In the news

I was watching The Talk yesterday and the ladies were discussing the Texas Judge William Adams who was caught on video beating his then 16 year old daughter Hillary with a belt. The video was 7 or 8 minutes long, but the 18 seconds I watched was way enough for me. Evidently she had been getting beaten more frequently and a pattern was beginning to develop as to when she would receive them, so when she knew the next one was coming she decided to video tape it. This particular time she was getting punished for illegally downloading music that she didn't purchase!

The video was from 2004. Here it is 2011. Why 7 years later? This story leaves a bad taste in my mouth. We all know every side has two stories and we know the media runs with stories, but this video can not be disputed!! He beat her continuously with a belt and humiliated her as he did it. His side of the story is he was disciplining her because she downloaded the music illegally. He says that she is bringing the video to surface now because she is mad at him for cutting her financial support down and not paying her mercedes car payment anymore. He said he is teaching her to not be self suffient because she is only working part time in a video store. Her side of the story is she was too scared to bring the story to light while she lived at home and she wants him to get help. She did admit to feeling bad for doing it though because she doesn't want her dad to get in trouble.

Well, I read that he probably will not be facing charges because the 5 year statue of limitations has passed, but another judge is filling in for a couple weeks while the case is reviewed. Regardless, this man's reputation as family judge is ruined and I bet he will not be re-elected when his term is up in 3 years.

Children need discipline. It's how they learn boundaries on what is right and wrong. There are several forms of discipline that can get the point across and beating them with a belt for eight minutes is not one of them IMHO. I admit I have came across a handful of kids in my life that I'd like to smack their smiles to the back of their head because of their rudeness, but obviously I don't carry out the act. I don't know how I would handle discipline if I was a parent, but I'd like to think I wouldn't resort to beatings and belittling. The children are our future and the same ones who will choose which nursing home they will put you in. :)