There is a world of difference between "raising a hand in violence" and giving a light swat on the butt. When you have a child with a very strong personality, sometimes this is the only thing that works....and its done out of love and a concern to teach the child right from wrong - NOT done in anger.
That said, its not the best tool to use in the vast majority of cases as I pointed out in my first response, its better much of the time to get to the root of the problem and address THAT rather than the bad behavior.
There are rare times that this isnt enough, that the child truly has a very strong personality and requires an adult to correct the child's thinking that he or she is the one in control. And all it takes is a light swat on a diaper-clad butt, NOT a beating with a belt.
There is no difference. Raising your hand is violence regardless of how hard you hit. It teaches the child that might = right, and that it's an acceptable response to frustration to resort to physical violence or hitting.
It isn't legal to hit someone on the street who frustrates you, therefore no one should be allowed to hit a child, regardless of if the child stems from them or not. Our rights end where another's skin begins.
That's my take on it. I perceive a child as a human being with the same rights as anyone else. I don't care if they are not mentally "mature," as adults are (it's still illegal to hit a mentally handicapped person, fyi).
That's my opinion. Having done the research on the side effects and consequences of all forms of "discipline," on children, I have to conclude that spanking is immoral.
I can't stop anyone else from doing it, but I certainly never will.