CHILD ABUSE

The physical violence in the name of God that many 2x2s resort to is appalling. I have witnessed kids being taken out of meetings crying ''I'll be good daddy, don't smack me, I'll be good.'' I find this ''bullying'' totally offensive and I think it only proves who is the strongest person and teaches kids that physical abuse is ok as long as you are big and strong. Geoff Schmidt Jan 11, 2000

We had an overseer who would let young parents know that if they hadn't 'broken their child's will by the age of two' then the parents would have nothing but problems with that child....

I worried about this statement when my children were younger mainly because I didn't quite understand exactly what the overseer meant. But I wasn't about to ask for fear my strong-willed son would be used as an example! I recall a special meeting when my son was 5 months old and I spent most the day out in the hall with him because he was very fussy. Another father was there with his 6 month old son and was in and out of the door all day, spanking that little baby for fussing during meeting. I later heard the overseer comment to the dad, "we appreciate what you are doing for your son." I wish I had the courage to speak my mind that I do now because they would have heard plenty! To this day I grieve over the times I did take my kids out of a meeting to give them a swat for not sitting still. Susan Howard Jan 11, 2000

I too always felt something churn in my stomach when I'd hear the phrase "they need to have their wills broken young". Susan, in spite of the Workers trying to make you feel terrible for not striking your child, you took the best route. You know, there are too many of us adults that "had our wills broken", all right. Broken to the point that some of us had vacant eyes (in my case) by age 11 or 12. When I think back to how dancing & alive those little eyes could have been! Jan 12, 2000 Cheri Mattison

I too am very sorry for the fact that I spanked my children unjustly. I was a strict parent as far as manners were concerned, and that is important. However there is another side that hurts me to this day. I wanted them to look good in the eyes of the workers and the other friends. It was never for the glory of the Lord that I controlled the children, but for selfish ambitions, so we, as parents could look like the model parents. Jan 12, 2000 Sheila Martin

The outstanding violence that is still prevalent today, is the treatment of young children in, or rather, out of meeting, and this is encouraged by the workers. Parents coming back into meetings, with proud rosy smiles, accompanied by sobbing children with red bums, is one of the most disgusting sights that sticks with me until this day. Jan 15, 2000 Leigh Townsend