I think the NFLs punishment of Adrian Peterson is excessive. In my opinion, the decision reeks of deeply rooted self-righteousness, arrogance, and a near-complete absence of cultural and racial sensitivity. I believe weve wasted a golden chance to educate tens of millions of people on the harms of using switches and other excessively harsh forms of child-discipline. Instead of using this as a chance to have a reasonable social discussion and educate people on the emotional and psychological harms associated with harsh forms of corporal punishment, weve talked down to tens of millions of Americans who continue to employ harsh disciplinary practices. If the anecdotal evidence coming in is any indication, many people are resentful of messages suggesting they are unfit parents and savages. Today on campus, two professors (both native southerners) told me that if the NFLs decision is the right one, then their parents and grandparents should all have been fired from their jobs, and, maybe, tossed in jail as well. I dont believe using branches to hit four year-old kids until they bleed is right. In fact, I am completely morally opposed to this brand of punishment. However, I understand that using switches is common practice in many parts of the U.S., and that we need to engage in respectful, meaningful dialogue. Dialogue is preferable to demonization for the sake of demonization, and punishment for the sake of punishment. Todays decision is not surprising. In fact, it is consistent with a society that values punishment more than it values prevention, examining root causes, teaching, forgiveness, and second chances. We have the highest rate of incarceration in the world because we are tough on crime, while, at the same time, remaining largely oblivious to the root causes of crime.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 19:31:01 +0000
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