JDN, You hit the bull's eye with your comment about Dr. Spock. He has been the cause of more troubled, and troublesome, teenagers that has been known on earth. Without the option of discipline, there is no way to get the message of honesty, and appropriate conduct, through to those kids. When they know that they cannot be punished, many of them go off the deep end, and are uncontrollable.
When you speak of Marine boot camp, I am reminded of the movie with Jack Webb that was titled "The D.I" He got the facts across to the viewers.
My Mother's favorite switch was a crepe myrtle branch, applied with my britches down around my ankles. That thing whipped around so fast that you could hear the swish, and know it was coming before it hit the back of the legs, and the butt, where it left shiny red welts.
When I was in the 5th grade, I shoplifted a box of rock candy from the local drug store on the way home from school, which was a walk instead of a ride. By the time I got the 5 blocks to my house, the druggist had already called my Mom and she was waiting for me. She marched me back that 5 blocks, and I had to hand deliver the candy back to the druggist, and tell him I was sorry, in front of everyone else in the store. Then she marched me home, and whipped the hell out of me. That lesson proved to me that crime doesn't pay. |
