Cultural circumcision in babies/young boys

[junipermarten]

1 of my DS's is circumcised due to a medical issue, he was 3 at the time and it was bloody horrific.

When he was going through it, a good friend gave me tips on after care and offered the number of a private doctor. She has sons who were circumcised shortly after birth for religious reasons.

I personally don't agree with circumcision unless medically required however I respect others choices for religious reasons.

It got me thinking about the high % of boys in the US who are circumcised for cultural reasons, just over 2/3rds. Why is it so prevalent there?

I was having a look at % of male pop per country and the highest were mainly Islamic, but also Samoa was almost 100% which surprised me but apparently its cultural as opposed to religious (I think).

It is our choice as our son's parents.

Yes, it is. You chose to have bits cut off your child in the name of religion. Like lots of people around the world. That doesn't make it any less wrong.

Even that would be better than your justification.

It's not about 'liking chopping bits off of children', don't be so fucking bovine! It is about connecting our son to his religious, cultural and social identity, also about being able to give him a name, have him go through all the rites of his religion. All of that stuff is more important to him growing up healthy and happy than a piece of skin, which he has never known he had and was removed by a medical professional and healed without issue. You will not change my views on this and I would not assume to tell you that you ought to have your sons circumsised. I answered the question posed, so I would kindly asked you all to stop with the personal attacks against those of us who live in a culture where this is important and we believe it is in the best interests of our children. Thank you.

Unnecessary and harmful according to who? The people who undergo it? Or people who are not affected by it?

It quite literally is chopping bits off your baby though. Justify it to yourself all you like. You would still be prison if it was any other body part. That's a legal fact.
If you are offended by factually correct statements then take a real hard look at what you're defending.

A deity who needs a perfect newborn to have part of them removed in order to know and recognise that child is monstrous. Mind you, people have been worshipping monstrous deities for as long as humanity has existed, so I suppose it's all par for the course.

Humans have also done many terrible things under the shield of religion and tradition. Doesn't make them not terrible.

@Kabalagala circumcision is not illegal. That is a fact. Babies cannot give consent to anything, also a legal fact. Best interest for children legal looks at a range of social and health based outcomes. I do not need to justify anything. I am quite sure it is in my child's best interests. As I said, I respect your views, all I ask is the same courtesy,

I can’t respect anyone who deliberately hurts their baby in the name of religion or culture.

Respecting religious practices just because they are religious or because that’s the way it’s always been, is pure madness.

Not illegal yet. Give it a couple of decades. I think it's absurd that cutting the end of your babies willy off is in anyone's best interests. I have no respect for your views and I won't pretend to.

I will never understand it.
just makes no sense to me.

It's child abuse.

Just stop talking to me then please.

Don't circumcise your son then. Easily sorted.

In your opinion.

No. You don't just get to opt out of critique because "religion" or culture.

well obviously I didn’t.

It's the same as female genital mutilation, IMHO

Fucking religions should be ashamed of themselves. It's child abuse.

I agree.
I find it utterly bizarre it is still legal in the Uk.
is it still legal everywhere?

It's really not. Read up on the physiological effects of FGM and you will realise how utterly ridiculous the comparison is. FGM is never performed for medical reasons.

So what do you need to understand then?

@tunainatin thr most recent published meta-analysis I can find doesn’t actually show that
it’s here - if you’re interested
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1198743X16302683
tbh I don’t have an enormous issue with it. But it is rather odd. I wouldn’t want anyone messing with an important bit of my child’s anatomy without good reason.

Yet you think you have the right to berate me? I no longer wish to engage with you so please do not @ or quote me again. Thank you.

I have an opinion despite not having circumcised my child. My opinion is I don’t understanding cutting a child genitals when there isn’t a medical need to.

why do you care about my opinion if you are so certain circumcision for religious reasons is ok?

this is a discussion board. So I’m discussing what I think about it.