Depuis près de 16 siècles — oui, honorables sénateurs, 16 siècles —, on a considéré que la nature humaine était originellement mauvaise, qu'il fallait la combattre, la dresser, lui extirper le mal pour lui apprendre le bien à coups de gifles, de fessées et autres martinets ou ceinturons.
For some 16 centuries — yes, honourable senators, 16 centuries — it was thought that human nature was inherently evil, that it had to be beaten and tamed, that children had to have evil driven out of them and replaced by good by dint of blows, spankings, whippings and strappings.