For the kiwis

[cabaiste84]

Bloody Brilliant

Me, I'm kinda torn about the Anti-Smacking Bill (or Anti-Beating, or whatever). But that got a laugh out of me, so...yeah. Hey, it's muppets doing Pink Floyd, what can I say?!

As for other stuff...having a slight crisis at our place, but I can't say too much just yet.

Will try and write more next week. Toodles.

Comments

[disturbed_kiwi]

I say yay to the bill. It stops the defence of some truly awful child abuse cases and the idea that cops would have wasted time, effort and resources persuing those minor matters that have now been specified in the bill was idiotic from the get go.

[cabaiste84]

Yes, but will it stop abusive parents beating their children within an inch of their lives? In my not so humble opinion, there are serious issues that need to be addressed when it comes to child abuse. We need to ask ourselves is it because of poverty? Mental illness? Not enough support for parents in difficult situations?

In order to stop child abuse, one needs to get to the heart of the matter. Removing Section 59 isn't going to stop it. It may stop the defence...not the actual problem itself, mind.

I am not AGAINST the Bill as such. But there are things that need to be considered.

[lalumena]

From what I can tell, I think the debate that's going on misses the point. To be honest, though, I'm still a little hazy as to exactly what the bill will do...

[disturbed_kiwi]

As it was the law stated that no-one could hit anyone. However, Section 59 created an exception in the case of parents who used 'reasonable force' on their children. This was used to defend against some truly appalling cases and succesfully.

The bill removes that exception. Because a lot of people were offended by that, it specifies that police shouldn't prosecute minor incidents (which they never would have anyway. They don't have the time and resources to follow through on so much of what they should technically get people for anyway, why would this be any different?)

The debate certainly does miss the point because, while removing the bill helps stop us letting abusers get away with it, it doesn't mean we can't work to create a society where this violence doesn't occur anyway (which is where I think Erin felt like it was a bit of a sideshow, people thinking that this will solve all problems. It won't, but that doesn't mean its not a good thing.).

[bojojoti]

Our son insisted on being spanked, and he was spanked. He grew up a decent young man. Our daughter only needed a raised voice to make her reconsider the error of her ways, and spanking wasn't used with her (except on two occasions).

Schools in the US are already a mess of chaos, because children aren't taught respect and discipline. Poor teachers have an impossible job on their hands.

Parenting is hard work, and I wouldn't want to remove one tool from a parent's tool chest. Besides, I grew up in an abusive home, and abusive parents know how to hide their beatings. And, when they think people around them may be wising up to the abuse, they up and move. One can't legislate kind hearts and loving spirits.

But, I did love the video!

[imaginary_men]

Well said.

I definitely think we need to hear more voices like yours chime in on the debate, those who know what growing up with real abuse is like so they can put others in the picture better on whether the legislation will really change things.

[fallbackschism]

Man, after my dad died apparently my mum used to whack us constantly and HARD but I don't even really remember (hence the use of apparently) so I guess I can't have been too traumatised. I grew up ok I think, no law breaking or dubious hijinks. I know that this isn't the point of this whole anti-beating bill though.
I think the problem with this is that abuse is intertwined with so many things like poverty, booze and drugs to name a few. But we can't fix everything at once so a little at a time has to help, at least I hope so.
There is so much to say on a topic like this and I hate how faux-PCism has made it so we can't just speak our minds without being accused of unsavoury behaviours. I would much prefer to call a spade a spade in most cases.