Should Corporal Punishment (not capital) Be Brought Back To Life?

A few week ago, after having a wonderful evening of dinner and talk with friends that I hadn't seen in years, I stopped at a gas station to fill up. Now, mind you, this was two o'clock in the morning.

While paying for my gas, a group of about 15 young people, ranging in ages from 15-20, entered the gas station. The major problem with this group at the time was its rowdiness. The kids were clearly upsetting the other customers and the owners of the gas station.

I walked over to the group and asked how old they were. When I was told their ages, I asked the 15 year old girls why they were out so late, and if their parent knew where they were. I then suggested that they go home. I should explain that this encounter was in Georgetown, in Washington, DC, and was in an area primarily full of bars. It is also fair to mention that it is not uncommon for the Metropolitan Police to question young people as to why they are out past the curfew set by the city.

All was well until a visiting 17 year old from LA decided that he was a "grown man," and could do what he wanted. I was immediately angered, not only by his tone, but also by the fact that I was old enough to be his grandmother, and his response was totally out of line. Seeing that I was becoming upset, the eldest of the group, and one of the 15 year old girls, apologized for him.

Although I was very appreciative that the other members of this group took responsibility for their friend, I felt that the apology should come from him. So, I took him to the side and explained the situation with him being in Washington, and being out so late. His response, which was actually a question, was why are you out this late? I simply informed the young man that I, by my age and maturity, earned the right to be out whenever I wanted, and that he had no right to question me. I was not the one breaking curfew, nor was I the one disturbing others. I went further to point out that I was sure his parents had not raised him to be disrespectful to his elders. I won't print what he said next. I'll just leave that up to your imagination, but it was not nice.

Well, I told him he was acting like an ass, and he all of a sudden became sensitive. He was hurt that I used a curse word. I replied that he lost the right for my respect, and that since he thought he was a man, it was now time for me to treat him like one. I informed him that I was an attorney, and that he was now breaking the law, and that if he did not leave the premises at once, I would call the proper authorities to have him removed. Suffice it to say that the group gathered their friend and immediately left; but, not without the young man repeating that nice phrase he he bestowed upon me earlier.

I then started to wonder if the young man would have had that same attitude if corporal punishment were still invoked, not only for the kids, but their parents as well. Have we become a society that is totally immune to respect? I can only assume that this type of behavior comes from something lacking in the home. Yes, I know that parents cannot regulate the behavior of their children when they are not with them, but I have to question, why were these kids out that late in the first place; and, if the parents had really drilled respect for people, especially elders, into the minds of their children.

I have time and time again witnessed parents actually hearing their children make disrespectful remarks to persons much older than them, only to hear the parents respond afterwards that their children were only standing up for themselves. And, though this really should not matter, but it does in our society, I live in an extremely influential area. These were not children from "poor" families, as I know some of you may assume. So, why do we wonder what is happening in our society today? I am the parent of two teens, and I wish one of my children would even think about displaying some of the disrespect that this kids show today. And, no, I have never laid a hand on either of my children; but, they have learned from the time that they could focus, that disrespect would not be tolerated.

It may take just a whack on the butt to turn some of these people around. When will we learn that if you cannot be respectful, you cannot care about what is going on around you. And, once you stop caring, all is lost.