(Published in Kleintje Muurkrant April 26, 2002)

HOW MUCH IS ALLOWED TO SLAP A POLITICIAN?

To be short, it's not allowed at all. But in Holland those same politicians wondered at the question how much you can slap a child. Not any child, no, your OWN child.

Last March the Dutch House of Representatives debated about a possible law against beating children. A correcting slap was completely allowed, all political parties agreed on that. Physical punishment was pretty much allowed according to them. But from then on it became more difficult and they didn't know what to decide. Therefore the Dutch House of Representatives and the government decided to do more research.

I'm a Dutchman living since 1996 in Sweden where hitting children (including a 'correcting slap') is forbidden by law. When that law was endorsed in 1979, about 70 percent of the population was against such legislation. Now, more than 20 years later, the number went down to less than 10 percent. I have never seen a parent slapping his child, something which is a daily scene in Holland. And then they are wondering in Holland where all the violence comes from.

Giving 'correcting slaps' to criminals, soldiers or your partner for example, is something prohibited by law. Let's not be hypocritical and protect the rights of children because they are people, too. Better even, we are them ourselves.

Dennis Rodie, Sweden

This is how De Volkskrant (one of Holland's larger newspapers) reacted to my letter (one week after I sent it!) :

Thursday, April 4, 2002

Dear Reader,

We made your writing almost immediately ready for publication. Because of an acute shortage of space, we didn't succeed to place your letter and your writing stayed in the box 'still to publish' day after day.
Till today your letter didn't reach the columns.
We think it's too late now.
We regret to do it this way. Perhaps more success next time.

Sincerely,

Yvonne Gnirrep
editor letters/de Volkskrant

This is what was eventually left and published in Het Parool

(April 4, 2002)
Not even a little
How much is allowed to slap a politician? In short, that's not allowed at all. But still politicians are asking themselves how severely you can hit a child (Het Parool, March 20)

I live since 1996 in Sweden, where hitting children--including the 'correcting slap' - is prohibited by law. I have never seen a parent slapping his child, something which is a daily scene in Holland. And then they are wondering in Holland where all the violence comes from. Giving 'correcting slaps' to criminals, soldiers or your partner for example, is something prohibited by law in Holland. Let's not be hypocritical and protect the rights of children because they are people, too.

Dennis Rodie (Sweden)