how can an infant still in the creche hold anything more than a child's desire

[primroseburrows]

OMG, finally someone with some sense.

A Proposed Bill to Ban Male Circumcision

Not that it'll actually go anywhere, but it's a start. *applauds heartily*

Thanks to patchfire for the link.

Comments

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

Bottom line: It is mutilation. It's extremely painful, and it cuts off a part of the baby's body. I'm not talking about circumcision for religious reasons (even though the article talks about it), but the unnecessary medical procedure that the US does on over half its baby boys (and it's pretty much only the US. Other countries don't do it routinely). It's nonconcentual cosmetic surgery, done with just a little numbing cream. I've seen a circumcision--I wanted to jump at the doctor and stop him from hurting the baby. At least the moyel gives the baby wine--a much better anaesthetic than the cream that hospitals use.

More information here and here, explained better than I ever could. And here's something about the "Bloodless Bris", which I am SO unqualified to speak on, because I'm not Jewish.. But, I can say that even if Jews and Muslims are still allowed to circumcise their kids, stopping routine circumcision of baby boys in hospitals is a good thing. Because, unlike a bris, there's absolutely no reason for it.

[erebor.livejournal.com]

I'll sidestep the whole issue if done on religious practices, but I've never understood why the rest of us do it ... except of course, oh yeah ... we've been told it's hygienic and that we're supposed to. (Don't get me started on the whole fear of body odors and such, that's another debate.) And I've never understood the idea that a baby doesn't experience pain (any more than I think that animals don't).

To me, outside the religious arena, this is all about education. Pretty much everyone does it without looking into the matter. Herd mentality. A couple of years ago I asked my brother and his wife to reconsider the practice for their infant son (and so did my brother's best friend, who is Jewish, yet!) but it just came up against a brick wall. And these are parents who normally research EVERYTHING to the nth degree.

I think I boil it down to the question, "What's the point??"