Protest teaching abusive parenting practices in West Seattle

[JoB]

What would you do to prevent someone from hitting a child?

Tedd Tripp is delivering a seminar in Seattle this weekend at all Mars Hill churches that teaches parents to spank their children regularly…. starting in infancy…

He believes that children are born with evil tendencies and the only way to produce a sweet obedient submissive child is to spank them regularly for lack of submission as well as offenses… starting in infancy. He states that you can not raise a child of god without regular physical discipline… He even teaches to spank in private on bare bottoms to avoid being prosecuted for child abuse.

It is not ok to advocate hitting children… even in the name of God. The severe kind of punishment he advocates is prohibited by Washington law and the American College of Pediatrics says studies show it is ineffective… as well as harmful to the physical and mental well being of children. The effects of this kind of abuse last a lifetime.

There is something you can do…

Join us locally at http://groups.google.com/group/stopthehitting.

You will find a handout to help spread the word, alerts to media attention and information about protests so you can stand with us in silent protest… and a mostly like minded community of concerned neighbors. This group was formed out of the concern of local mom’s groups.

You can do as little or as much as you like… everything helps.

Parents need to learn that there are ways to raise a good Christian child that don’t include regularly beating them. Spanking is far more effective when it is not a regular occurrence.

This program will be broadcast at the West Seattle Mars Hill Church. We are planning a silent protest in front of the West Seattle Mars Hill Church this friday (9/19)night at 6 PM.

We will do nothing more than hold hands and give handouts that offer alternative child rearing resources to anyone who will take them..

I would really appreciate it if you would take the time to join us.

If you want to do more, you can join us at a city-wide protest at the main Mars Hill location in Ballard on Saturday around noon.

I hope you understand that i am not anti-religion. I am not anti-church. I am not even anti Mars Hill Church.

But i don’t believe that regularly spanking children in the manner Tedd Tripp teaches… with the frequency he teaches is effective. I don’t believe you capture hearts by beating children into submission.

I suffered that kind of abuse as a child and i can attest to the fact that the harmful effects last a lifetime.

If we can convince even one parent that there is a better way to discipline.. one that might even include judicious spanking.. it is well worth the time spent.

anyone wanting to talk to me about this can contact me at joanne@brayden.org

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[ellenater]

That is some sick sh*t! Thanks for posting, JoB. The West Seattle location is actually right up the street from me. I’ll look for you guys. That’s my son’s birthday so I can’t do the protest as we have plans but I fully support your efforts! Mars Hill creeps me out in general. Sorry if that offends anyone but it really does feel cultish.

Good work! Keep us posted!

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[mellaw6565]

JoB – has anyone contacted the news stations about Mars Hill and this guy? Bet they’ll do an investigative story and really turn the heat up on this church.

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[FullTilt]

The problem with Tedd Tripp and his church is that media feeds them. This new breed of the American Taliban get all riled up when they feel they are being persecuted by the media. It feeds the self righteousness that they are suffering just like Jesus did.

I fyou do some searching on youtube, for tedd trip, there are some great speaches that he gives advocating similar treatment for wives as he does children. Bring on the Jesus Burka.

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[mellaw6565]

I don’t think an investigative report into their teaching of child/wife abuse will give them the type of “persecution” coverage that they want, and at the very least, will clue local people in on what appears to be a very innocuous church in the middle of a suburb.

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[JoB]

from soclwrkrinmotn:

“I can’t log in for some reason, but I wanted to send the below to you.

I certainly don’t hold with folks like Tripp: use of force on children does not develop a conscience, but rather a fearful child who does right because he is afraid, not because it is right.

However, I wanted to let you know that under the law, Tripp is not advocating abuse. (He’s still a sick and twisted SOB that should never be allowed near children.) I wanted to just let you know because I don’t want the law turned on us…

But I think the last line is key.

Will someone post this for me?

RCW 9A.16.100

Use of force on children — Policy — Actions presumed unreasonable.

It is the policy of this state to protect children from assault and abuse and to encourage parents, teachers, and their authorized agents to use methods of correction and restraint of children that are not dangerous to the children. However, the physical discipline of a child is not unlawful when it is reasonable and moderate and is inflicted by a parent, teacher, or guardian for purposes of restraining or correcting the child. Any use of force on a child by any other person is unlawful unless it is reasonable and moderate and is authorized in advance by the child’s parent or guardian for purposes of restraining or correcting the child.

The following actions are presumed unreasonable when used to correct or restrain a child: (1) Throwing, kicking, burning, or cutting a child; (2) striking a child with a closed fist; (3) shaking a child under age three; (4) interfering with a child’s breathing; (5) threatening a child with a deadly weapon; or (6) doing any other act that is likely to cause and which does cause bodily harm greater than transient pain or minor temporary marks. The age, size, and condition of the child and the location of the injury shall be considered when determining whether the bodily harm is reasonable or moderate. This list is illustrative of unreasonable actions and is not intended to be exclusive.

Soclwrkinmotn is right.. everything but the most severe application of what Tedd Tripp advocates as the way you must raise a child is strictly speaking, legal.. unless someone is prosecuted and the judge decides the actions exceed reasonable punishment…

“The age, size, and condition of the child and the location of the injury shall be considered when determining whether the bodily harm is reasonable or moderate.”

I should be clear that it is only the more severe manifestations of Tedd Tripp’s parenting advice that would be considered illegal under washington law.

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[ellenater]

I agree. Contact the news! This guy needs to go down.

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[JoB]

We are talking with some news outlets..

but the real story for them is that ordinary people have become concerned enough to protest this kind of parenting advice.

especially that christian people and/or people raising children are protesting this kind of parenting advice.

There won’t be a story if people don’t turn up.

so, whether you can come or not, please spread the word… even if only by engaging in conversation here.

there is a handout at http://groups.google.com/group/stopthehitting.

Please print and distribute it. copy and paste it and send it in emails.

feel free to copy and paste my post here and post it on any internet list, board, forum or chat room you participate in.

If you are shy about presenting the message, feel free to attribute it to me (JoB) and say you found it on the West Seattle Blog forum.

You can even use my name if you know it since i have given interviews that i expect will be printed with my name.

There is a move to convince people that children have gone astray because of lax parenting.. that is parents who won’t spank their children. This program is just a part of that movement that takes the idea one step farther.. and teaches that children need to be taught submission.

some days when i find myself in an overenthusiastic group of young people, i admit that i fleetingly think a bit more submission wouldn’t be such a bad thing..

then my common sense takes over and i realize how important it is for children to be able to think through the choices before them and make choices based on what they think is right or wrong.. not on what they think someone else wants them to do.

Parents do need to spend quality time with their kids… and be as concerned with their moral development as with their baseball scores.. as Tedd Tripp’s advertisements promote…

but studies have proved that regular spanking is ineffective as a means of discipline and it does not prepare children to make good decisions when they are not in your direct control.

it takes a lot more than fear to produce healthy moral and ethical children.

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[ellenater]

JoB, I’ll do what I can.

I agree that kids need more discipline. But that does NOT mean spanking. I think more structure and parents slowing the h*ll down and being more present with their kids would do the trick. I’ll take a flyer to the knitting group tonight.

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[JoB]

thank you.

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[JoB]

I interview with Q13 this afternoon. they are doing a story about the controversy surrounding tedd Tripp’s seminar this weekend.

I don’t know if i will be part of the story or not.. they had other people to interview.. and i may not see the news tonight..

but i thought i would let you know.

if i am, you will all recognize stabucks at Morgan junction.

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[Oliver]

JoB,

Thanks for keeping up the momentum. My family will be there friday night.

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[WSratsinacage]

Just saw you on tv JoB. Bless you and thanks for doing this!!!

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[Trick]

JoB,

What WSratsinacage said :)

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[homedk]

Nicely done,JoB!

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[JoB]

Ah shucks!

What i need now are a few volunteers to show up with me on friday night for about a half hour…

i intend to be as non-confrontational as that interview was.

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[initiatezathras]

Hey JoB,

Where exactly will we be meeting? Also, do we need to get a permit or notify SPD that we plan on holding a peaceful protest? I’m in with you; babies shouldn’t be hit.

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[JoB]

it didn’t occur to me that we might need a permit.. i will call the police station this afternoon to make sure..

we won’t be marching, so i doubt we do.

We can meet across the street from the church.. there is a large bus stop there… at just before 6.

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[MrJT]

JoB is there a link to see the story on Q13 ? Checked their website and couldn’t find anything

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[andrea]

MrJT I just saw the link on their home page. Just click the arrow on their fron page news stories over to the right a time or two, and you will see that story headline, something to the effect of “Ballard church stirs up controversary…” or the like.

Joanne, great work. I am envious of your proactively ans strive for it in my own life. Thank you to all who will be protesting.

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[JoB]

i honestly don’t know.

i can try to find out.

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[MrJT]

Thank you Andrea ! Nice job JoB

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[JoB]

Andrea… you have a good start.

i think people don’t change much. i have been doing what i can for so long that it just feels normal to me.

some days i do a lot. some days i do nothing.

but none of it would amount to much if i didn’t find other people along the way who were willing to help me out.

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[ellenater]

Great work, JoB. and I agree completely…you do what you can because it has to be done!

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[Julie]

An applicable quote keeps running through my mind. I find it attributed to Voltaire, but don’t find exactly where in Voltaire, and no reliable source lists it, so I’m dubious. But it’s a great statement, and most apropos:

“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”

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[Author]

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