Why do you...

...go off the deep end like this?

Baldur was repeating the "best case" argument for spanking, which is rarely followed in practice, and which, imho, is at best perhaps equal to other forms of discipline, and in many cases counter-productive. I was spanked a few times in the 3-8 age frame, and in my mind it was neither here nor there. It certainly did not dissuade future occurrences of the behavior for which I was spanked. If anything, it taught me that I either needed to do better at not getting caught, or needed to be a better liar if confronted. But I was never verbally abused the way William Adams treated his daughter. Had I been, I assure you I would definitely not be on speaking terms with my spanker.

And from what I have read she had some form of Ataxic Cerebral Palsy, which fortunately seems like a less debilitating form. I saw a replay of her appearance with her mother this morning on one of the national morning shows. I forget which one. To see her, she looks perfectly normal, and seems like a smart and articulate and compassionate person. But honestly, I do not care if she were confined to a wheel chair, or if she were the captain of her school's wrestling team--the verbal and physical abuse heaped on her was disgusting. Whether or not she was disabled has nothing to do with it.

You said it in your last sentence. You need to rethink this.