tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post2035736599599426069..comments2024-03-28T17:03:22.102+13:00Comments on AmeriNZ Blog: Smacking the taxpayerArthur Schenckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10568299067544221996noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post-19039163053092759022009-06-18T20:48:45.512+12:002009-06-18T20:48:45.512+12:00Thank you for sharing. I've known plenty of pe...Thank you for sharing. I've known plenty of people in similar situations, and others who nevertheless know that violence against children is always wrong.<br /><br />It's worth noting that the folks pushing this referendum make up a tiny percentage of New Zealand's population. A greater number have been duped by the fundamentalists and would never support it if they understood what the fundamentalists are actually advocating.<br /><br />Nevertheless, there are certain segments of society were violence of all sorts is endemic. The lower segments of society are disproportionately represented in these violence statistics which has, more often than not, gone on for generations.<br /><br />A couple years ago, the government began a public service ad campaign "It's not okay" to engage in family violence. This has been backed up by social services and public education efforts and the early results seem to be encouraging.<br /><br />But ending family violence—especially against children—is a long struggle with significant cultural and racial problems to overcome. But honestly, if any country can do it, New Zealand can. I also think that, ultimately, it will, despite the fundamentalists and their promotion of violence.Arthur Schenckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10568299067544221996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post-56697826385266352812009-06-18T02:37:40.736+12:002009-06-18T02:37:40.736+12:00Aside from the hideous waste of money which would ...Aside from the hideous waste of money which would be better-off directed to child protection, I am horrified at your comment that "New Zealand has shocking rates of violence against children..." Not at you saying it, but at that being the case.<br /><br />I can't help feeling that people think it's ok to get physical with children because a) they are smaller than adults; and b) they are often considered almost like parents' property.<br /><br />Do we think it's right to hit women when they don't do what we want them to, or behave in a way we don't like? <br /><br />So why is it ok to hit children in those situations?<br /><br />It's very hard as a non-parent for me to comment on parenting, but what I can comment on with great certainty, is the fear, hatred, guilt, emotional pain and self-blame that being hit leaves children with. 23 years after I left home to get away from being hit, I wake up to those feelings every...single...day...of...my...life.<br /><br />Still think it's ok to hit children?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com