Infant Circumcision

@GreenMoo (11834)
May 26, 2008 9:27am CST
I don't agree with the circumcision of infants. I've never heard a convincing enough argument to make me agree that removing parts of a child that are supposed to be there is a good thing. Anyone care to share their thoughts, or to try and convince me otherwise?
1 person likes this
6 responses
• India
26 May 08
Wellllll, I am afraid I never gave much thought to this matter. I have heard Muslims say it is good for health or something. But, I was under the impression that it is a Jewish and a Muslim religious practice and anything religious is dangerous to talk about. ;) They have been doing it for generations and seem to be fine. So, I guess it is ok with them. Cheers and happy mylotting!
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• India
5 Jun 08
This is for information alone and not because I am a great believer (I am not) The idea of circumcision first appears in the Bible in Genesis, during the time of Abraham. Not even Noah and family chopped off their foreskin. Surprisingly, God doesn't call Himself "God of Noah" anywhere in Genesis although he instructed Noah to build an arc and save each species from the flood. God become "someone's God" starting from Abraham. He first calls Himself "God of Abraham" and asks Abraham to cut off his foreskin and the foreskins of all the male members in his gang, so that He, God, knows that they belong to Abraham's party and favor only them. So, while I was reading the Genesis, it struck me that this was some sort of a sign, like the modern gangs of today have signs such as tattoos and piercings and so on. :)From them on, the descendants of Abraham never failed to circumcise themselves as a sign that they belonged to God's Party. Frankly, I know nothing of circumcision except that it sounds pretty messy to me. And if it is a divine sign, why in such a private place? It could have been on the face or something. I don't even understand how it helps a person keep cleaner. :) You have now made me curious about this subject. Cheers and happy mylotting!
@GreenMoo (11834)
5 Jun 08
I'm setting myself up for being shot down in flames again here ... but here goes regardless ... I believe that all religions contain elements to assist people in runnign their lives. There was a time when religious leaders were the big bosses, they had the power, they ran the show. So in order to keep a healthy population, they taught hygiene laws as well as moral instruction. In some climates, where sanitary facilities weren't available to wash regularly, then circumcision was a sensible option. In some cases, it may well still be. What I'm trying to say is that I think this parctice became religious law not because it affects people's ability to worship or to be good people, but because it was a sensible hygiene step at the time. In other words, it originally had sod all to do with religion! So the practice of routinely removing the foreskins of babies is now outdated. I hope I haven't offended anyone with my views. They are my personal views, and not intended to belittle anyone beliefs.
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
26 May 08
Unless there is some overwhelming medical reason why it should be done - a phimosis for example - then leave well alone I say. I wasn't done and have managed to get through fifty years without problem. That's probably more information than you need. LOL. I don't have a son but if I did he wouldn't have been chopped either. Like other little nooks and crannies, it is important to keep that area clean. But I have found that not too onerous either. There are religious and cultural reasons. But frankly I don' know enough about those to comment. Good for you is what I say.
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
26 May 08
Sorry. I should also add that I am resolutely opposed to female circumcision. There is a barbarism there that I believe is intolerable today.
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
5 Jun 08
I did all my schooling in and around Reading. Somehow Reading and that part of the south being a centre for female circumcision doesn't surprise me at all. There is a huge immigrant population who have brought some wonderful and colourful traditions with them, but also a darker side.
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@GreenMoo (11834)
5 Jun 08
I'm glad to hear that your struggling on intact there P1kef1sh. Sounds as if your views on circumcision in males are pretty similar to my own. Why fix something that ain't broke? As for female circumcision, well, that's a practice which is abhorrant and barbaric and is only perpetuated today by ignorance. We think of it as being a practice carried out overseas, far from home. However, I used to employ a lady who was studying incidences of female circumcision within the immigrant community of Reading, UK. Despite this practice being illegal in the UK, the figures she was coming up with were absolutely staggering and scary as hell. Truly frightening that this was happening, routinely in many cases, in the middle of South East England.
@urbandekay (18278)
26 May 08
All surgical procedures are harmful and justified only where the benefits outweigh the harm. Most national medical associations including that of UK, do not recommend routine circumcision. There are no health or hygiene benefits where adequate washing facilities are available. Any unjustified harmful procedure carried out on an individual that is not able to give informed consent is abuse. Routine infant circumcision is, therefore, abuse. The majority of men in the world are uncircumcised. Some individuals have experienced trauma on circumcision. Pleasure in love making for the male is reduced and some women report for them too. all the best urban
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@GreenMoo (11834)
26 May 08
Thanks for a superb reply there Urban, setting out exactly the reasons that I'm not in favour of this practice.
@GreenMoo (11834)
5 Jun 08
I'm not going to watch that MooPile, as I'm already convinced. But thanks for posting it. I hope it makes a difference to someone's decision making.
@teison2 (5921)
• Norway
5 Jun 08
I doubt normal beeings are born with a part they are not supposed to have. It makes no sense - not if one belives in creation and not if one believes in evolution.
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@GreenMoo (11834)
5 Jun 08
Excellently put Teison, straight to the point.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
26 May 08
I didn't get my boys circumcised, I couldn't see started out life with a painful experience. They don't even sedate them or numb the area!! I figured if they wanted it done later, they could make the decision since it's their bodies.
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@GreenMoo (11834)
5 Jun 08
Yes, it's their body and they can choose to do what they like with it. But unless it's something life threatening I don't think that we, as parents, have the right to remove parts of it before they are old enough to object.
@ruby222 (4847)
26 May 08
I dont know the first thing about circumcision,but i believe that some religions ask that it is carried out.Im not sure why,i can only assume that it links to `being clean`...but then again im very probably wrong...I cant say im for or against really..i dont think that i would ever have had my son circumcised,but then there was no reason to do it....but maybe someone could tell us the reasons for religion asking for it to be done????
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@GreenMoo (11834)
5 Jun 08
I've just blethered on about my personal beliefs about religion and circumcision above, so if you're interested enough to go peek, have a look. I think it's outdated and unnecessary personally. If something works OK then why fiddle with it? I've just been told above that it's more common than not in the US. I have to admit I'm pretty shocked as I doidn't realise it was that prevalent.