Throughout my childhood, I was never exposed to abuse by my parents, but I was disciplined and taught right from wrong. So I think it is hard for me to comprehend how parents think that abuse and discipline hold the same meaning. Discipline in my mind is a method used to parent your child in an effectively enough, that abuse or violent behavior isn’t needed. Violence is a result of anger and when parents lash out at their children in that way, they just make the situation worse and consequently never come to a reasonable solution. However, because there are many parents in New Zealand that think violence is the answer to disciplining their children; the government has to implement new laws. There is the start of such laws and legislations that allow the protection of children against such behavior, so that children also have more rights in this country.
They have recently been made official, so now in New Zealand it is illegal for parents to smack their children, hence the Anti-smacking law being passed through government last year. However there has been some uproar concerning this law, as many feel it isn't the parents giving their children a smack occansionally aren't the problem. Instead the parents that violently abuse their childen, are the problem. I tend to agree and also feel this law will not stand to prosecute the parents that committ these hatred crimes. I think that more harsher penalties and laws protecting children in this country have to be implemented. The anti-smacking law is just the start of the government taking responsibilty, but in my opinion much more is still needed to do in order to prevent the suffering of children and even in some cases the deaths of innocent lives.
I also question the reasons why the parents can even bring themselves to treating their own flesh and blood like this. Which begs me to ask the question "Where does the root of this problem actually stem from?" It is said that a child abused throughout their childhood is more likely going to mirror that abusive behaviour for the rest of their lives and even when they are parents, pass it on to their own offspring. It is like a a vicious cycle, and in my mind the victims of abuse
require more attention and support from health professionals. This maybe would be a step in the right direction for helping to prevent and break the cycle of abuse from happening to more generations.
Another method of preventing child abuse, that has been recently thought about, is the possibility of a legitimate license for parenting a child. This license would have be earned before couples even consider having a baby and on the basis that they truly deserve the privilege of becoming parents. This quote "They [Parents-to-be] should have to earn a licence to breed....and earning the licence should be very hard!", had me very intreged about this idea,
recently in the media. I would imagine various criterias would be evaluated and in the end the couples that are absolutely fit to parent a child would earn this right with a license. I think this is a good initiative personally, because the parents that don't quite fit the criteria, could recieve help and training to learn how to become a better parent. I mean, we have to apply for a license to own a dog, why not for babies as well?
In the end, as a nation I think we have to educate ourselves with the consequences of this fragile issue. The more people are exposed to the amount of child abuse awareness , that is out there in the world today, then the more we can take a stand against child abuse and someday come up with a solution. Many people do not realize how big a problem like child abuse is, until organisations and charities that go the extra mile to get our attention. Without the support and help that the various organisations and charities offer, who will be committed to comfort the children that are abused and stop them from feeling hurt?
References:
About, I. (2008). About.com: Abuse/Incest support. Retrieved 7 May, 2008,from
http://incestabuse.about.com/cs/childabuse/f/cabuseffect.htm
Associated Content, I. (2007). Discipline vs. Child Abuse. Retrieved 7 May, 2008, from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/162227/discipline_vs_child_abuse.html
Bebo. (2008). People Against Child Abuse. Retrieved 7 May, 2008, from http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=6177608699&ShowSims=Y
Crossrhodes. (2005). License to have a baby. Retrieved 7 May, 2008, from http://www.crossrhodes.com/?p=179
DFPS. (2008). Preventing Child Abuse is Key to Breaking the Cycle. Retrieved 7 May, 2008, from http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/About/News/2005/2005-04-04_Break_Cycle.asp
Discussion: "anti-smacking law". (n.d). Retrieved 7 May, 2008, from http://www.grownups.co.nz/discuss/show/id/550
Guardian, U. K. (2002). Police say new child murder law is needed. Retrieved 2 April 2008, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2002/apr/19/childprotection
Herald, N. Z. (2005). Garth George: Suffering of the young ones is a national disgrace. Retrieved 2 April 2008, from http://io.knowledge-basket.co.nz.ezproxy.aut.ac.nz/iodnews/cma/cma.pl?id=17057-092-108-P%3A&cma=dc%3A039%3Aw%3A1%2C2%2C3%2C4%2C5%3A01+Jan+1980%3A31+Dec+2008%3Achild%2520murders%3A0%3A0%3A-1%3A%3A&qz=%2528%255B.65535%255D%2Bchild%2Bmurders%2529&vk=nzh02%2Ftext%2F2005%2F09%2F29%2F20050929nzh10347714.html
Herald, N. Z. (2007). Call for harsher child abuse penalties backed. Retrieved 2 April 2008, from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=41&objectid=10456015
YouTube. (2008). Child Abuse Awareness. Retrieved 7 May, 2008, from http://youtube.com/watch?v=jhiYzU6McLc
