violence, anti-hitting of children for any reason, tree-hugging, leftist, bleeding heart, liberal activist.  

And if you don’t like it you can kiss my ass.

________________       Art imitates life, and life imitates art. 

What I see every day influences what I create, so writing this blog and creating my designs are natural extensions of who I am. 

If you are interested in viewing my designs, primarily for kids but also some cool stuff for adults and also doggies (who we all know are integral parts of all families) check them out at:

http://www.cafepress.com/sugarsprouts

See you around the mountains and canyons of northern AZ!

“If you don’t laugh at life, it sneaks up and bites you in the ass!”

Comments

5 Responses to “I’ve Beat This Drum, But Better a Drum Than a Kid”

  1. sheber on July 7th, 2008 8:54 am

    Thanks for standing up for the children. It’s hard for people to face the truth about the violence we teach our children. Will you please write about corporal punishment in schools? It’s still legal in 21 states and the “paddlers” have immunity from charges resulting from injuries. I am a parent member of , Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education. I want to encourage you and your colleagues, readers, family and friends, etc. to join P-TAVE. Membership is free. Please look at this page: http://nospank.net/violatn.htm and I’m sure you will agree that P-TAVE needs all our help. Project No Spank http://www.nospank.net

  2. admin on July 7th, 2008 9:11 am

    Thank you sheber. I will read up more on that. I know private schools have that option but I thought it was unheard of in public schools. I am saddened to hear that this isn’t so. Thank you for the links.

    I’m checking it out today…

  3. followthatdog on July 7th, 2008 5:01 pm

    Holy crap. I’m glad you said something too. When are people going to get it through their fat heads that hitting kids to teach lessons is moronic, and hitting kids in general is wrong. All you are teaching is that it is ok to hit people if you don’t like what they do. I’m sure that dad was beaten when he was a kid and now is using his experience to control his own child. People have to step in and say stop it, really. I am very proud of you, and I don’t even know you. Way to go!

    By the way, it sounds like we belong to many of the same clubs “So I remain, as always, an anti-spanking , anti-violence, anti-hitting of children for any reason, tree-hugging, leftist, bleeding heart, liberal activist. “

  4. Cowgirl, Hippie, Naturalist : Sugar & Sprouts Blog on July 8th, 2008 7:16 am

    [...] I’ve Beat This Drum, But Better a Drum Than a Kid [...]

  5. Terie on July 9th, 2008 5:25 pm

    WOW–thank you sugar for speaking up. I would have done the same although I probably would have used a different approach to get my point across…LOL. You are braver then most and that’s OK. I love it! Next time someone cuts me off at the gas station I’m going to get out of my car and punch them in the face- you think they’ll learn something, it’s OK right?

    By the way, I lived in Long Beach, Mississippi for 2 years and when I first arrived I was reading the school manual my kids where to attend and there it was, clear as day– the spanking rule and that I needed to provide a note saying that I did not approve, otherwise if my children misbehaved, I would be notified and they would be spanked under the supervision of the school principle. I wasn’t worried about my kids but I was worried about kids who have behavior issues that are addressed with a school spanking.

    Sorry for the long response..just had to share and again, thanks for speaking up and taking a stand that really matters.

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