SWEDEN is celebrating its 30th anniversary of being the first country to ban hitting children. Since 1979 when the Swedes started the movement, 24 nations have joined them with laws banning corporal punishment of children. Yes, that includes spanking. The United States is not one of them.
AMERICANS BELIEVE IN SMACKING KIDS
In America we're in favor of capital punishment -- that's killing people -- so why wouldn't be in favor of spanking, smacking small children. We're forceful people and we don't like any one telling us what to do, or not do.
What's with these Swedes? Their kids are happy, not scared and feel safe and secure. Big deal. Come to think about it, since no-spanking has been the law for 30 years, many of the people who are now becoming parents were never spanked themselves. Okay, I suppose that will have positive effect on family values.
In the U.S. the people who talk about 'family values' are politically far-right and religious fundamentalists. They would really be upset if we tried to pass a law against hitting children. No, they believe it's their right. They can find places in the Bible that tell them to do it. It makes you a better Christian, they think. And since in America we believe in religious freedom, well... better find a kid to beat, if you wanna get into heaven.
SWEDES SUPPORT NO-SPANKING LAW
But boy, those Swedish kids sure look happy and wholesome without any spanking. Maybe it's just an act. No, can't be since polls show the ban has almost universal support in Sweden.
The Swedish law is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and it's held up as a model by child rights campaigners. There was a set back last month. "New Zealanders voted to repeal their anti-smacking law in a hotly contested referendum," reports the Christian Science Monitor.
At the international Save the Children, Mail Nilsson says that smacking is a human rights issue.
"If you get upset with me about something you don't have the right to hit me, do you? Then why shouldn't children enjoy the same rights?" she asks, adding that the major purpose of the Swedish law is to change attitudes.
Did you know that the UN Secretary-General's Study on Violence Against Children has recommended full prohibition of all corporal punishment of children, in all settings, in all nations? What a wonderful idea!
CLICK AND READ "IN TUNISIA EVEN PARENTS ARE BANNED FROM SPANKING -- BRZAIL MAY BE NEXT"
TO READ "DO YOU WANT A SPANKING? iT DOESN'T WORK: SPANKING CREATES AGGRESSION" CLICK HERE.
TO READ "SPANKING: KIDS ARE STRUCK DUMB, LOWER IQ" CLICK HERE.
TO READ "COUNTRIES WHERE SPANKING IS BANNED," CLICK HERE.
by Sharon McEachern
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