Brits move to outlaw parental spanking

Washington Times ^ | November 16, 2003 | UPI

[Cincinatus' Wife]

LONDON, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Britain's government is moving toward outlawing the spanking of children, even if it is done by parents in their own home.

Officials plan to tack an amendment onto the Child Protection Bill to outlaw parental spanking because too many parents cover up abuse by claiming their children's bruises are the result of normal discipline, the Sunday Observer reported.

[Senator Goldwater]

"Did the Prince 'spank' Diana?"

Only when she was a bad girl.

[Redcloak]

With those children, he thought, that wretched woman must lead a life of terror. Another year, two years, and they would be watching her night and day for symptoms of unorthodoxy. Nearly all children nowadays were horrible. What was worst of all was that by means of such organizations as the Spies they were systematically turned into ungovernable little savages, and yet this produced in them no tendency whatever to rebel against the discipline of the Party. On the contrary, they adored the Party and everything connected with it. The songs, the processions, the banners, the hiking, the drilling with dummy rifles, the yelling of slogans, the worship of Big Brother -- it was all a sort of glorious game to them. All their ferocity was turned outwards, against the enemies of the State, against foreigners, traitors, saboteurs, thought-criminals. It was almost normal for people over thirty to be frightened of their own children. And with good reason, for hardly a week passed in which The Times did not carry a paragraph describing how some eavesdropping little sneak -- 'child hero' was the phrase generally used -- had overheard some compromising remark and denounced its parents to the Thought Police.

-1984, George Orwell

[sheik yerbouty]

It is the loony left that could use a spanking!

[Politicalmom]

Then when the kid has a tantrum, you get disapproving looks and "That kid needs a good spanking". It is really sickening.

[Scenic Sounds]

Well, this is their choice, but they may never have their own Michael Jackson.

[unixfox]

The sad thing is, the sheeple in this country will gladly follow in lockstep with the Brits. For "The Children" of course.

[Major_Risktaker]

I just finished read the BBC link (post 37) and the police arrested 27 people on suspicion of making racist threats and of homophobic harassment.

What is that all about, the thought police, phone taps or some over heard a conversation and told police?

As for HATCH, well he is a lawyer passing laws for more lawyers.

See you all in hate thought court!

[wardaddy]

what about "discipline" between consenting adults?

i thought that was a fav pastime for stodgy Brits....lol

[mrfixit514]

More than one child a week dies at the hands of a parent or carer,"

Put the offenders in jail and leave the rest of the parents alone.

[Riverman94610]

I got my share of the belt,the ruler,and the swat of mom's hand many a time in my childhood and it really wasn't as effective as an honest discussion about my offense and why my behavior needed changing.
Yet for some kids the THREAT of a mild"asswhupping"does wonders to subdue potentially destructive behavior.
Of course,The State has no business regulating parental discipline in the home as long as it doesn't go to the extreme of REAL child abuse and beatings that inflict bodily harm.
Riverman

[Cobra64]

We aren't allowed to use any disciplinary actions at all in public without reprisal from some person telling you what a horrible parent you are.

I ran into that situation while shopping and my son was pulling soup cans off the shelf. I told him that I was going to take him into the men's room and spank him. He stopped immediately.

[elbucko]

The sad thing is, the sheeple in this country will gladly follow in lockstep with the Brits.

This is very true. Americans that consider themselves sophisticated are enamored with British example. Just as the British like to speak French when they are pretentious, Americans like to speak politics with a British accent to appear "civilized".

[Connservative]

And you thought the soccer hooligans are bad now.

[volchef]

You are absolutely correct.

[BulletBobCo]

Johnny doesn't get what his way so he'll start telling everyone that his parents spanked him. Lawyers are going to get rich off of this law.

[stands2reason]

I got my share of the belt,the ruler,and the swat of mom's hand many a time in my childhood and it really wasn't as effective as an honest discussion about my offense and why my behavior needed changing.

I don't know how many times I said, "Please, just give me the beating. I don't want The Talk!"

My father could make you feel this big with his talks.

[BulletBobCo]

Next will be that "time out" is cruel and unusual punishment.

[armyboy]

Britian is fast becoming a socialist state. This law is insane! next up the State will raise your kid how it sees fit. Kids need t be disciplined. the Biblr even says spare the rod and spoil the child.
When I was younger if I sassed my mom I got slapped. If I acted up I got spanked. Then mom told dad when he got home and I got spanked again. Discipline was used in my house and I turned out just fine.

[pau1f0rd]

Tell me again why we saved Britian from the Nazi's

Because nothing, not even America, would have stopped the Nazis if they gained control of Britain. Yesterday I saw Michael Moore on TV spreading his vile propaganda to the British viewing population. Tell me again why we saved America from the Nazis.

[ppaul]