Sale of spanking tool points up larger issue [BARF ALERT]

The Boston Globe ^ | Monday, January 10, 2005 | Patricia Wen, Globe Staff

[Momaw Nadon]

ARLINGTON -- On a spring day, Susan Lawrence was flipping through a magazine, Home School Digest, when she came across an advertisement that took her breath away. In it, ''The Rod," a $5 flexible whipping stick, was described as the ''ideal tool for child training."

''Spoons are for cooking, belts are for holding up pants, hands are for loving, and rods are for chastening," read the advertisement she saw nearly two years ago for the 22-inch nylon rod. It also cited a biblical passage, which instructs parents not to spare the ''rod of correction."

The ad shocked Lawrence, a Lutheran who home-schools her children and opposes corporal punishment. She began a national campaign to stop what she sees as the misuse of the Bible as a justification for striking children. She also asked the federal government to deem The Rod hazardous to children, and ban the sale of all products designed for spanking. Lawrence says striking children violates the Golden Rule from the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament: ''In everything do to others as you would have them do to you."

[Momaw Nadon]

FYI and discussion

[End Times Sentinel]

That's just sick.  Spanking should only be done between two consenting adults of the opposite sex.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[Centurion2000]

The ad shocked Lawrence, a Lutheran who home-schools her children and opposes corporal punishment. She began a national campaign to stop what she sees as the misuse of the Bible as a justification for striking children. She also asked the federal government to deem The Rod hazardous to children, and ban the sale of all products designed for spanking. Lawrence says striking children violates the Golden Rule from the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament: ''In everything do to others as you would have them do to you."

Ok, so she's an idiot. Spankings WORK.

[Rytwyng]

That's just sick. Spanking should only be done between two consenting adults of the opposite sex.

That's just sick. Spanking should only be done when it's essential for child discipline.

[AppyPappy]

Yeah that's the problem with America's kids. Too much discipline. < /sarcasm >

[Shanda]

Maybe the principal really does have an electric paddle.

[Momaw Nadon]

Proverbs 23:13-14

Don't hesitate to discipline a child. A good spanking won't kill him. As a matter of fact, it may save his life.

[SF Republican]

Dad enjoyed using a special board my brother made in "shop" class; it was a 1x4 with holes bored into it for aero dynamic speed and specially carved handle(it hurt); Mom was the more biblical, we had to go out side and pick our on switch/rod. None of us every got picked up by the cops, although I do drink more wine that is probably recommended.

[wmichgrad]

Why, exactly, is she an idiot?

[Lazamataz]

Spanking should only be done between two consenting adults of the opposite sex.

Does spanking my monkey count?

[Ruth A.]

When Lawrence spotted the ad for The Rod, she began collecting online petition signatures protesting the device, eventually amassing more than 500 supporters

Not much support as online petitions go.

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it: Paddle boards in elementary school, I am sure, saved many a boy from jail. I'm a substitute teacher and cannot believe the behavior tolerated in schools today.

[hobbes1]

Why, exactly, is she an idiot?

Lets start with "She also asked the federal government to deem The Rod hazardous to children, and ban the sale of all products designed for spanking.

Shall we continue?

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

I wonder why her Christian tradition was mentioned? Would it have made a difference if she was Baptist? Hmmmm... (I bet I know which flavor of Lutheran she is, too!)

[End Times Sentinel]

What the... hey!  That's one of my jpgs!  I stole it from some guy fair and square (coulda been you for all I know) and now you're posting it back to me [sounds of indignant grumbling]

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[dead]

You have to be pretty freaking weird to buy a specially designed kiddy paddling stick through a catalogue.

I wonder if you can get it engraved?

[Hatteras]

As long as you stick with your own monkey you should be okay...

[wmichgrad]

I agree THAT is pretty dumb.

[numberonepal]

Mom was the more biblical, we had to go out side and pick our on switch/rod.

Pops was partial to whipping off that belt, but Mom would do the switch thing. The worst, though, was Hot Wheels race track. It didn't really hurt all that bad, but getting your a$$ busted by your own toy was some f'ed up stuff.

Almost as bad was picking your own switch. Mom would give it the ole "swoosh" test (like a fencer testing a new foil - "On Guard!"). If it didn't make enough noise when swung, then you had to go get another one.

[AppyPappy]

It had better be autographed by Mommy Dearest herself.

[Bon mots]

They still spank adults like that in Pakistan.



In Singapore too, they practice caning. Usually, a very big judo expert administers the whacks. For some sentences, they are spaced over time. The canee usually cannot walk under his own power afterwards, nor can he sit down for a long time.