Boy Originating from Machico
In the digital age, technological advancements have made it possible to create any movie, including those that depict implausible or infamous acts. One such video, showing a premeditated act of brutality towards a child, has sparked outrage and introspection in Portugal.
The images from the video are shocking and difficult to contain. They serve as a stark reminder of the reality that many Portuguese homes have been known to experience similar acts of violence. The 16-year-old girl's question at a school inauguration reveals a belief that domestic violence is acceptable because it is learned from parents.
The assumption that a slap can be legitimate excuses temper, pardons cowardice, and prolongs the cycle of violence. A slap always reveals a lack of control and cowardice on the part of the aggressor. It is a personal defeat and produces remorse. A smack given "at the right time" is not a solution, but postpones the resolution and creates another problem.
The success of the slap is akin to the intoxication of alcohol, giving a false sense of success but causing long-term harm. The child's plea in the video echoes in schools, where teachers often face difficulties in proving abuse and mistreatment. Hitting a child is a fascist way to humiliate them, and it is an undeniable fact of cowardice.
The boys and girls who silently endure domestic violence are sacrifices of past silences that should shame us all. They are the victims of a cycle of violence that permeates all ages. It is up to everyone to eliminate the belief that hitting works.
The Supreme Court of Justice considered "a few slaps" and "spanks on the butt" as "moderate corrections" in a 2006 ruling. However, the current judicial stance in Portugal strictly prohibits corporal punishment in schools, considering it abusive and illegal under child protection and education laws. The regulation on corporal punishment in schools was enacted by the Portuguese government in 2006.
Digital expertise abounds, but deceit is still common. It is not enough to provide psychological support and resources in schools if the repulsion against terror and torture does not translate into a pragmatic design of our society. Hundreds of teachers and school psychologists have managed to access children's silences about domestic abuse and turned them into difficult and sensitive conversations.
The boy from Machico begs us to stop the cowardice so that he can learn to educate his children differently. His plea resonates with many who are working tirelessly to break the cycle of violence and promote a culture of respect and empathy. The slap does not solve a problem, but postpones its resolution and creates another. It is time for Portugal, and the world, to say no to violence and yes to change.
