Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by ROMAN ROMACH on July 1, 2011 at 4:32pm

 

It seems that circumcision really got going in the US about 1900, with a boost from Dr. John Kellog (yes, cornflakes) and his misbegotten associates.  And why did they think this was a good idea?  Because it would keep boys from MASTURBATING.  Circumcision eventually became popular and became a kind of status symbol for the cereal-crunching, "clean" Americans as compared to the "dirty" European immigrants.

 

The US is the only major industrialized country where circumcision is performed as a matter of course.  Unfortunately, this procedure is now being pushed in parts of Africa as a means of reducing the chance of getting aids.

 

Fortunately, I escaped this bit of amputation by being born overseas.  But there is a strong urge in this country to have the son look like his daddy, so I don't see that this practice will end any time soon.  And the fear that a boy may have some problems by having a foreskin are ridiculous.  My father never taught me about all my "parts".  Never fear, little boys are curious and quickly find out for themselves.   

 

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Simon Milje on July 1, 2011 at 5:40pm

There is no such thing as a Muslim, Jewish or Christian child, a point well made by Richard Dawkins. Circumcision has ever since it came to my knowledge been a horrifying act. Here's hoping for a near future where human beings are to keep all body parts until they are able to reign over it themselves- for the sake of human well-being.

Permalink Reply by Jovelean D. Borces on July 5, 2011 at 6:03pm

Indeed!

Permalink Reply by Alice on July 1, 2011 at 9:02pm

It's interesting that this is a religious issue.  I don't see any reason to circumcise babies or a male of any age without a medical reason.  The myths need to be exposed.  Circumcision does not mean less STD's.  It does mean less sexual pleasure for both them and their partners (unless there is a medical problem with the foreskin).

Permalink Reply by Connie Kane on July 1, 2011 at 9:43pm

I tried telling my son not to cut his two boys at birth. We agreed to disagree. My poor granbabies! My son said " we want the boys to look like me". Argh#€%¥!!! I'm so proud of San Francisco!! I just hope it becomes law. The reply by Alice says,"less sexual pleasure for both...". I must say I don't remember any difference during love making. Being married twice, one was "cut", the other not. The uncut man must take special cleaning care before oral love. My uncut husband is more sensitive. My poor granbabies!!!

Permalink Reply by Dr. Terence Meaden on July 2, 2011 at 1:28am

Oh we deeply sympathise, Connie. 

 

And Dr Lempert said: "The available evidence shows that the foreskin contains 20,000 to 30,000 nerve endings and has a very important function in lubrication ..."  This is part of what evolution did for the better joy of love-making, hence reproduction. 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Joseph P on July 2, 2011 at 1:31am

My son said " we want the boys to look like me".

That's the worst damned reason to do something.  Arrogant @#$%^&*.

Permalink Reply by Tom Sarbeck on July 2, 2011 at 6:03am

My two brothers and I are among the cut because my mom's doctor sent her to Cincinnati's Jewish hospital to give birth. Years later, after I'd heard of circumcision, she told me that when she brought me home I didn't trust anyone. She told me that I wouldn't eat what she knew was good for me. Why I wasn't surprised?

I often ironically tell people the purpose of circumcision is to teach boys to distrust everyone, which equips them for life in a capitalist economy. More seriously, since most babies are cared for by their mothers, as I was, and boys' memories don't magically disappear, I've often wondered if misogyny is one of the consequences of infant circumcision.

 

Permalink Reply by Alice on July 2, 2011 at 6:20pm

I think much of what you've said is a long shot - although I do support leaving boys alone.  Most of American's are circumcised, but they are not all misogynists.  You could do the research on that - but I think you'd find that there wasn't much correlation.  Most new born babies are hard work.  I've had 3 of them and one of them needed both his ankle tendons cut at 8 weeks old and to be put into plaster casts for the first 3 months and then into braces at night until he is 4 years old.  And yet his is the most loving and affectionate and relaxed of my kids.  He is the youngest.  Whilst my first child who has no such intervention is the most anxious.  I think this is more about my own anxiety with my first pregnancy and giving birth and breastfeeding for the first time etc, as well as his personality and perhaps other environmental factors, such as underdeveloped nervous system due to lack of essential vitamins during early formation in first 12 weeks of gestation.  I really don't know.  There are just so many contributing factors to how we are.  Doing a study on these things and actually getting the facts is really the only way to gain some strong supportive evidence one way or another.  Mine and yours is really just conjecture and not worth too much.

Permalink Reply by Ken Jackson on July 2, 2011 at 8:52pm

Well, millions of years of evolution put the foreskin there for good reason, so why cut it off?

 

Perhaps, it has been removed for the breakfast enjoyment of the xtian hoipalloi,  They used to serve it to us in the Navy also...  You know the one, "Foreskiins On Toast"

Permalink Reply by oracle on July 5, 2011 at 10:27am

It's genital mutilation, there is no sound reason to ceremoniously cut the foreskin of a babies penis. How people can take this barbaric practice in stride is beyond my understanding.

Permalink Reply by Will Faithless Sophia on July 5, 2011 at 11:27am

Yeah, the level of defense for the practice of organized brutal infant rape aka 'child circumcision,' here on AN is disturbing to say the least... and this is without any religious bias :/

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