Dominick and Eugene Review

These are just a few comments against spanking and otherwise beating children. 

Where I'm coming from:  I received corporal punishment (spankings and beatings) as a child.  A lot of them, though not particularly damaging, were mentally terrifying.  I believe that, for the most part, I was already a pretty good kid and that most of the spankings were more due to my parents' frustration and anger that I had a mind of my own than any real wrongdoing on my part.

I do not have children yet, but if I had started a family when I was younger I still would have believed that spankings were OK.  I'm 38 now and I have had more time to think about this subject and I don't agree with spanking children for these reasons:

1.  The people who wrote the passage in the Bible "Spare the rod and spoil the child." were most likely shepherds.  Shepherds guide their sheep with the rods and the sheep know to stay in line to where they are directed with the rod.  I believe, for the most part, that good shepherds do not beat the crap out of their sheep and terrify them. 

2.  Assault on anyone is a crime.  Why would anyone want to do something to a child that they are not legally permitted to do to an adult?

3.  Accidentally hitting a child "the wrong way" can result in brain and spinal damage.  Not good.

There is a really good movie on this theme starring Ray Liotta and Tom Hulce (of Amadeus and Animal House fame).  The movie is called "Dominick and Eugene."  Please consider watching this movie if you still aren't convinced that spankings and beatings are wrong.  If you are already against corporal punishment for children, you might just want to watch it because its a good movie.  =)

Whatever your stance on disciplining children is, this movie may help you see things in a more lawful attitude.  Things are not like they used to be anymore regarding raising children.