From the Revd Dr Stephen Brian
Sir, - You report the Dean of Brecon (
News, 3 May) as saying in his sermon: "For some reason it is
illegal for me to hit my 37-year-old daughter when she does
something to upset me, but it is perfectly legal for her to hit her
two-year-old son."
Is the Dean really suggesting that there is no difference
between, say, punching his adult daughter in the face, and
administering a mild smack on the back of a hand to a two-year-old?
Perhaps we should also condemn the "stabbing" of children by adults
with sharp implements (i.e. vaccination) - surely an even more
violent and invasive act.
On the other hand, it might be more sensible to cease
caricaturing and demolishing the arguments of those with whom we
disagree by talk of "hitting", and engage in a more rational
discussion.
STEPHEN BRIAN
The Rectory, Church Lane
Earl Soham
Woodbridge
Suffolk IP13 7SD