Peterson's Switching Wasn't Normal Southern Tradition

  • Thursday, September 18, 2014

Re: Roy Exum:  Switching Are Nothing New

Dear Mr. Exum, 

I was anxious to read your take on the child "whooped" by an NFL player. I am sorry to say that your article let me down. I guess your background in sports and living in the South have warped your mind a bit? Let me confirm that I was raised in the South [Georgia]  and growing up I had some "switching". I also had two belt whippings from my dad--neither one of them left a mark on me--except that I never wanted another one. I never had anything like that 4-year-old child had--ever. I don't think your "auntie" ever switched you like that, and I doubt if she could bench press a small fraction of what the average NFL player can. Here is the description from a news report: 

"........Peterson told police he gave his son a "whooping" in a May incident in Spring, Texas. According to the report, Peterson said he did it to punish the child for pushing another one of Peterson's children while they were playing a video game. The report says Peterson grabbed a tree branch, removed the leaves and struck the 4-year-old repeatedly. The child's injuries reportedly included cuts and bruises to the child's back, buttocks, ankles, legs and scrotum, along with defensive wounds to the child's hands. According to the report, Peterson texted the boy's mother and acknowledged what he had done and that she would be "mad at me about his leg. I got kinda good wit the tail end of the switch." 

Peterson also allegedly texted the child's mother that he "felt bad after the fact when I notice the switch was wrapping around hitting I [sic] thigh. . . . Got him in nuts once I noticed. But I felt so bad, n I'm all tearing that butt up when needed! I start putting them in timeout. N save the whooping for needed memories!" 

According to the report, the child told authorities, "Daddy Peterson hit me on my face" and said he feared Peterson would punch him in the face if he found out police knew about the incident. The boy's mother reportedly took him to a doctor, who reported the injuries to authorities, saying they were consistent with child abuse........." 

To push this aside as "normal southern tradition" is ridiculous. He cut and bruised a four-year-old child for a scuffle over a video game?  

You need to review your "article" and consider the whole situation. Why don't you go and choose a limb for a switching or a whoopin. After that you can go to bed without supper. 

Ted Ladd
East Ridge

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