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Sale of spanking tool points up larger issue [BARF ALERT]
The Boston Globe ^ | Monday, January 10, 2005 | Patricia Wen, Globe Staff

Posted on 01/10/2005 11:15:03 AM PST by 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."

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: bible; bostoncommunistglobe; bostondailycommunist; corporalpunishment; discipline; fascistnanny; homeschool; homeschooldigest; idiot; imposeherviewsonall; mindyourownbiznez; nannynut; nannystate; rod; spanking; therod; tool; whacko
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To: 1L
How old are your kids? Let's check the results in about 20 years. I can come close to assuring you you will regret not disciplining your children.

My oldest is in cllege, the youngest is a senior in high school.

Who said that I do not or have not diciplined my kids? I only said that I never spanked them. There are many forms of dicipline.

81 posted on 01/10/2005 1:10:25 PM PST by Labyrinthos
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To: cyclotic

I saw your #30. All I can say is that you'd be well advised to use this thing in the privacy of your home, and not where I can see you doing it.

Whips are for bulls, not children. If a swat with your hand isn't sufficient for disciplining a child, then something's wrong.

Use "The Rod" in my presence and you'll be meeting the Child Protective Services. I guarantee it.


82 posted on 01/10/2005 1:12:28 PM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: Nuzcruizer
Mine had one like that too! It had "Fanny Paddle" written on it with funny cartoons along the sides; there was a little poem on it that went:

For taming brides and winning wagers
For tanning hides of smart teen-agers
For stopping hiccups, fights and spats
For puddling pups and careless cats
For mice and ants on picnic trips
For paddling pants when baby drips
For wives at night when hubby's late
For counting right on a birthday date!

It was made of plywood and didn't hurt at all, it was just the humiliation of being swatted with it that did the trick! I think it was only used on me twice!

83 posted on 01/10/2005 1:12:49 PM PST by 6323cd ("It is prohibited to make use of such emotional signs in a cellphone!")
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To: MineralMan

Ooooh, now I'm scared.


84 posted on 01/10/2005 1:13:13 PM PST by cyclotic (Cub Scouts-Teach 'em young to be men, and politically incorrect in the process)
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To: cyclotic

"Ooooh, now I'm scared."

Forewarned is forearmed. We have laws designed to protect children. Adults don't get spanked. They get to visit the gray-bar hotel.


85 posted on 01/10/2005 1:14:42 PM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: numberonepal

Wow. my parents and your parents must've been in the same circle of friends. My dad used the belt and my mom either sent us for the switch or grabbed the nearest toy/object she could find. She used the race track, rulers, bunk bed boards. Once, she even used my dad's decorative civil war gun on my brother. Of course he used it on my younger brother first before she grabbed it and chased him around the house with it. Funny site to see- especially cause my mom is like 4'10" and my bro was almost six feet tall.


86 posted on 01/10/2005 1:14:43 PM PST by rebelgrl
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To: Protagoras

[ahem] ... that is a vast generalization...


87 posted on 01/10/2005 1:16:17 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: cyclotic

I would say he's giving you good advice. I would help a child that was being hit with something like that too.


88 posted on 01/10/2005 1:16:23 PM PST by gingerky
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To: cyclotic
"You'd have to work long and hard to harm a child with this."

Simple physics and my own experience makes me have a very hard time believing that - unless it is made of pasta, lol.

"It actually works well because you almost never need to use it."

See? if it were so gentle, why is it so much more effective as a spanking tool?
89 posted on 01/10/2005 1:17:44 PM PST by Trinity_Tx (Most of our so-called reasoning consists in finding arguments for going on believin as we already do)
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To: MineralMan
Now a days everything of this nature is best done in the presence of ones home, for goodness sake!
And personally I do like the looks of this product. Why would anyone buy something like this when they have plenty of free options at hand..get it?
Really though, it can't have been a lot worse than the spankin's my dad would give. And let me say, they were richly deserved.
90 posted on 01/10/2005 1:18:04 PM PST by FreedomHasACost
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To: MontanaCowgirlCop

"And personally I do like the looks of this product."

You do? Well, I guess it wouldn't do any good to call the cops in Montana on someone using "The Rod," would it?

Personally, I don't like the idea of using a whip on a child. Sorry...that's just me. The palm of the hand should be sufficient.


91 posted on 01/10/2005 1:22:25 PM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: Protagoras
I reject the notion that spanking is an example of parental laziness. Every parent who loves their child HATES to resort to spanking. It always has been a last resort for me, and it occurs in one of several instances:

1. After repeated warnings that the misbehavior isn't acceptable, and when lesser measures [such as reason, restricting privileges] doesn't seem to work

2. for out and out defiance [spanking only necessary once per child [or less]for this]

3. the child had put themselves or someone else in serious danger, or had intentionally injured someone

I have six kids. The oldest is 12. Not all of them have been "spanked", and no child has been spanked in their life more than three times. I have felt bad every time I did it, but still thought it the right thing.

The childrens' response: 1. they have a worldview in which there is absolute right and wrong, and in which punishment for wrongdoing is just
2. they view their father as being VERY fair, and are all very close to me.

I have never used any other instrument except my hand on their bottoms. I have never left a mark.
92 posted on 01/10/2005 1:23:13 PM PST by Bushforlife (I've noticed that everybody that is for abortion has already been born. ~Ronald Reagan)
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To: MineralMan
Are you OK with using a whip on a child?

That's a bizarre question. Have you read the thread?

93 posted on 01/10/2005 1:24:38 PM PST by Protagoras (Real conservatives do not advocate government force to attain societal goals)
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To: Protagoras

My apologies. I had not read all of your comments. Sorry.


94 posted on 01/10/2005 1:26:52 PM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: Bushforlife
We agree on most of these things.

I still say many parents spank out of laziness. Not all, many.

95 posted on 01/10/2005 1:28:06 PM PST by Protagoras (Real conservatives do not advocate government force to attain societal goals)
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To: MineralMan

No problem.


96 posted on 01/10/2005 1:28:22 PM PST by Protagoras (Real conservatives do not advocate government force to attain societal goals)
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To: Bushforlife

"I have never used any other instrument except my hand on their bottoms."

I can't imagine a situation where that would not be sufficient. This rod thing is borderline obscene. It smacks of serious abuse.


97 posted on 01/10/2005 1:28:29 PM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: Protagoras

I said: "I don't think there is a good replacement for physical punishment.

You said: "What a pity. That's the laziness I was talking about."

Your reply is bascically nonsense. It has nothing to do with laziness, I was clearly talking about the most appropriate form of punishment. For those occassions where it is called for, there is no good substitute. If you disagree, fine but don't ascribe attributes to my suggustion which are clearly not there.

You then said: "Works well. But I never talked about punishment. The fact that you find them synonymous is telling."

Of course you were talking about punishment. That is the form of discipline which this thread is addressing. The fact that you are trying to mislead is what is really telling.


98 posted on 01/10/2005 1:31:51 PM PST by yarddog
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To: Bushforlife

It sounds like you are a very good parent. I don't think anyone would call your methods lazy at all.

If only everyone were so thoughtful.


99 posted on 01/10/2005 1:32:17 PM PST by Trinity_Tx (Most of our so-called reasoning consists in finding arguments for going on believin as we already do)
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To: dead

We bought several redwood "Attitude Adjuster" paddles when we went up the west coast years ago.

They were great. Often just the threat was necessary. They "mysteriously" disappeared. We often lament their loss. : )


100 posted on 01/10/2005 1:33:05 PM PST by Politicalmom ( Since Bush was selected in 2000, shouldn't he be able to run again in 2008?)
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