Wow; it's only circumcision..

[Chloejp91]

Before I get killed, I'm not suggesting it is only circumsion, that's just the title of this thread.

I'm due in less than 4 weeks and I'm having a boy. I'm definitely going to circumcise him. It's part of my culture and my partner's culture so it's going to be done. I just feel sad that it's seen as such a bad thing, where there are some benefits to it.

Anyone circumsised/circumsizing their sons?

fortyplus - I have also experienced both and prefer a circumcised penis so it is clearly a matter of opinion.

You have said it yourself - "if you've been circumcised and live in a culture/community where it happens to all males then you'd have no reason to be unhappy" - there's no problem then is there?! People can follow their culture/community and the boys in that culture/community won't be unhappy and those of you who think it is "a disgusting way to treat a helpless infant" don't have to participate!

If the sons that have been circumcised don't feel failed (either as children or as adults) then there is no reason for people like confuddled to be outraged on their behalf.....

No, well, I think buggery is a disgusting thing to do to a helpless child, whether or not he/she will remember it, and I don't trill "Each to their own" about that either.

And yes, I AM comparing forced and unconsented circumcision without anaesthetic to buggery of a child. I believe it to be comparable.

If you believe it to be comparable then you clearly have a a very warped mind.

I'm comparing it to birth rape. Certainly in the recent case of a baby who was done before the placenta was delivered or the mother had even held him. Sick and evil doctor.

which recent case would that be confuddled?

I know many men who were circumcised as infants and none of them are unhappy that it was done. No one is offering your DH circumcision so you have no need to worry about that!

Have you ever had a foreskin?! Therefore how are you in a better position to judge than those people who have actually had the procedure - you are not! The only people who can properly comment on whether it is acceptable are those people who have had the procedure and the vast vast majority of them are happy that it was done and happy for their own sons to be circumcised.

Like I said - you are therefore not in a better position to judge than those people who had the procedure undertaken as infants and have absolutely no problem with it. If they don't describe it as "absolute horror" then how can you?!

You are also not in a position to say that it is for 'no good reason' - people's religious and cultural beliefs do not have to be sanctioned by you.

There ARE many men who feel that they were victimized as babies though... There are countless support groups across North America and methods available to restore the foreskin.

The foreskin covers and protects the glans which is intended to be a mucous membrane. There are thousands of nerve endings lost in the process of circumcision which removes the only movable part of the penis. Not that you need to concern yourself with this as his mother but sex is not the same for either partner as more stimulation is required in the circumcised penis.

I expect that there is nothing anyone can say to change your mind but at least try to make an informed choice to alter your son's genitalia.

Circumcision Information for Parents
www.cirp.org www.drmomma.org

Cadmum - as I have said previously, the men who feel that they were 'victimized' are in the very small minority.

Men who were circumcised as infants do not usually report sexual problems linked with their circumcision. My DH was circumcised as an infant and I can assure you that he has absolutely no sexual problems!

Your assumption that I am not making an informed choice is very presumptious of you and completely incorrect!

Imarriedafrog - neither does it mean that it is not for good reasons!!

The reasons you list are dated and incorrect so unless you provide me with one, single valid reason then I will continue to believe that your decision cannot possibly be an informed one.

What if your son is in the minority that is unhappy about the choice you make on his behalf?

I didn't list any reasons so it appears that you are getting slightly confused!

You can believe whatever you like - I know and my son will know that my decision is an informed one! Some suggested benefits are listed on the following website which is used by GPs in the UK:

www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Circumcision.htm

If my son is unhappy with my choice then I will deal with that just as I am sure that you will deal with any child rearing decisions that you make on behalf of your child(ren) with which they are not happy when they grow up.

I wonder why there are so many current BOOKS on the topic? Could it be because the practice is outdated, cruel and unnecessary?

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Circumcision

Circumcision: What Every Parent Should Know

Marked in Your Flesh: Circumcision from Ancient Judea to Modern America

Circumcision: The Hidden Trauma

Circumcision: The Rest of the Story

Doctors Re-examine Circumcision

Circumcision: An American Health Fallacy

Circumcision: The Painful Dilemma

A Surgical Temptation: The Demonization of the Foreskin and the Rise of Circumcision in Britain

Circumcision: A History of the World's Most Controversial Surgery

Questioning Circumcision: A Jewish Perspective

Covenant of Blood: Circumcision and Gender in Rabbinic Judaism

Circumcision Exposed: Rethinking a Medical and Cultural Tradition

In the Name of Humanity: Speaking Out Against Circumcision

40 Compelling Reasons Why You Should Respect His Birthright and Keep Your Son Whole

Children's Genitals Under the Knife

As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised As A Girl [1 detailed example of the consequences of botched circumcision]

Sex as Nature Intended It

A Mind of Its Own: A Cultural History of the Penis

The Joy of Uncircumcising

Crystallized Pathology: The Clitoris, the Penis and Women's Sexual Health

Circumcision *Mothering reprint of articles

and so many informative
WEBSITES too?

www.circumcision.org

www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org

circumcisiondecisionmaker.com

nurses.cirp.org

www.drmomma.org

www.circumstitions.com

www.cirp.org

www.noharmm.org

www.nocirc.org

www.mothersagainstcirc.org

www.mgmbill.org

www.savingpenises.org

www.thewholenetwork.org

www.coloradonocirc.org

www.circinfosite.com

www.circumcisionandhiv.com

www.studentsforgenitalintegrity.org

www.intactamerica.org

stopthecut.org

www.oknocirc.com

circumcisiondecisionmaker.com

www.asnatureintended.info

www.icgi.org

www.theridgedband.info

www.notjustskin.org

www.stopinfantcircumcision.org

www.sexasnatureintendedit.com

www.sexuallymutilatedchild.org

www.infocirc.org

circumcisionquotes.com

www.sicsociety.org

www.arclaw.org

www.norm.org

www.tlctugger.com

www.mothering.com

www.quranicpath.com/misconceptions/circumcision.html [Islam]

www.quran.org/khatne.htm [Islam]

www.jewsagainstcircumcision.org [Judaism]

www.catholicsagainstcircumcision.org [Catholicism]

ARTICLES
pertaining to circumcision and cataloged here at peaceful parenting

Waiting with baited breath for your good reasons.

We have made the decision to circumcise our son for religious reasons - I would not expect you to change your view just as I would not expect you to adopt our religion. We think the reasons are good, you don't - people have differing opionions and views - as a society we should be accepting of such differing views. Nobody is suggesting anything illegal here despite the comparisons made by people like coldtits.

Imarriedafrog, I think you'll find you do have one. I know I for one would not want mine removing! All the women who are justifying it, would you have yours removed?

My OH was circumcised when he was a baby after other operations to preserve it failed. Fortunately his wasn't an amputation. He feels he is missing something important but as much as he would if it was an internal organ that was removed following an infection, he knows it was vital that it was done but he knows he lives with the effects of it. He gets angry about RIC. He sees it that he was mutilated to save his life, but still mutilated, so he doesn't understand why people do it to healthy boys.

How would your DH know his sex life is the same? Has he experienced a sex life with a foreskin? Men who are done for cultural reasons as adults do notice the difference (obviously men who are done for medical reasons prefer it gone, but then you'd say that if you had appendicitis).

Can you link me a health authority (NHS, RCOP, AAP etc) who advice for circumcision or who say that there are proven health benefits?

Also, if there are health benefits, why does the USA have worse STD rates than the UK?

And yes, RIC is illegal in the UK and USA with a test case due soon in the UK, the USA will follow in about 10 years when boys become of age to do something about it.

According to the Torah (Genesis 17: 9-14), Abraham was commanded by God to circumcise himself, all male members of his household, his descendants and slaves in an everlasting covenant.

People who circumcise for religious reasons do so because they believe that that is what God wants - what better reason could there be?! Obviously if you don't believe then you will not think it is a good reason - like I said - everyone is entitled to their own beliefs.

I didn't say that my DH's sex life was "the same" - obviously he is not qualified to make such a comment just as you are not qualified to comment on the practice! Our sex life is fantastic and neither of us would change it!

I welcome the UK test case because I feel sure that it will not result in circumcision being made illegal in this country.