If you showed the same concern for partial-birth abortions and child rapist (6mos – 1yr prison terms)as you do for a loving parent giving their child a whipping, you my carry some credibility. Then again, maybe not.
My experience is the anti-spanking crowd never has problems with aborting young children or with the rulings of the activist lunatic judges in our nation.

Child buttock-battering (euphemistically labeled “spanking”,”swatting”,”switching”,”smacking”, “paddling”,or other cute-sounding names) for the purpose of gaining compliance is nothing more than an inherited bad habit.

Its a good idea for people to take a look at what they are doing, and learn how to DISCIPLINE instead of hit.

I think the reason why television shows like “Supernanny” and “Dr. Phil” are so popular is because that is precisely what many (not all) people are trying to do.

There are several reasons why child bottom-slapping isn’t a good idea. Here are some good, quick reads recommended by professionals:

Plain Talk About Spanking
by Jordan Riak,

The Sexual Dangers of Spanking Children
by Tom Johnson,

NO VITAL ORGANS THERE, So They Say
by Lesli Taylor M.D. and Adah Maurer Ph.D.

Most compelling of all reasons to abandon this worst of all bad habits is the fact that buttock-battering can be unintentional sexual abuse for some children. There is an abundance of educational resources, testimony, documentation, etc available on the subject that can easily be found by doing a little research with the recommended reads-visit the website of Parents and Teachers Against Violence In Education at http://www.nospank.net.

Just a handful of those helping to raise awareness of why child bottom-slapping isn’t a good idea:

American Academy of Pediatrics,
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
American Psychological Association,
Center For Effective Discipline,
Churches’ Network For Non-Violence,
Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
Parenting In Jesus’ Footsteps,
Global Initiative To End All Corporal Punishment of Children,
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In 26 countries, child corporal punishment is prohibited by law (with more in process). In fact, the US was the only UN member that did not ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

For one thing, because the buttocks are so close to the genitals and so multiply linked to sexual nerve centers, striking them can trigger powerful and involuntary sexual stimulus in some people. There are numerous physiological ways in which it can be sexually abusive, but I won’t list them all here. One can use the resources I’ve posted if they want to learn more.

“If we really want a peaceful and compassionate world, we need to build communities of trust where all children are respected, where home and school are safe places to be and where discipline is taught by example.”
Desmond M. Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, 2006. See http://www.nospank.net/globalreport.pdf

Ten Reasons I Can’t Spank A Catholic Counselor’s Critical Examination of Corporal Punishment By Gregory K. Popcak, MSW, LCSW
http://nospank.net/popcak.htm

“I have always been an advocate for the total abolition of corporal punishment and I believe the connection with pornography that is so oriented has its roots in our tradition of beating children.”
Gordon Moyes, D. D., Pastor, Uniting Church, Superintendent of the Wesley Central Mission, Sydney, Australia. Excerpt from personal communication, 1980.

“I have never accepted the principle of ‘spare the rod and spoil the child.’… I am persuaded that violent fathers produce violent sons… Children don’t need beating. They need love and encouragement. They need fathers to whom they can look with respect rather than fear. Above all, they need example.”
Gordon B. Hinckley, President, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, October 1994 General Conference.

United Methodist Church:
UMC General Conference, May 3, 2004, takes a stand against corporal punishment in all settings.
Click on the following links:
http://www.umc.org/Calms/petition.asp?mid=2886&Petition=1038
http://www.umc.org/Calms/Petition.asp?mid=2886&Petition=1037
Rita Swan, introducer of both resolutions, describes strategy

http://www.parentinginjesusfootsteps.org

A grace based explanation of Biblical child rearing:
http://www.aolff.org

Let me address this for you. Hogwash!

I was spanked as a child and I have great respect, love and admiration for my father. I have heard testimony from numerous acquaintances with the same testimony. The problem with you and the other alarmist is that you equate the drunk father beating kid child with the loving father with a paddle in his hand. Lose the tunnel vision. You guys are just like the ant-gun crowd. You only see the bad guys.

When used as a deterrent in a loving way only for serious offenses it is quite appropriate.

Why don’t you try answering some of the tougher questions I’ve asked instead of simply relying on the weakest question in my post?

By way of critique, however, your parallel doesn’t fit. There’s no reason to teach your kids to ‘fear’ bears, fire, or water. There is only ever reason to respect their power, purpose, and place in this world. However, spanking forcibly educates a child to fear their parent, and uses that same fear as future incentive to avoid certain behaviours. Hardly the same thing.

Demonizing parents who spank with love is mere stupidity. Ignore these at all cost.

About halfway through my childhood my mother found a much more effective way to discipline me and my siblings, and that was to write sentences. This was a much larger deterrent as well because unlike spanking the punishment took far longer(sometimes hours, depending on the amount I had to write). I hated this punishment, however it was far more effective in modifying my behavior than spanking ever was.

Also, for all those people who say that a light spanking once in awhile is ok, you may want to read the article. Its about beating your children until they end up in tears, not a light spanking.

Or, the barbaric idiots who spank their kids lead to the rotten kids prancing around your schools with a chip on their shoulder, because they resent being hit all the time and want to beat the shit out of someone else for catharsis.

Hey, if we’re pulling “factual statements” out of our ass with no proof, I’m gonna join the fun.

Yep because the alternative can be much much worse. Fear fire, fear water fear bears, etc. These no spanking parents led to the new generation of spoiled rotten kids prancing around our schools with a chip on their shoulder. They don’t fear their parents or anyone else. Thanks lazy parents.