A Slap Is Not Only A Slap

A slap. A good tight slap. A slap on the face.
To express anger, disgust or end of grace. Pain intended to punish or correct.

A punch. A kick. A whack with a rotan or belt. To teach a lesson. To beat evil out. To discipline.

Gang fights. Brawls. Bullying. Abuse. Torture. Employers of slaps, kicks and punches.

The dominant exerting power, employing pain to direct, determine and/or deter. Assumed right, hailed by supporters, acquited by tradition and holy books.

Yet. The human recipient sprawls hurt and in pain. Memories claw the mind, inflicting new rivulets of fear and shame. Bruises, wounds and cuts linger while scars carry the burden of need-to-be forgotten trauma.

Punished to please the offended. But what good does it do for the punished? It breeds hatred, bitterness, seeping anger. It flourishes shame, guilt and fear.

Learnt their lesson? I am uncertain though certain of this one thing. Inflicted physical pain is a terrible teacher of good. An excellent tyrant to keep children in submission, to buy cowering slaves and to gather fearful submissive servitude.

Parent. Teacher. Religious teacher. Actor. Leader. King.
Think.
Is a violent show of abusive strength the most excellent way to express disagreement, to bring change, to encourage obedience?

But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. LOVE
1 Corinthians 12:31 NLT

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