Is circumcision the kiss of death or source of life?

Toward Tradition ^ | 2/21/2005 | Samuel Silver

[Babwa]

The national news media is abuzz with a story about the possible link between the tragic death of an infant Jewish boy from herpes and his circumcision. At the same time, the media has not fully reported on the fact that circumcision could save millions of lives from the scourge of AIDS.

The problem is that circumcision is in the Bible, which makes it a serious violation of the religion practiced by the majority in academia and the mainstream media - secular fundamentalism. They have stood by while millions died and continue to die. How differently they value human life than Judaism and the Judeo-Christian tradition.

[newzjunkey]

It is *not* over-the-top. The fact that you and others take the cosmetic removal of tissue from a child's most private parts is what is over-the-top. You've all been brainwashed into changing God's design, into making a permanent decision that affects your children's lifetime. No respect for the man they will grow to be, for their sovereignty over their own body, their own future sexual development and decisions.

I'm frankly aghast that so many "conservatives" don't take this issue seriously. It's about liberty, life, basic truths, being secure in your person, being a caretaker of a new human life not some sad devotee of an unenlightened, savage and ignorant tradition.

[Graymatter]

FWIW..."Some aboriginal Australians perform the "Ariltha", a cutting open of the underside of the penis (subincision), creating a hypospadia with the purpose that the male genitalia will appear similar to that of the female."
http://www.noharmm.org/age-region.htm Genital Cutting Customs by Age and Region/Ethnic Group

[Straight Vermonter]

Apparently you are unaware of how that poor child got herpes. Here

[cajungirl]

I am not arguing considering it pointless. I am just watching and noting the rhetoric.

[exnavychick]

Congratulations on your new grandson!!

On topic: my eldest was circumcised, but I was just horrified at how painful it seemed. The rest of my boys are not. If, when they are older, they want to have it done, I will allow it and pay for it (if they are still at home). I just cannot bring myself to do that again without them consenting.

[loboinok]

How about letting the kids choose for themselves when they get older whether they want to mutilate their bodies or not?


Since I remember absolutely nothing about it, I think I am happy with the decision my parents made. Thats my opinion though.
As for letting them choose when they get older...Have you seen some of these people walking around with more holes and jewelery sticking out of their heads, than you would find in a jewelery store? You are right, whats one more mutilation?

[familyop]

And remember that they want to have parents and doctors/mohels imprisoned for having children circumcized at all, which reminds us of the anti-Semitic nature of the new radical social left.

And while we're at it, go to google.com and enter "uncut men" as keywords (with the quotation marks) for more knowledge about what's behind the anti-circumcision community's desire to outlaw circumcision. But don't follow the links to the abominable proof! You'll see more than enough of the proof. Just click on one or two more of the google search page numbers at the bottom of the first search page to see that the hits are tens of thousands of homosexual pornography and pickup sites.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Mazel tov, Alouette!

Let's face it, any and all of these discussions are meaningless to us because we will NEVER stop doing circumcisions, G-d forbid, because we want to do His will.

[Alouette]

I was just horrified at how painful it seemed.

I have 10 grandsons, not to mention six sons, two son-in-laws and one husband. All of them were circumcised as infants and experienced no trauma. If the mohel is skilled, it is very quick and there is very little blood, and much less painful than the same procedure performed on an older child or an adult.

[cajungirl]

I had three girls and was so disturbed at the drops they put in their eyes, for gonorhea in case people don't know. They put them in all childrens eyes and they hurt and sting that I begged not to have them and the docs just looked at me like I was nuts. As I was lying on a table dependent on these docs and whacked out, I did not fight it but I just hate that practice. As if we are all running around with gonorrhea.

[exnavychick]

Then maybe it's not a good idea to allow someone who just gave birth less than 24 hours before to witness it, lol! I'm sure that probably influenced me to some degree.

[Vinnie]

You shouldn't be drinking coffee this late, really.

Where we might agree is circumcision without anesthesia. That is barbaric

[exnavychick]

As if we are all running around with gonorrhea.

No kidding. Most ob's I know test for that sort of thing when you are pregnant, so that it can be treated.

[KC_for_Freedom]

On topic: my eldest was circumcised, but I was just horrified at how painful it seemed. The rest of my boys are not. If, when they are older, they want to have it done, I will allow it and pay for it (if they are still at home). I just cannot bring myself to do that again without them consenting.

Exnavychick, I have heard this often, but it was a powerful ceremony for us, and not upsetting. (well alright, I felt a little weak in the knees), but our son was only distressed by the cold metal table, not the cut. I can see how if it is upsetting that you would choose not to do it. It will be decidedly more disturbing to have it done later in life. You are not Jewish I presume.

Alouette, Congratulations and have a wonderful brit.

[ecurbh]

My wife said if we have a son, he can't be circumcised. She said it decreses sexual pleasure for the male. Now, I was circumcised. I shudder to think of the things I would have done if it felt any more joyous in my nether regions.
~Emo Philips

[aruanan]

At the same time, the media has not fully reported on the fact that circumcision could save millions of lives from the scourge of AIDS.

So could clean needles and not engaging in risky sexual practices.

[philetus]

Is circumcision the kiss of death or source of life?"

Neither, it's a surgical procedure.

[followerofchrist]

I've read extensively on circumcision. I would never circumcize my child. It is pushed as a sanitary measure, but girls aren't circumcized here, even though it would make them more clean. It is pushed as a preventative for penile cancer, yet European men have the same rate of this cancer and most of them are not circumcized. Cutting women's breasts off would lower our chances of getting breast cancer, but we don't do that. I don't want to discuss the sexual effects in polite company. But do the research. Foreskins are not "spare parts" and are there for a reason. Gentiles, think twice before circumcizing your child and do some serious research on it. God never told us to do it, only the Jews.

[exnavychick]

No, I am not Jewish. :) But yes, it was really upsetting to me, so I elected not to have it done again. I just learned what needs to be done to make sure there are no infections, ect.

I will accede to their wishes when they are older. They will understand that it's painful to recover from before they agree to it. I will not allow them to undergo the procedure without understanding all of the risks involved.