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Hernando Today

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 21, 2007

Updated: 12/20/2007 06:44 pm

Bad Choices Have

Bad Consequences
At the risk of being called an apologist for Domenick Maglio, I must again defend his principles for raising children.

Saturday, Dec. 8, Joe Cliford accused Maglio of saying spanking should be the primary punishment for bad behavior.

I read that nowhere in Maglio's comments. He merely maintains that spanking should be included in the repertoire of responses parents employ for misbehavior.

For Cliford's information, reciting research is quite the opposite of ranting diatribes. I would have appreciated reading that research.

My research is simply personal experience. My children know spanking is included in my methods of discipline, so I rarely have to use it.

But is this mental torture as some say? I guess it's torture for them when thinking about doing something wrong. It makes it a tough decision.

Does spanking promote violence and conflict? The only conflict young children care to resolve is how to get their immediate wants.

They don't and won't appreciate collective words for why what they want isn't good or appropriate for them.

As a parent, the only solution is to show them that their bad choices have bad immediate consequences, sometimes placed upon their derriere.

Biting your brother is bad. They get it!

Sure, "time out" would work to separate siblings for the time being, but how many times must the sibling suffer before stronger discipline is employed?

It would be disingenuous to insinuate that a child learned bad behavior like biting his brother from a parent's spanking, especially when the biting came first.

Sometimes, the best way to end the conflict is to win the war and stop the bad behavior as quickly as possible.

As for quoting the Bible, indeed the Bible itself is correct. But people often take parts out of context.

I believe it's obvious what "spare the rod" refers to as it concludes, "spoil the child."

As for humility and patience, they are perhaps the most misinterpreted concepts of all.

For example, people saying, "I know I'm wrong, but I'm going to do it anyway," are not humbly recognizing that they are not always right.

They down right know they are wrong, which means their actions will have bad consequences for others but they don't care. They vainly go on doing wrong anyway.

Unfortunately, there are those in the world intent on manipulating good-spirited people until they are stopped. The longer the wait, the worse the consequences.

Finally, Maglio was referring to early intervention with young children like mine and believe me that I love my children and they love me.

By the time they enter middle school, it is obviously too late to start disciplining children. Perhaps Cliford was confused; no one suggests he spank his students.

John T. Boyle

Hernando Beach

Small Farmers

Need Assistance

Re: Statement about Hernando Today article, "Horses, Steer, Goat Up For Auction," dated Dec. 12.

It makes me very sad to read again that due to age and finances, somebody will lose his complete livestock. It was not much to read about the owner, her financial hardship or even her feelings about this situation before Christmas.

It seems to me that many lives of small farmers in Hernando County are taken over by auction companies, lawyers, as well as real estate agents. Is it really all about to help farmers out of their misfortune? Or is it rather to see a chance to make money from other people's sweat? Many elderly people are ashamed to reach out for help; and even when they do so, what has the government to offer?

A couple months ago, I had a conversation with a farmer from Europe. They established an organization to give hard-working farmers a break from their daily routine. For some days a year, a farmer has the possibility to get help for his farm and livestock for a very small compensation.

This organization has professional staff available that can be contacted in emergencies like health issues, financial crises or problems with animals. Some issues are often temporary and can be solved with a little help from outside.

What a wonderful idea!

Rita Schmidt

Brooksville

Nicholson Will Be

Fondly Remembered

It's truly a devastating time in our lives when we lose a loved one, especially so close to the holidays. I am writing to you today, on behalf of Mary Nicholson, who was a CNA at Heron Pointe Health and Rehab, who recently passed away.

I worked with her Friday night, we spoke of family, Christmas and the New Year, neither of us knowing it would be the last time we ever spoke to one another.

She was a brave and courageous woman, a single mom of five, working to make ends meet. She was always joyous and happy; her eyes sparkled every time she smiled. She loved her children dearly and spoke highly of her son, Micheal, with pride and joy in her voice, and Ashley and Mandy. She had so much love for them. She cared for her residents with attentiveness and compassion. Mary had a heart of gold.

Two months ago, I wrote her a poem, from her deceased son that she'd lost last year, never in my wildest dreams knowing that now I'd be writing one for our dear sweet Mary.

We will all miss her dearly. She will be forever on our minds and eternally in our hearts. This Christmas season, God has seen fit to take a very special angel from us. I can still see her vibrant smile. I can hear her laughter, and it nearly breaks my heart.

I just want the world to know that Mary Nicholson was loved, and lost by so many.

We love you Mary. Your co-workers at Heron Pointe!

Nellie Smith

Brooksville

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