Date: Mon, 01 Feb 1999 15:57:56 -0800
From: "Senex R. Rupicapra" <olgoat-AT-kdsi.net>
Subject: Re: baby food (for thought)


Brian J. Callahan wrote:
 
> This goes to one of the biggest problems in an anarchist
> society, IMHO, what to do about parents hurting children. 
> First, some consensus on what "hurting" might be has to be
> reached.   How do you do that?  A Mcdonald's Happy Meal? 
> Scalding water?  What criteria do you use.  Should it apply
> to other communities?

	aye, Bri, that'll always be a tough one.  some o the 
most egregious rights abridgements have been in the name o "the
chilluns"--ranks right up there with "god" and "country". most 
folk got a soft spot for the kids so any wool-pulling be a bit 
easier if y declare yr "cause" to be "for the chilluns".
	i dunno, mebbe the criterion should be "immediate harm
or danger", just like it should be for big people.  i realise
that, because o their vulnerability, kids got a entitlement to
be sheltered by adults.  this is as it oughta be. child rape or
sexual molestation, torture, pschological or physical battery,
starvation, hurtful confinement (like where the kid was chained 
to her bed for five years)--all these be pretty much consensus
child abuse crimes, whether by family or others.  also, i dont 
care all that much for spanking--me da was a quick hitter--but 
it can be an effective teaching device if used sparingly.  
	i be loath to prescribe child-rearing guidances for 
others.  with six o me own i made plenty mistakes and they turned 
out like they turned out--a mixed bag--either because o or in 
spite o what i done (they aint saying which, thank the gods). 
now that they got their own kids my inclination is to give a 
lotta free advice.  it's a temptation i work hard to resist in
the main.
	one thing about the clan is that we got a pretty good-
sized support mechanism here.  them seeking enlightenment rarely 
be refused it.  and amongst us there prolly aint a child-rearing
mistake we aint made.  our rule is we dont offer much unsolicited
advice and we dont refuse to proffer solicited advice.  we try to
stay away from rendering censure except in extreme cases (which
rarely occur.)  i'd hope that a anarc community would be somewhat 
like that.
	i opine child-rearing be a art rather than a science, 
but cruelty and depravity aint all that hard to recognise.
	FWIW,

	old goat.
	forgiveness is the balm of life;
	it works best when self-applied.
	ÐÏ à¡± á