Thread: Parent's Rights, where do you stand?

That summary doesn't really say anything about spanking -- in fact, I don't see much of anything in the UN summary that's really all that revolutionary (what a surprise, coming from the UN and all). I don't really care to bother to read the actual UN document but I assume the summary is correct.

That said, putting that into the Constitution would be pretty dumb. One of the great things about the US Constitution is that it's short and concise, and doesn't bother itself with petty stuff like this. The last time we put moral "law" in the Constitution, it was proven to be a miserable idea (Prohibition). This really strikes the same chord as the amendment people (idiots) are calling for to ban homosexual marriage nationwide. Let states decide for themselves, that's why the Constitution was written so concisely to begin with.

Originally Posted by Mr. E

I think that the freedom to raise children as the parents see fit is very important. I was spanked and I turned out just fine,

Great anecdotal evidence you've come up with there. There have been plenty of kids who grew up with abusive parents who didn't turn out fine at all. It's not spanking, it's how much and how it's done.

Originally Posted by sponge

Great anecdotal evidence you've come up with there. There have been plenty of kids who grew up with abusive parents who didn't turn out fine at all. It's not spanking, it's how much and how it's done.

Well nobody is standing up for child abuse here. I think it's pretty normal for a child to come out of an abusive situation and not be fine. I think that what Mr. E is getting at is that spanking as a disciplinary measure generally does more good than harm for a child.

Originally Posted by Mr. E

I like the amendment. I predict that this current trend of uninvolved pussy parenting is going to lead to problems in the future, and I think that the freedom to raise children as the parents see fit is very important. I was spanked and I turned out just fine, I think it is a parent's right to do so.

Regardless, you really think that this should be a constitutional matter, especially as a "states' rights" man yourself?

Though I think that parents should be able to raise their children the way they see fit (as long as it doesn't involve any egregious abuse, of course), I strongly feel that this sort of issue should be regulated at a state level. Moreover, any sort of federal regulation of this should not be in the constitution. I would oppose an amendment enshrining gay marriage for similar reasons.

And though I might be wrong, I don't remember any prominent cases in which parents have been arrested for merely spanking their children.

More or less it's a counter measure to the current treaty that the UN is trying to push, which can basically be outlined as follows-

...and this only confirms my stance, as the constitution should especially not be used as a platform for activism. And it sounds like typical paranoia over UN conventions from the more radically conservative elements in the US.

And what exactly in the UN articles opposes a parent's perogative to raise his or her child as she or he sees fit? Isn't it taken as a given that a parent or guardian should have oversight and ultimate control over their children?

As quoted directly from the document itself (emphasis my own):

Originally Posted by Article 2

2. States Parties undertake to ensure the child such protection and care as is necessary for his or her well-being, taking into account the rights and duties of his or her parents, legal guardians, or other individuals legally responsible for him or her, and, to this end, shall take all appropriate legislative and administrative measures.

Originally Posted by Article 5

States Parties shall respect the responsibilities, rights and duties of parents or, where applicable, the members of the extended family or community as provided for by local custom, legal guardians or other persons legally responsible for the child, to provide, in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child, appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the child of the rights recognized in the present Convention.

So it sounds like the rights of the parents to raise their child as they see fit are well-protected in this document, does it not?

Originally Posted by djwolford

Well nobody is standing up for child abuse here. I think it's pretty normal for a child to come out of an abusive situation and not be fine. I think that what Mr. E is getting at is that spanking as a disciplinary measure generally does more good than harm for a child.

Again, though, where in the UN Convention on the Right of the Child does it say "though shalt not spank"? Are we making judgements on things we haven't read because "UN = BAAAAAD"?