thanks to everyone for continuing this discussion peacefully... i'm doing my best to manage emotions that want to scream and yell for these kids but i know calm is whats needed and its a little hard for me.. sorry if i offend and my purpose in the forgiveness thread above is necessary because i intend to push forward in the kids defense..

what those of you who support punishment are asserting is that force, in this case, physical force, dominates....

in your world, unhealthy behavior is met and responded to with physical punishment when logic fails...

logic does not fail...

in your world, the small are undefended... intelligence is disregarded and physical force takes dominion...

in your world i have less need of intelligence and a greater need of physical ability..

in your world i require two pieces of equipment and little intelligence...

one piece is a shield, the other is a weapon.. i would require little else to survive... intelligence and insight would have no value whatsoever..

smacking a child to young for reason, you give the explanation that 'it hurts you more than them..' since they are too young for reason or defense, you justify their silence as acceptance...

who would imagine that a smack from another does not create a division? who can imagine that creating divisions in some way creates connections? what will the inner silence create?

can we use some logic here ?

a generation trained to attack will continue to attack....

do not further the darkness of ignorance... there are several alternatives to spanking.. do not teach children they are little, unimportant, weak, and an item that needs to be controlled...

someone mentioned that our children reflect the type of people we are inside... if we teach them health, they have better chances of being healthy... if we teach them pain, well..... if we teach them nothing then, well....

parents hold the keys to peace and freedom.... please teach your children to end violence...

forgive yourselves for the inherited past, embrace a more promising future.. teach kindness to others... love always..