Why do we teach kids "violence is not the answer" and then have them read about wars that solved our problems?

Question

Do you use corporal punishment, spanking to get your child not to hit others? Isn't that odd to you?

If we are not to "spare the rod", then will our children believe us when we say violence is wrong, or the painful actions we live out before them.

Dr Spock popularized not spanking, but he lived to see his spoiled grand son commit suicide.

Wouldn't a pop on the bum save a foolish child's life, if it refused to obey you and stop running in front of fast moving cars going by your home?

Is "tough love" necessary some times?

How can there ever be peaceon earth when we believe military actions are effective?

Does the Word of God teach non violence? Is there a limit? Where should we draw the line?

Answer 1

I haven't (and never will) teach my kids that "violence is not the answer". I don't believe in that. This is a violent world. An eye for an eye.

I do believe in spanking..even if to teach a child not to hit. Some of the most violet kids I've seen are the one's who AREN'T spanked! Probably because they don't realize that there are things in this world that hurt people. They've never had a taste of their own medicine therefore they think it's okay to hit.

Maybe if there were more parents popping their kids in the backside these days we wouldn't have metal detectors at schools. Maybe kids wouldn't be shooting people in malls. And maybe 16 yr. old tv stars wouldn't be pregnant.

As a Christian I can tell you that the Word of God teaches us to love one another, but it also says to bring our children up right by not sparing the rod. It doesn't say that war is wrong, either. There is a difference between fighting to be mean, and fighting to protect yourself and/or others.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Whoever is teaching that wars solve problems is teaching incorrectly!
I believe smacking should be a last resort. If the issue can be solved using words, that should be done. Some kids get stuck on some course of action and just go hell for leather until someone hits them. If a smack is the only thing that works, what choice is there? Of course "tough love" is necessary sometimes. I've been told I'm going to be a *itch mum. Not a terribly friendly thing to say, but if the alternative is a permissive mother who allows her kids to misbehave and irritate everyone, *itch mother sounds good! Heaven forbid that parents might bring their kids up to take responsibility for themselves. Goodness knows what would happen to society!

Answer 4

Well if you want to get into religion, the bible says to NOT spare the rod.

I think all this stuff of violence is not the answer is b.s. No I dont want my kid to go around hitting people or killing people with no reason, but everyone needs to realize that it happens and sometimes its a nessisary evil. If we keep raising our children to believe violence is horrible and wrong, what happens when the kids today are running the world and another 9/11 attack happens, they are going to lay down and cry because they will have no idea what to do!
Or when someone comes swinging at them, do their morals kick in to believe "Violence is not the answer" and stand there and take a beating and possibily risk the chance of being beat to death because they don't raise their hand in retaliation?

There is a fine line between self defense, the nessisary violence and senseless violence. I dont think we are doing our kids any favor by generalizing "Violence is not the answer." because anyone with half a brain knows that sometimes it is...

Answer 5

To those people who say war never solved any problems.
Problem:
Taxation without representation. Opression by a church run government
Solution:
The American Revolution
Problem:
Slavery of an entire race of people
Solution:
The Civil War
Problem
Opression by a schitzophrenic, manic dictator
Solution:
World War 1
Problem:
Attack on American soil by foreign planes
Solution:
World War 2
Problem:
Terrorist attacks on American soil
Solution (in progress):
The Iraqi War

Sometime war is necessary. We are a free, slaveless country due to war.
Spanking is sometimes necessary. You cannot intellectually reason with a child under the age of 10. They don't have the capability for that kind of reasoning. Consequences for forbidden actions is the only way to teach them what they need to know and sometimes that requires a spanking (not a beating, the two are NOT even close to being the same).

Answer 6

I wouldn't spank a child for them hitting another person. The only time I'll spank is if they put their life in danger, talk very disrespectful to me, or nothing else is working.

However, violence is not always "not the answer". I think kids should be taught that violence is not the answer for everything, but you can't just teach your child to allow someone to randomly come and beat them up. My uncle was teaching me how to fight when I was a toddler. Thankfully, I never have had to resort to violence, but if someone tried to attack me, I know what to do. He always told me when violence is the answer and when it's not. But no, it's not right just to punch somebody because you "feel like it". Every child and adult should know the difference. Violence is okay for self defense.

Answer 7

When has a war ever solved a problem?

Do you have a link to any information that shows that Dr Spock's grandson was spoiled?

A pop on the bum wouldn't save a foolish child's life if they ran in front of fast cars. A quick hand grabbing that child & bringing them to safety would, though. Why wasn't anyone watching the child who doesn't know how to stay safe by traffic, yet?

Yes, tough love is necessary sometimes. That doesn't mean that hitting is necessary, though.

The word of which God? And, which words? Can any of the words written by men be known to be the words of a divine being?

Answer 8

Generally I don't spank. I don't have too. But, when my oldest was three she ran into the path of a moving car in the supermarket parking lot. I had told her to stay while I unlocked the car door, I went as far as bending down to her level an explaining to her that she had to stand still. She laughed and thought it was funny to make me chase her, she ran right in front of a trooper, the lady slammed on her brakes and nearly had a heart attack (she was old). My daughter got two pops on her backside. She never did it again, and I don't feel bad about it. And since she was old enough to hit me in anger, I hit her back. Every time. I believe that when your child strikes you in anger you hit back (not hard people). They gotta learn that when you hit someone, they are going to hit you back, and you won't like it. And she has grown into a well behaved young lady. But if you hit her, she will hit you back.
I also strongly believe that our world teaches our children violence, the human condition and reality teaches them violence. If we don't prepare them for the reality of the harsh world, we are raising a generation of people who can't take it.

Answer 9

Tough love is necessary very often. Violence can be used as an answer, and can be done quite smooth. Parents tell their kids violence is not the answer, but the common example is, the bully picks on you. The first thing I see a parent say is TELL THE PRINCIPLE!.
No, don't tell the principle. Let the kid deal with it him self, he needs to learn that he needs to deal with his own problems. Besides, telling the teacher just gets the bully to pick on the victim more...

Answer 10

As parents, you're the most important first step in your children's journey into the wonderful world of reading. It is up to you to create the most supportive environment that turns your child on to reading - such as reading aloud to them often during the day and before bedtime, and placing age appropriate books for children around the house, so that the child will have access to plenty of books. Reading often to your child will help develop their interest in books and stories, and soon they will want to read stories on their own.

For a simple, step-by-step program that can help your child learn to read visit this site: http://readingprogram.toptips.org


Hope it helps.