An awful Christian Ritual that needs to be stopped
Why on earth people in this country still allow Male Genital Mutalation is beyond me. Feel free to educate yourself about this awful religious custom that has been going on for THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
http://www.intactamerica.org/
What amazes me is the fact that pretty intelligent people allow themselves to be fooled into believing all the BS out there about STD’s, Aids, Smell and on and on. So call me crazy but don’t all those things apply to a female? Shouldn’t we do something about their genitalia too if odor and cleanliness is the problem?
It is a religious custom that started thousands of years ago and somehow morphed into a medical practice. Christ almighty they still have moyles in NYC that SUCK THE TIP off the boys penis. YES, that’s right. It’s legal though so it must be ok. Thank God.
Comment by jason330 on 10 July 2009 at 7:23 pm:
I think Paul established that Christians don’t have to be cleaned up.
…or was it Ringo?
Comment by Joanne Christian on 10 July 2009 at 7:36 pm:
Hef-Are you STILL tormented by this? I thought we settled this last year.
Comment by Rhymes With Right on 10 July 2009 at 8:47 pm:
Actually, it is a Jewish religious ritual — and I believe also a Muslim one.
It is merely customary with Christians — and even that is a custom that comes from secular rather than religious motives.
Personally, I’m pro-choice on this matter.
Comment by Donfncooliaviti on 10 July 2009 at 8:55 pm:
choice of the innocent child I assume?
Comment by Rhymes With Right on 10 July 2009 at 9:23 pm:
What do you care? If it’s OK with you that his mama has a doctor the kid without his input, why should you care if she is choosing to have a doctor cut off extraneous epidermis?
Comment by Rhymes With Right on 10 July 2009 at 9:34 pm:
And don — what is your position on piercing the ears of infants, if you want to start getting into the question of mutilating children for no medically necessary reason?
Comment by Donfncooliaviti on 10 July 2009 at 9:39 pm:
So far you didn’t answer the question. Just question after question.
example 901 of why I’m the coolest.
Comment by MJ on 10 July 2009 at 10:11 pm:
DV – the sucking of the end of a Jewish baby’s penis is an urban legend. I have been to many a bris (mine included), from Reform to ultra-Orthodox to Chasidic, and have never witnessed this. The vast majority of mohels today are MD’s, even those who perform the bris milah in the Orthodox community. While the story on Daily Kos is not a blood libel, it ranks right up there with other anti-Semitic postings that wind up on the Internet.
Personally, it was a religious decision my parents made. Am I upset at them for making it – no way. It extended the covenant that G-D made with Abraham back in the days of old.
As a gay man, I actually prefer cut vs. uncut. Just nicer to look at IMO.
Comment by Rhymes With Right on 10 July 2009 at 10:35 pm:
Don, I’m just pointing out the absurdity of your position, and its inconsistency.
And I made my point abundantly clear with my “pro-choice” comment. I don’t think it is government’s business to regulate the essentially harmless practice. At the same time, my wife and I did discuss this issue the first time she was pregnant (sadly, the first of multiple miscarriages that left us childless) and decided that we would not circumcise a son because it was neither medically nor religiously necessary.
Comment by Rich Boucher on 10 July 2009 at 11:31 pm:
Dude, if you’re talking about circumcision, it’s a losing battle.
I’m circumcised, and glad of it.
Comment by Tim Pancoast on 10 July 2009 at 11:33 pm:
I am glad this was cleared up so quickly. Great work Jason, RWR, and especially the inside track from MJ.
Comment by Susan Regis Collins on 10 July 2009 at 11:49 pm:
Cool Donhoni….it’s time for you to start contemplating your navel.
Comment by Joanne Christian on 10 July 2009 at 11:56 pm:
And how about those tonsils?
Comment by Rhymes With Right on 11 July 2009 at 12:17 am:
Oh, and MJ — no, it is not an urban legend. I’ve seen too many references to it on the sites of Jewish publications, and also some in the secular press.
It is, however, a relatively rare practice today and generally found only in some of the more traditional groups.
Comment by Delaware's Coolest Blogger on 11 July 2009 at 12:57 am:
Still didn’t answer my question David.
So you agree then that it is the childs choice right?
Comment by Caroline on 11 July 2009 at 5:56 am:
Whether you’re for or against, infant circumcision is essentially a non-therapeutic surgery that is not medically necessary. So why do 34 states still pay for it under Medicaid (aka: your tax dollars)?
http://www.coloradonocirc.org/files/handouts/Medicaid_and_Circumcision.pdf
If you’re tired of your tax dollars being wasted this way, join us on Facebook:
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/187477?m=3f1cca43
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46666993580
and specifically for Delaware
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=99034422169
Comment by Rhymes With Right on 11 July 2009 at 9:01 am:
Who is David?
But I will make my point clear — what business is it of government’s to regulate the non-harmful removal of excess epidermis when eight day’s previous it would have been perfectly legal to kill the kid?
Comment by Art Downs on 11 July 2009 at 9:34 am:
I suppose that the smegma fanciers are opposed to such a custom.
There is a bit of humor regarding whickerbills and and a lot more regarding mohels so perhaps we should be prepared for an onslaught.
There was a scene in “Robin Hood, Men it Tights” that dealt with the topic.
Comment by Art Downs on 11 July 2009 at 9:39 am:
At one former place of employment, there was no direct dialing into phones and incoming calls would be preceded by the booming voice of the receptionist with the name of the called party followed by instruction to hit ‘pound some number’.
The favorite was to page “Dick Skinner”. It always produced some laughter.
Comment by Delaware's Coolest Blogger on 11 July 2009 at 9:40 am:
I meant Mike,
non harmful? You ever hear a kid wail after he has 20% of the tip of his penis cut off? Ask him if it is harmful.
either way you are both retards though.
Comment by MJ on 11 July 2009 at 9:42 am:
Bovarian, you’re an asshole, whoever you are. Take a hike, schmuck!
Comment by Rhymes With Right on 11 July 2009 at 10:14 am:
Ever hear a kid wail after getting her ears pierced? Ask her if it is harmful.
And sorry if that loss of 20% leaves you feeling inadequate. Some of us don’t have that problem. Seek counseling, friend.
Comment by MJ on 11 July 2009 at 10:35 am:
Well, we Jews are a very optimistic people. We cut it off before we know how long it’s going to be.
Comment by Joanne Christian on 11 July 2009 at 10:41 am:
MJ-Best answer yet-cuz just like chrysanthemums, it probably grows back better
!
Comment by bovarian on 11 July 2009 at 11:26 am:
“Well, we Jews are a very optimistic people. ”
Howzat worked out fer ya in the last 800 years?
Comment by Delaware Dem on 11 July 2009 at 11:29 am:
Yeah, I am afraid I have to disagree with my friend and colleague Donviti here. Steve Newton on his blog correctly points out that Donviti’s source comes from a Daily Kos diary from 2006. I remember that diary, and that diarist, along with a couple of other commentators over there, being all up in arms about circumcisions back then. It was their single issue. They started a number of flame wars and I reacted to them by lampooning their concerns about a “foreskin holocaust.”
Look, circumcision is a choice. It can a choice based in religious tradition, or a practical choice to prevent infection. But it is a choice. As I said back then on Daily Kos, and as I will say now (and beware, because we are bordering on TMI here), I am circumsized and I don’t feel like I am missing out on anything.
If you oppose circumcision for whatever reason, fine, but don’t attack religions for it; instead, choose not to perform the procedure on your own son.
Comment by Susan Regis Collins on 11 July 2009 at 12:17 pm:
One of my children & spouse are not so much anti-circumcision as pro uncircumcised…….we’ll see how their son feels when he gets the pressure in the locker room.
I permitted my son to be circumcised as was the custom (and extra $$$ for the M.D.) at the time….if I were making the same decision today I would think twice about going a head (no pun intended).
The way I hear it the insurance co.s won’t pay for the proceedure…..that should bring about some changes.
Comment by MJ on 11 July 2009 at 12:20 pm:
Who the fuck is this Bovarian and what is his/her fucking problem? Must be one of the SCCOR Klansman.
Comment by Delaware's Coolest Blogger on 11 July 2009 at 1:37 pm:
And sorry if that loss of 20% leaves you feeling inadequate. Some of us don’t have that problem. Seek counseling, friend.
Mike,
So ear piercing is the equivalent of circumcision?
And you still didn’t answer the question.
You really are pathetic.
Comment by Rhymes With Right on 11 July 2009 at 1:42 pm:
If your criteria for condemnation is wailing following a medically unnecessary procedure, then yes.
Comment by Delaware's Coolest Blogger on 11 July 2009 at 1:56 pm:
No, that was your criteria Greg. Not mine.
My criteria was the removal of about 20% if not more skin off an infant boys penis.
You brought up ear piercing analogy.
Comment by AnnieMack on 11 July 2009 at 5:20 pm:
Both of my nephews are uncircumcised and both hate their mother for it. They hate being different. It may be medically unnecessary but I know two teenagers who wish their parents would have made the decision instead of going against the ’status quo’. Someday, after more parents opt out of the procedure, it will become more acceptable.
Comment by Rhymes With Right on 11 July 2009 at 5:42 pm:
And that is harmful. . . how?
You haven’t documented harm, merely argued that it is painful and the kids wail loudly — hence my analogy.
Comment by Rich Boucher on 11 July 2009 at 6:18 pm:
Every woman I’ve ever been with has told me they were glad I was circumcised, and that they were fouled out by the sight of an uncircumcised penis.
When I think of the possibility that I would not have got any action because of some extra, useless skin, I thank my LUCKY STARS my parents decided to have me cut!
Comment by bovarian on 11 July 2009 at 6:32 pm:
I fear this isolates the act itself and not the potential good it does, but…..
http://newborns.stanford.edu/Plastibell.html
I figure I’m used to nearsighted liberal idiocy. Where would the presidency be without that?
Comment by Hugh7 on 11 July 2009 at 11:12 pm:
97% of US circumcision is not religious, just “custom” and bogus medical claims. As for Christianity, “If you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing” Gal 5:2.
AnnieMack, maybe when those teenagers gain some experience, they will be less concerned about what others lack, come to appreciate their parents’ gift (it’s been described as “a symphony of sensation”), and be glad to be at the forefront of the trend.
Susan Regis Collins, with the rate at 56% there won’t be any “pressure in the locker room”.
Rich Boucher, there are literally billions of women you’ve never been with, who much prefer a whole penis.
Delaware’s Coolest Blogger: 20% is very conservative. Say 50%. See http://www.circumstitions.com/Notjustaflap.html. The big difference from earpiercing is that if they don’t like it, the holes will close over.
Harm? http://www.circumstitions.com/Complic.html – and all unnecessary.
Comment by Teh Awesome on 11 July 2009 at 11:30 pm:
By the way there is no truth to the rumor that Don Viti is getting a reverse circumcision next week. Or is there?
Comment by bovarian on 11 July 2009 at 11:34 pm:
How do they do that? Use the skin off his fat ass?