I’m going to get attacked for this.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/06/15/circumcision.feud.ap/index.html
I feel so sorry for this boy. Just put yourself in his shoes. He is 8, his penis is on trial, and some person he doesn’t even know and who doesn’t know him is about to make a decision that will affect him the rest of his life. Of course I’m hoping that the judge decides not to circumcise. Hell, I’ll come right out and state my opinion. Circumcisions are horrible and tragic things that people do to children for absolutely no medical reason.
Now before you hit that comment link and start trashing me for my opinion, because I know some of you want to, please finish reading first.
I believe the reason most children get circumcised is due to a lack of information. Whether it be getting a doctors opinion, trusting in another family member who has circumcised a child that they did the right thing, or because of their own experience with having a/having only contact with the circumcised penis it is all a lack of information. (Side note: I’m not talking about religious reasons to circumcise. I have members of my family whose faith tells them to circumcise and I’ve made a choice after going to many of their religious ceremonies to respect that.) With that said, here is my guide to how to care for the intact penis.
How do you care for your child’s penis after bringing him home from the hospital?
Do nothing. More specifically, do not retract his foreskin! Wipe the outside gently with a wash cloth when you give a bath, and wipe the outside gently with a baby wipe when your cleaning up poop, just like you would with a circumcised penis.
But, how do I clean under his foreskin?
You don’t. I’ll say it again, do not retract the foreskin! Despite what many people think, the foreskin is not this flap of skin that hangs off at birth. The easiest way to explain it is to tell you that it is glued to the head of the penis. If you would glue two pieces of paper together and then pull them apart, they would rip and tear. The same thing would happen to the foreskin and head of the penis. Only there would probably be blood involved. (Let us pause so everyone, especially you men, can say a big OUCH!) So don’t do it. Leave it alone, ok? Only he should be the only one to ever retract himself. He is the only one who knows his body.
Isn’t it dirty under there?
No. Like I said, think of it as two pieces of paper glued together. Nothing is getting in between there. That is why you may have heard that the foreskin acts a protective barrier. Its clean. Trust me.
What is that white stuff at the base of his penis?
It is smegma.
Ew, thats gross!
All smegma really is is dead skin cells that has gotten trapped within the folds of our skin. Since boys with foreskins have more skin and therefore more folds, it is usually more noticeable. Before you say ew again, we all have smegma. Yes, even you. I don’t care if you are male or female. We all have it down there. It doesn’t hurt anything, and to get rid of it you just take a bath or shower. Babies are the same way, give them a bath. To further go on a rant, smegma is no reason to circumcise. Uncircumcised men have it too, it just may be less noticeable thats all. They still need to take a shower and rinse their penises off. Also like I said even woman have it. If you were a woman, would you circumcise yourself to lesson the smegma? What? Woman can’t be circumcised? Read this. I have a feeling you would rather just take a shower too.
Uh, the tip of his foreskin is red. Does he have an infection?
That is diaper rash. Put some balmex or whatever brand of diaper rash cream on it. Oh, and then be happy that the foreskin was there because it could have easily spread to the head of the penis without it.
Ok, but what do I do if he really does have an infection?
First off infections in men, both with circumcised and uncircumcised penises, are rare. However rare things still do happen, so if your son has a yeast infection, urinary tract infection, or something else he would need the same treatment a circumcised man or a woman would get. Most likely a culture would be taken, and some type of antibiotic would be prescibed. Back to my ranting, it isn’t a reason to circumcise. These things are a lot more common in women, and if you are a woman ask yourself if you would circumcise yourself to “prevent” these problems? I doubt it. So why would you do that to your children? Especially since they can still get the same type of infections either way! It makes no sense and is just plain crazy, I tell you.
How do I potty train him? Do I have to teach him to pull his foreskin back?
You potty train him the same way you would potty train any boy. You tell them to hold their penis and aim. Most likely he won’t even be retractable at this point so don’t worry about the foreskin. If he is, well if he pulls it back naturally than thats fine, if not no biggie. Trust in your son. He knows what to do. He was born for this. Oh, but boy or girl remember to remind them to wipe front to back.
His foreskin kind of “balloons” up when he pees. Is something wrong?
Nothing is wrong. It is normal and happens sometimes. Just ignore it.
How am I going to teach him how to care for his penis when he is older?
If he is retracting himself you can tell him to rinse the head out under water, but chances are he will figure this out on his own. Have you ever seen a boy not play with his penis?
How will I know if he is retractable?
You probably won’t know as it can happen as early as a year old and even as late into puberty. It is something that is part of the growing up process and like all things puberty and growing up related, no two people are alike in that department. When it does happen though his head may be a little red, and possibly sore especially when his penis is at *ahem* attention. It is nothing to worry about and it is totally normal. Once the foreskin has completely separated from the head, he will have no more problems and will be one more step closer to becoming a man. Again, to further go on a rant, now why would you want to circumcise your son and forcibly make him a man while he is a baby? Not to mention it would be like making a woman have her periods from birth..if that was even possible. Taking all the fun out of growing up just isn’t cool.
Help! My doctor says my son has phimosis!
If your son isn’t an adult, you can tell your doctor to go shove it up his or her ass. Doctors don’t know when is the right time for your child to become retractable, therefore children cannot be diagnosed with phimosis. Phimosis in adult males is rare, but it is usually because a child was forcibly retracted and that can cause problems as an adult. Remember the tearing and blood I told you about? I’ll say it again, don’t retract your child! Only he should be retracting himself because only he knows his own body! If your son is an adult male who was diagnosed with phimosis, well than have him talk to his doctor about stretching exercises and a cream. Again, no big deal and no reason to circumcise.
What do I do if my child is made fun of for having a foreskin?
The truth is that circumcision rates in America are dropping every year, so there is a good chance your child won’t be made fun of. However, the cold hard truth is every child is made fun of for something. Now most people use common sense and don’t go out and get their children laser eye surgery for being fun of for wearing glasses, or get breast implants/reduction for being made fun of for having small or large breasts, or have a surgery which makes their legs longer/shorter for being made fun of for being short or tall. So why would you go out and circumcise your child over this? It just isn’t right people. Besides there are a lot of combacks your child can use. The turnabout, “Why are you looking at my penis? Are you gay or something?” The always fun, “Your just jealous that my penis is bigger than yours.” And the classic, “I’m sorry your parents cut off the best part on you!”
So there you go. Amy’s guide to the care of the intact penis. Now go out, spread the word, and for the love of God (unless your God tells you otherwise!) don’t circumcise.
Now you may click the comment link and trash me.
More posts like this:
- Search Results – June 28, 2006
- Bathtime for Aidan and Zoe. – November 16, 2007
- Thursday Thirteen #6 – July 27, 2006
- Well, that proves it. – June 14, 2006
- Study Break – November 15, 2007
'Merlin2UK'
June 15th, 2006 @ 3:46 pm
Just stumbled on in to say i AGREE wholeheartedly with you – circumcision over here in England (to my 34 yrs of knowledge at least) is carried out only for religious reasons or perhaps in very isolated cases where a medical emergency absolutely requires it – it’s far from the norm – at least in my faith (methodist christian). that said, like you, I completely and utterly respect the faiths and cultures of my friends and colleagues from backgrounds different to my own – but I’m talking about ‘just for the sake of it’ circumcision. My little fella is 2y/o next month and nobody’s gonna do that to him – going by my surname my ancestors were Jewish and will no doubt be reeling at my comment!
So yeah, if there is any flak heading your way, feel free to deflect some over here!
Best wishes!
CyberCelt
June 15th, 2006 @ 5:47 pm
My son is not circumcised. He is 17, and it has not effected his life adversely. I talked to the pediatriian before he was born. She told me that about 50% of parents were choosing not to cuct.
I had to fight my family, who were sure thet he would be laughed at in the locker room, contract some awful funk from not cleaning, and be sexually handicapped as a man.
Even my ob-gyn, a man, said “babies don’t feel pain like we do.” Yeah, right.
You have to follow your feelings and I did not want my son to feel pain within a few days of birth. I thought that the pain of being wrenched from the womb was enough.
Jennie
June 15th, 2006 @ 6:16 pm
You certainly won’t get an argument from me
Jen
June 15th, 2006 @ 8:29 pm
I totally agree. My (British) husband thought I was nuts when I told him the majority of the North American male population is circumcised.
Jack
June 15th, 2006 @ 11:05 pm
If her new husband is a member of a liberal branch of Judaism, then this circumcision may be for religious reasons. Which is what I suspect is happening because, while I’m not a doctor, I doubt that removing the foreskin would have any medical effect in this case. I’m not anti-circumcision, but I think that misrepresenting one’s motives for getting such a procedure (possibly to mollify the boy’s biological father) is shady.
Tracy
June 16th, 2006 @ 12:20 am
My son wasn’t done. He was 6 weeks premature and they wanted to do it after he got out of the NICU but we had talked to our family doctor extensively and he said there is no medical reason at all to do it, so we didn’t. He said normally parents do it if the father is, but my husband didn’t care either way so our son was not. I just couldn’t do that to my son after 6 weeks in NICU. It wasn’t fair to put him through more. We almost lost him a few times so I refused.
Noi
June 16th, 2006 @ 4:35 am
Hi! Can I call you Princess instead of Amy, its just that Amy is my boss name and I really hate her! The intro post is up! Check it out, and I hope you dont mind me putting up your son’s pic. He is just so cute, I cant help it! If its not ok, let me know and I will take it away.
Joanna
June 16th, 2006 @ 1:11 pm
No argument here either. I agree with you. What dr said babies don’t feel pain like we do? Are you kidding me! (not you, your stupid dr)
Jess
June 16th, 2006 @ 2:26 pm
Both of my sons are circumsized. It was done in the hospital by the doctor. I had not thought about it too much just that its one of those things to do. My brothers are all circumsized not that I can recall looking at it… LOL My husband is curcumsized. One of my brothers has 2 sons. One is done and one isnt , sometimes I wonder if the one that isnt has ever asked why his doesnt look like daddy’s and his brothers. I havent ever asked but for that reason, if I did have another boy I would most likely do it again. Just my thoughts -
Modern Princess
June 16th, 2006 @ 3:11 pm
To respond to some of the comments:
Jack – You arn’t against circumcision? Well, I’m just going to have to talk with you about that.
Noi – Go ahead and call me princess. I don’t mind!
The picture is fine. I appreciate you asking me!
Joanna – Don’t get me started on the whole babies don’t feel pain. Thats just a load of bs. I believe they actually feel pain more than we do because their bodies are so sensitive and fragile at that age. This is partly why I feel so stongly about my choice of words “horrible and tragic.”
Jess – In case your still curious about the whole “Will they ask? Will they feel different and left out?” thing. Andy is circumcised. Alex and Aidan arn’t. Alex has never once asked about why he is different from Andy, and we know for sure he has noticed many times. I’m sure he, nor Aidan, will never ask either. To Alex a penis is a penis, some just look a little different thats all. In the same way that hair is hair, just some are different colors. Something for you to think about: When you know better, doesn’t it make sense that you should do better?
To everyone else – Yay for intact boys!
Danielle
June 16th, 2006 @ 8:46 pm
This was a fantastic entry. If I weren’t already completely opposed to circumcision, your words would have convinced me many times over. If any more of my friends or family members become pregnant, I’m sending them right to this entry. It’s comprehensive, parent-friendly and non-intimidating. I wish hospitals handed this out right in the birthing rooms.
Tony
June 16th, 2006 @ 10:07 pm
I agree with everything except the religious aspect. I understand that some religions call for it, but, in America at least, that infringes on the boy’s reglious freedom (among many freedoms). And there are alternatives that can (must) suffice until the boy is old enough to decide for himself.
As for boys noticing the difference between their penis and their father’s penis, it isn’t as complicated as most fear. My nephew is intact, and he’s noticed the difference between himself and his father/my brother. My brother explained it to him. My nephew’s reaction? “Oh, ok.” Nothing since then.
Nessa
June 16th, 2006 @ 10:11 pm
Circumcision Statistics
Apparently the numbers aren’t falling as quickly in the Midwest, but that’s possibly because of the higher precentage of religious there…
I honestly don’t think the comparison of circumcision with female gential mutilation (FGM)– especially the Sudanese variety– works. :P
My sons will be circumcized, but only for religious purposes. Well, and I always preferred a circumcized penis– easier to blow. Gasp! Did I say that?
Nessa
June 16th, 2006 @ 10:12 pm
It’s an amazingly researched and well-written entry, by the way. You considered everyone’s potential objections and thoroughly smacked them down with common sense. :)
Brandon
June 16th, 2006 @ 10:30 pm
I am impressed!! I read the whole thing.
Score!!! Oh, good points too Mrs Amelia. Love those boys and the soon to be girl.
Modern Princess
June 16th, 2006 @ 10:33 pm
Nessa – I’m ok with the religious reasons, though I admit I still don’t want to see any person circumcised as I’m opposed to both male and female circumcision. As an intact woman I wouldn’t have it any other way and I wish that for everyone. So yeah, I’ll go ahead and compare female circ to male circ as both are just as wrong, just as horrible, and just as tragic. Lets face it they are both sexual organs, and no matter which way you cut it they are both built for the same purpose. Take away any part of anyone and it just doesn’t work as designed by nature. Now for clarification, you mention that you’ll circ due to your own sexual preference? Am I understanding that right? What about their future partners sexual preference? How do you know it will be the same as yours?
Nessa
June 16th, 2006 @ 10:46 pm
::chuckles:: No, the sexual preference was my bald attempt at humor.
As for FGM compared with circumcision, it’s rather like comparing a spinal injury with a limp. Both may be bad, but men can continue to have entirely pleasurable sex after circumcision. They don’t bleed and tear and scar during intercourse. They don’t risk death from chronic infections and bleeding. They don’t get abscesses and tumours, urinary tract infections, keltoids, or kidney damage as a regular result, barring any sort of scary extreme case that can be brought to bear on the male side.
Modern Princess
June 16th, 2006 @ 10:59 pm
You honestly trying to tell me that men don’t have any problems from circumcision? If that is true than how come men in America spend thousands of dollars on “enhancement” drugs. How come every time you turn on the tv there is another commercial for personal lubricants? How come so many men can’t seem to control their response to orgasm? How come so many men have to have rough, hard, and fast sex in order for them to achieve orgasm? How come some men actually feel pain when erect? Stop and consider for a moment that the one thing they may be looking for is their foreskin.
Or are you saying that any problems they do have arn’t any big deal, especially compared to a womans circumcision, so they should just suck it up? Thats almost like saying “Well if one of us has to suffer, you are the lesser of two evils.”
Melanie
June 17th, 2006 @ 1:29 am
I have been watching this debate with neutral feelings. But the last comment you made got me thinking. Do these problems really have to do with circumcision? I had no idea. My son is circumcised. We did it because it seemed the thing to do, rather than religous reasons. I didn’t give it much thought after just thinking it would look “pretty” compared to non-circumcised. Now I am screaming “what did I do to my boy?”. This is a really good post and really made me think.
Modern Princess
June 17th, 2006 @ 4:31 am
For clarification (because I was really tired when I wrote that last comment and didn’t put a whole lot of thought into how it would be read and I don’t want to start a widespread panic! Actually I’m tired now so this might not come out in ideal fashion either.)
As stated before, take away any part of anyone and it just doesn’t work as designed by nature. Surgery has risks, both short and long term, including circumcision. It is the long term effects that is tricky and hard to pin point, especially when so much happens between the time from of the surgery and when problems start.
Can I offer you proof that those problems are definately without a doubt caused by circumcision? No, I can’t. I can offer you research that suggests it might, I can educate about the foreskin itself, and I can tell you about the definate short term risks, but at this point in time there is nothing I can show anyone as proof to the long term risks. I’ll admit that. Which is why I stated to consider that all of those problems are related to circumcision.
To end this on a lighter note. Heck, there is already a great debate about what the long term risks are to circumcision, so go ahead and take a stance. Have an opinion. Consider what you think they might be. I’ve just given you a starting place based on my opinion. Because well, I’m always right. Just ask my husband!
mamaholler
June 17th, 2006 @ 11:13 pm
Regionally, in many parts of the US it’s about 50/50 as to un vs. circumcision. In more educated parts of the country the percentages tend to favor not circumcizing.
I have no sons, I only have two daughters. But if I had sons I would not choose to circumcize them. I watched a video of a circumcision once and I think all parents should have to do this before sending their newborn in for the procedure.
Robin
June 18th, 2006 @ 3:48 pm
Good Debate Amy. You did better than Kri’s gay marriage blog. So here is my input… I totally agree with all the things you have to say about not getting boys circumsized. I had it done with Aaron because i wanted to make sure it looked right. There was no religous reasoning behind it and no medical reason behind it either. No i didn’t research it, i just did it because well most everyone i know was circumsized so i figured it was ok. With more information, i prolly would have chose not to do it.
Nessa
June 18th, 2006 @ 11:14 pm
You said: “You honestly trying to tell me that men don?t have any problems from circumcision? Or are you saying that any problems they do have arn?t any big deal, especially compared to a womans circumcision, so they should just suck it up?”
I am saying neither. Merely that it was a bad comparison– the procedures are not equal, no matter if you think there are men are out there looking for their missing foreskins.
As for these issues about circumcision you’ve brought up… I would blame the rough sex problem on pornography and modern potrayal of sex, giving men the idea of what’s sexy. Culture plays a large role in our ability and methods of arousal. As for missing foreskin and lubrication commercials… foreskin does not help with lubrication, period. Men produce relatively little lubrication– unless you’re implying that women are less aroused at the sight of a circumcised penis? And I’ve heard many people argue that the “response” to orgasm is *delayed* without the foreskin– that men who are circumcized feel less, not more, given the scar tissue. If there is a premature ejaculation problem, he should concentrate on Kegel exercises, not worrying about his missing foreskin. And men feeling pain upon erection? I know for sure -that- isn’t in any ancient/medieval sources as a result of circumcision. Maybe this hypothetical man should see a urologist.
Mamaholler– more educated parts of the country favor not circumcizing? So somehow the West contains smarter people than the rest of the US? I sure as heck know it doesn’t contain more universities.
Modern Princess
June 19th, 2006 @ 8:19 am
The debate continues.
As far as the comparison of male and female circ, my point was that both have short and long term problems, both are part of the sexual anatomy, and both are equally as wrong and horrible. Neither should be done, period.
Now, lets talk about the issues of circ. Rough sex blamed on porn? Maybe I could blame why circs happen on porn then, because have you ever seen an intact man in a porn? I have yet too. Circed, circed, circed. Pfft. You stated you have heard men are less sensitive after circ (regarding premature ejaculation..we shall get to that particular issue later) well they are. So if men who are intact feel more, couldn’t you conclude that men with foreskins don’t need it as rough to give them that extra sensation back? Now as far as lubrication, the foreskin provide the penis with extra skin. This gives a man extra room to glide. How many men have you ever given a “hand job” too? A lot of men, especially those with tight circs, have no extra room to glide. You litterally have to force whatever little skin is left and stretch it. With a foreskin who has a natural gliding movement in an adult, you wouldn’t have to pull and stretch. It would all come naturally, the way the body is designed. In sex this leads to extra room for the man to room, which means he could be more gental for the woman and not have to work to stretch himself so much. Him being willing to take it slowly longer, while still enjoying himself, leads to the woman needing little to no artificial lubrication. Oh, and the body is designed in this whole wonderful interconnected way, so more skin = more freedom of movement = less need for rough sex. Hm, what else have I left out? Foreskin covers head = head in moist enviroment = more lubrication. As far as premature ejac, I didn’t specifically say thats what I was talking about. I said control the response to orgasm. If you have ever heard a circ man talk, there is this point of no return where he can’t stop himself. A lot of times he doesn’t even know when he is even close to reaching that point, it just happens. THIS is a large part of why premature ejac happens, being “less or more” sensitive has NOTHING to do with it. More specifically though, I’m talking about any time a man reaches that point, and more importantly doesn’t realize it. Wouldn’t it be great if a man were so sensitive that he would know his body so well that he could feel when that point was coming on, even if it was another second away and stop himself if say you needed another min to enjoy yourself? That foreskin allows for that extra sensitivity and allows them to control and read their bodies better. Lets go back to this extra sensitivity thing. You don’t think that could help out some men? I mean come on. The only thing more annoying than a man finishing before you, is when you are done, lost your arousal and enjoyment, and the man is justs pounding away on you to what seems like no end. He has lost that sensitivity. He needs it rough, fast, and hard just to feel anything, and even then he isn’t quite getting there. Less sensitivty = lasting longer isn’t always a good thing. There is such a thing as too long! I have not met a woman yet who would dissagree with me. Lets just cure premature ejact and men who have lost too much of their sensitivty in one fell swoop. Lets let them keep their foreskins! Ok, last but certainly not least, men feeling pain upon erection. You can’t know how much “growing room” and man will need at birth. If a doctor perfoms a tight circ at birth, then there is a good chance that man won’t have any extra skin to grow in. So when erect they stretched whatever little skin was left and it just isn’t enough. You don’t think that brings on pain? I would hate to be that kind of man, I really would. The body is a great thing, and one issue is totally connected to another. The main point being, the loss of the foreskin is a bad, horrible, and tragic thing!
Penn and Teller did this great episode on circumcision. In fact it is one of the most well known programs done on circumcision ever. I think EVERYONE who is planning on having a child someday, or has a child, especially if that child is a boy, should watch it. You can look it up on you tube. I believe it comes in a few different parts, so just make sure you watch them in order. So take a good half hour out of your day and go search for it on you tube.
Modern Princess
June 19th, 2006 @ 9:22 am
Penn and Teller Circ Part 1
Penn and Teller Circ Part 2
Penn and Teller Circ Part 3
Penn and Teller Circ Part 4
Penn and Teller Circ Part 5
NPs Save Lives
June 19th, 2006 @ 12:33 pm
I thought that this was such a great post that I linked to it.. Stop by and see sometime!
Tony
June 19th, 2006 @ 2:39 pm
Nessa,
“Both may be bad, but men can continue to have entirely pleasurable sex after circumcision. They don?t bleed and tear and scar during intercourse.”
Not true. Yes, yes, and yes on the three things you say don’t happen. And guess where it happens… the circumcision scar. Coincidence?
“…foreskin does not help with lubrication, period.”
Not true. The foreskin doesn’t produce a significant amount of lubrication, although it does work to keep the penis moist. However, including the reasosns already listed, the foreskin helps lubrication because it keeps the female’s natural lubrication where it’s needed, rather than having it pulled out of the vagina during intercourse by the circumcised man’s long thrusts.
As for the comparison between male and female circumcision:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/
“There are different types of female genital mutilation known to be practised today. They include:
* Type I – excision of the prepuce, with or without excision of part or all of the clitoris;
* Type II – excision of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora;
* Type III – excision of part or all of the external genitalia and stitching/narrowing of the vaginal opening (infibulation);
* Type IV – pricking, piercing or incising of the clitoris and/or labia; stretching of the clitoris and/or labia; cauterization by burning of the clitoris and surrounding tissue;
* scraping of tissue surrounding the vaginal orifice (angurya cuts) or cutting of the vagina (gishiri cuts);
* introduction of corrosive substances or herbs into the vagina to cause bleeding or for the purpose of tightening or narrowing it; and any other procedure that falls under the definition given above.”
All of those are awful, but the only difference between male and female circumcision is a difference in degree, not kind. Should we petition the Congress to insert exemptions into the Female Genital Mutilation Act to allow Type I without excision of the clitoris, since those are most definitely the same thing? I don’t see a ground swell for that. Why don’t we protect boys the same as we protect girls?
Airway Control
June 19th, 2006 @ 5:15 pm
This was a great post, and I responded to it in my own blog with some of my thoughts. Thanks for tackling the issue and giving it so much of your time!
MCA
June 20th, 2006 @ 9:57 am
This is some of the strangest stuff I have ever read. My husband and my boys are all circumsized. I can promise you my husband has never spent any amt. of time being depressed over the bit of skin that was removed. He has great orgasms and has been doing so for atleast 30 years that I know of. He does not feel any need to have fast, hard rough sex…Did you make this stuff up? Because it is completely hideous!
Modern Princess
June 20th, 2006 @ 11:09 am
Yes, after talking to obgyns, nurse practitioners, pediatricians, other parents, reading tons of info in pamplets, websites and message boards, and watching videos all regarding circumcision, and having experience with young children who are both circumsised and intact I like to spend my day making up hideous crap.
Rich
June 21st, 2006 @ 7:00 pm
I was recently circumcised at 38 due to ongoing problems from phimosis. I wish I had “bitten the bullet” a lot sooner and got it over with as now I no longer have issues trying to keep clean down there when I was barely retractable while flacid. Any guy will tell you that you don’t stay flacid long when your touching yourself even for routine cleaning. All that said I would never have a new born circumcised. Leave it alone and let nature take its course 99% of the time nothing will ever need be done. I just fell into the unlucky 1% where all lesser means didn’t do the trick.
Flea
June 22nd, 2006 @ 9:22 am
“Circumcisions are horrible and tragic things that people do to children for absolutely no medical reason”
Does it follow that Jews do horrible and tragic things to their boys?
It would not be your fault if anti-semites flocked to your side, but it would be horrible and tragic if it were to occur.
best,
Flea
Modern Princess
June 22nd, 2006 @ 9:36 am
Yes, I think ALL circumcisions are horrible and tragic. However, as I also stated before, even though I don’t agree with religious reasons, I will respect those reasons. Should I be asked to attend a bris (and it is very likely I will be at some point because I have Jewish members of my family), I will probably respectfully decline and send a gift for the new baby, but I would not argue with them about their choice to circumcise. I do not argue religion. Period.
El Dorado
June 25th, 2006 @ 9:07 pm
“It would not be your fault if anti-semites [sic] flocked to your side, but it would be horrible and tragic if it were to occur.”
Another sleazy innuendo that tries to equate anti-circumcision advocacy with anti-Semitism, I see.
The funny thing about these sorts of smears are that the people who are behind them seem to care only about the Jewish angle.
Muslims circumcise their children too, but for some strange reason, nobody ever accuses folks who are opposed to involuntary circumcision of anti-Islamism.
When the bill to outlaw female circumcision was being debated in Congress, I don’t recall anyone implying that the bill’s authors were anti-Muslim, do you?
Katie
June 28th, 2006 @ 8:52 pm
Totally against all circumcision, totally against all unecessary harm to babies……… I am not allowed to wack of a bit of my dogs ear so why should I be allowed to sexually mutialate my baby?????
single-woman
June 29th, 2006 @ 3:19 am
I agree with Katie, I’m against circumcision too. Totally useless…
stranger
July 12th, 2006 @ 10:47 pm
I’m a man with an intact penis. Losing it would definately result in losing most of the sexual sensitivity of my penis. There is no question in my mind about the brutality of skinning an infant’s penis. It absolutely deprives that male child the ability to ever experience the comfortable intercourse that is possible with the back and fourth motion of the highly sensitive foreskin over the glans. I never thought about circumcision growing up until I learned that a large proportion of male infants in the US are circumcized. I was shocked to learn that many of my friends and classmates had surgically altered genitals. It wasn’t until later that I fully understood the procedure. The routine amputation of the foreskin, an integral part of the male sexual machinery, from healthy infants is an American tragedy that goes unspoken, but affects the lives of many. If any circumcized man knew what he was missing he would want to kill those responsible. And he would be justified. Ignorance is no excuse.
-AN INTACT, SYMPATHETIC MAN
Brad
July 15th, 2006 @ 11:04 am
Princess,
I want to thank you for posting this.
I am very much against the routine circumcision of non-consenting male infants & boys.
I am not circumcised (natural & intact) and I have never had a problem with it. All males & females are born with a foreskin (clitoral hood or prepuce). The female foreskin and male foreskin are there for a reason.
http://www.circumstitions.com/Develop.html
Circumcision hurts baby boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WARNING: These two infant circumcision videos are very graphic.
http://www.consumptionjunction.com/content/detail.asp?ID=44865&type=1&page=1&fav=0
http://ftp.intact.ca/images/new142.mpeg
The American Academy of Pediatricians does not recommend routine circumcision of infant males.
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics%3b103/3/686
Historical Medical Quotes on Circumcision
http://www.circumcisionquotes.com
Males should have the same Pro-Choice rights over what is done to their bodies that women have. Non-consenting females are protected by law to have their Pro-Choice rights and males are not.
MGM Bill
http://www.mgmbill.org
My blogs intent is to educate and inform people that surgically altering the genitals of non-consenting females and males for cosmetic or other non-medical reasons is undesirable, unnecessary & morally wrong. These invasive procedures are in fact child abuse.
Please feel free to subscribe to my anti-circumcision / intactivist blogs at MySpace. Be an activist and support the anti-circumcision movement.
My anti-circumcision blogs link is http://blog.myspace.com/74231235
~Brad~
http://www.myspace.com/74231235
Emy
July 16th, 2006 @ 11:32 pm
You know, the way I look at it, when our children are in school, because the rates right now are about 50/50, it’s just as likely that a boy will be made fun of for being circumcised! So I guess you really can’t “win” either way when it comes to the stupid locker room defense.
Emy
July 16th, 2006 @ 11:39 pm
“This is some of the strangest stuff I have ever read. My husband and my boys are all circumsized. I can promise you my husband has never spent any amt. of time being depressed over the bit of skin that was removed. He has great orgasms and has been doing so for atleast 30 years that I know of. He does not feel any need to have fast, hard rough sex?Did you make this stuff up? Because it is completely hideous! ”
It is likely that he has NO idea what he has lost. Most men really have no idea…but are pissed when they find out. And even then most don’t say anything because what man wants to admit there’s something wrong with his penis?
pete
October 30th, 2006 @ 7:58 pm
hi i totally agree with u i have a foreskin and it protects my helmet to the extent where sensitivity is fantastic. my wife likes it as she says she likes to uncover what’s underneath. i have tried pulling my foreskin back perminatly and it looses all sensitivity around my knob. anyway my wife’s happy with a willy that’s well covered and prefers a purple helmet thats not dry looking……your bloggs is great.