The Right To Hit A Child

So often, children are punished for being human.
Children are not allowed to have grumpy moods, bad days,
Yet we adults have them all the time.
None of us are perfect.
We must stop holding children accountable
To a higher standard of perfection                                      
Than we can attain ourselves
Rebecca Eanes - PositiveParentingToddlersandBeyond

 A law which was proposed by Representative Gail Finney, a democrat from Wichita, Kansas proposed that it is within the parent’s right to spank their child to the point of bruising as long as a parent doesn’t strike a child more than ten times.   

Spanking is defined as “a number of slaps on the buttocks delivered in rapid succession, as for punishment.”  Is there a spanking chart that goes along with this thought provoking law so parents of newborns, one year olds and on up know how many times they should spank at each stage of a child’s development, and how hard to hit them?   Does a colicky newborn require one or two slaps on the buttock to quiet them?  Does a two year old who is being potty-trained deserve ten spanks with bruising for peeing in their pants?  It would be so hard to know how many times and how hard to hit based on the horrible offensives of these children.   
                                                                                                               
Does Rep. Finney also agree then every adult should be slapped up to a maximum of ten times when someone doesn’t agree with what they are doing?  Shouldn’t that go along with a law that deems it necessary to strike a child up to ten times because a parent, caregiver or another adult doesn’t agree with what the child is doing?   It only makes sense that if we are going to make laws which allows adults to hit children to the point of bruising, then the laws should also hold true for adults.  And with Congress’s approval rating only at about ten percent, then they wouldn’t be able to sit down without pain in their buttock, ever.  

Hitting to the point of bruising should be considered abuse, especially in children.  There already is enough violence against children without making laws to enforce it.  Rep. Finney just wanted to “restore parental rights and improve discipline.”  Why not start with education for parents first so they understand childhood development and stages before we give them the go ahead to spank their children to the point of bruising.   However, Rep. Finney was human enough to ban a child from getting hit by a fist in the head or body with a belt or switch. How kind of her, but shame on anyone who votes in any governmental official who thinks it necessary to abuse children to make them behave. 

Accepting Fear without Question

"When Columbus lived, people thought that the earth was flat. They believed the Atlantic Ocean to be filled with monsters large enough to devour their ships, and with fearful waterfalls over which their frail vessels would plunge to destruction. Columbus had to fight these foolish beliefs in order to get men to sail with him. He felt sure the earth was round."  -Emma Miller Bolensium

We are still trying to prove our own existence today while sifting through the layers of truths verses creative truths.  However, when we start using our intellect to decide right from wrong, and we let go of the fear and confusion of what all the different politicians and religions are saying; the charlatans and monsters will start to lose their magic.  And then, all that will be left is the wonderful state of being human.  It's exciting to be in charge of our own destiny and make this world a better place just by loving and caring for others, and doing what’s best for the masses.  And if there is a God, those pearly gates should open wide with pride because we lived according to the love of humanity, which is said to be his gift to all of us.

So when the fear is gone and foolish beliefs are distinguished, the truth can be seen through all the imaginary creative truths man can dream up.  However, it can be difficult to take a leap into any unknown territory, but it's worth the effort when the integrity and safety of others prevails.  Then and only then will the beauty of humanity will be within every person’s reach.