An interesting quote from a book

by kat7302 2 Replies latest jw friends

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  kat7302

  After a visit to the doctor to discuss my personal experiences and metal stability (or not as the case may be!!!!!!!! she recommended that I buy a certain book. Im not sure about whether Im allowed to mention the author of the title (ironically enough, it has the same title as one of the JW books!) but I thought I would post the quote anyway......

  "emotional blindness can be well studied by examining the careers of sect members. JW's, for example, are in favour of corporal punishment and constantly warn that that end of the world is near. They are not aware that they bear within themselves the abused children they once were, and that they already experienced the end of the world when their loving parents beat them. What can be worse than that? But the JW's learned very early not to recall their pain and to tell their children that hitting doesnt hurt. The reality of the end of the world is constantly on their minds, but they do not know why"......................

  I happen to agree. Child beating is never shunned and Im amazed that this subject has never been taken up by outside interests. Personally, yes, looking back I know that the way my parents 'disciplined' me was way out of order and unnecessary but as to whether it affected me? I really dont know.

  I know that having a next door neighbour knock the door to find out why your children are screaming is not Christian.

  I would appreciate comments on this

  Thanx

  XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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  rosalyn

  Here in Ontario there were children taken away by Social Services for use straps on their kids. Weren't witnesses. I haven't been following the legislation on spanking but the jist I am getting from the news is that parents beware. Physical punishment taboo. Seeing that I haven't been in a Kingdom Hall (2 funerals and a wedding don't count) I don't know what goes on now.

  I saw some weird stuff in the organization as regards to punishment when I was growing. I remember going to the top elder when I was about 15(can't remember what the position was termed for that particular time frame) and saying "can't you stop her from spanking that little that little boy of hers so much?" His answer was cannot get involved. I remember one little girl who got hauled back to the library ( the punishment room)at practically every meeting . She was playing with her plastic hair bando and broke it accidentally. Those parents were particularly cruel.. I often wonder what happened with that child.

  My Dad used the wooden spoon alot on me but it was a spanking not a beating. Of course it wouldn't help that I would hit back and I I pinched him a few times too. It was the only way he knew how to deal with my stubborness. Oh yeah and there was the mouth being washed out with soap. For being mouthy. I didn't swear in those days....heaven forbid. My mother, on the other hand, was able to reason with me. She had the ability to talk to almost anyone and had a compassionate nature so between the two of the them I had punishment and discipline. I think both are needed however lighter on the physical punishment. Being hit can really make a kid mad and rebel even more.

  It would be interesting to see how the organization and the law work out on this one. But of course if they keep the child abuse ped cases out of the hands of the law, then most certainly they will do the same with punishment.

  Oh I am so glad I am out.
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  kat7302

  I know that the way my parents used to 'discipline' us would now be considered child abuse......we too had the wooden spoon (what is it with that?!!!!) but very often it was broken on us...it then ranged to any object within reach basically, be it belt, shoe, book, fist etc etc..you get the picture.

  My mother has since apologised for it so I guess thats where it ends, better than nothing at all.

  Having children of my own though just makes me more determined not to be that way right or wrong.

  I can remember the screaming children being dragged out the back, the cries of "no mummy/daddy" etc but everyone seemed to think this was normal. I dont think its the case anymore as the government has started to clamp down on it but even so, it leaves the generation behind when it was acceptable.

  Like I said before, I dont think it has really affected me so I wont go on about it but it really hit home when I saw a NSPCC advert the other day (National Society of the Protection of Child Cruelty-i think!)....it was the picture of a little girl who'd wet the bed and then she'd wet herself again after being smacked for it..the advert read........

  "she wet herself because she was smacked, she was smacked because she wet herself"

  That hit it too close to home but really proves the point. Where do you stop?

  Thanks again for your replies. XXX