Opinion: Abuse of women, children must end

A couple of weeks ago, when the news that star football running back, Adrian Peterson, had been charged with child abuse, for spanking his son with a “switch,” I immediately thought about how absurd it was to charge a parent with such a serious crime just for spanking his son. During discussions with friends about the incident, I took the position that the lack of spanking was the cause for a lot of society’s ills today. My friends and I bemoaned the fact that it is inappropriate for the state to intervene in family matters, especially in this case, since Adrian Peterson was such a fine, upstanding man and a great example for today’s youth.

We chatted about how we were spanked, when needed, as children. I recalled the time that I received three spanking from three different members of my family (uncle, grandmother, and mother) for the same offense – theft of a candy bar from Clifford’s grocery store. I felt that it was terribly unjust to be spanked three times for the same offense. Of course, the first two spankings were mild, a couple of swats on the behind. My third spanking, however, was different – because Mom did the spanking. She may have weighed 100 pounds after a feast, and stood about five feet tall in heels. Even though she was no bigger than a minute, that woman could pack a punch, especially with a switch. Mother nearly always left welts on our naked hamstrings, after making us take down our jeans; and she spanked us with love and great purpose. Ouch!

I still take pride in the fact that I am the only grandchild that my grandfather, Leonard Putman, spanked. I deserved the spanking mainly because I snuck up on him and bit him on the back of his leg while he was enjoying the sweet, cool evening in his favorite lawn chair. I had taken exception to his admonition to leave Mam-ma’s flowers alone, lest she become riled and spank my little behind. His spanking, if it could be called that, amounted to a few swats on my behind with his bare hand.

I can say that I never had a spanking that I didn’t deserve. Who knows, they may have even helped to mold my character? I did learn early on that crime does not pay, and that it is not a good idea to bite your grandfather, or anyone else for that matter. I fervently hope that my children can say the same thing about the spankings I administered to them. I never left marks (I hope), but they knew that they had been spanked.

Regarding Adrian Peterson, I felt that he was probably of a similar mind about spanking when I first read of the charges against him. Then I saw the photos of his little four year old son. Spanking, regardless of the severity of the behavior that led to the spanking, should never, ever, draw blood and leave horrible bruises. They also should not be administered to the genitals, which was the case with his son. Adrian Peterson horribly abused his son. There is no doubt about that. What he did was inexcusable and he needs to be severely punished for his crime. He deserves to spend many years in prison contemplating the horrible things he did to his little son. The reason he gave for whipping his son was because the boy had pushed a sibling during a childish disagreement over a videogame.

Chance Jones, who was the same age as Adrian Peterson’s son when he was beaten to death by his father, Robert Babcock, probably had a similar experience to Peterson’s son in the beginning of his abusive treatment. Chance’s grandmother knew that horrible abuse was being rained down upon her grandson’s little body, yet remained quiet about the abuse.

Adrian Peterson is not much better than Robert Babcock. The biggest difference seems to be that someone stepped in to protect Adrian Peterson’s son before he was beaten to death. Chance Jones didn’t get that opportunity. Instead, he lies cold in his little grave, a testament to the fact that we must intervene when we witness child abuse in any form, regardless of how serious we think the abuse may be. All child abuse is deadly serious and must be stopped as soon as it comes to light.

Additionally, it has recently been noted that many of our professional athletes commonly abuse their spouses and girlfriends. Ray Rice brutally hit his girlfriend, now his wife, with a wicked left hook that knocked her several feet into the air and into the hand rail of an elevator. She was knocked completely out and it took several minutes before she regained consciousness. Yet, she married the man. I’m not sure what to think about that.

Another player with the Arizona Cardinals head butted his wife and broke her nose because she was not in the mood for love. The next day, he slugged her with a closed fist, adding insult to serious injury. This type of abuse has been going on for years, yet little is done about it. It’s not just professional athletes that do these horrible things; everyday people also are guilty of these abuses.

Physically, mentally, and sexually abusing women and children, regardless of the circumstances, are inexcusable and must be dealt with by society in a stern and harsh manner. Prison time needs to be mandatory in every case.