Saying NO to Circumcision

In recent months the media has run articles on the subject of genital mutilation, mostly concerning female refugees from Africa. Almost 120 million women in the world have suffered major damage and even death from these perverse practices. Such stories horrify readers. But many of these same readers are not aware of the fact that.genital mutlilation persists in the United States where more than half of newborn male infants become sexual amputees without their consent. Yes, the special erogenous tissue removed amounts to FIFTEEN square inches in the adult. This foreskin has a function, just like the eyelid, and preserves the natural moisture and sensitivity of the tip of the penis, especially during the diaper phase.

http://www.circumcisionquotes.com/magcirc.html shows exactly how the foreskin is torn away and cut off. And in these images, the baby has been anesthetized, which is far from routine even today.

Why would any parent permit a medically unnecessary operation, without the informed consent of the victim? This procedure is a human rights issue because it violates of the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights and the U.N. Charter of the Rights of the Child. There are many reasons why parents, despite their ignorance and often that of their health care provider with regard to the anatomy and function of the intact penis, choose this surgery, usually without anesthesia. For Jews and Moslem, circumcison is a ritual act that accounts for only one percent of the circumcisons done in the U.S. The other "reasons" include: cleanliness (flossing and brushing teeth is more work but no-one suggests removing a child's teeth!); looking like Dad or brother (does the kid get glasses, too if Dad wears them?) and prevention of various diseases ( myths disproven by the intact population of Europe, Scandinavia, South America etc.). Some parents think it is the law! Others think that the doctor knows best and most doctors recommend circumcision because they benefit financially from this procedure. In fact, it is a billion dollar industry in North America. In health care dollars, it costs five times as much to circumcise a baby boy as to leave him alone.

Rarely does the media tell us about the mishaps: penises deformed and burned (with cautery) and occasionally death. One little boy in Atlanta ended up with a sex-change operation because his male anatomy was irreparable after a botched circumcision.

Education play a role in reducing the incidence of this barbaric practice? It does. The rate in the U.S. which was 85% in 1970 went to 58% by 1980. Britian's national health service reduced the an incidence to about 1% in less than a decade due to thorough education of the both the public and the medical profession.

Please, parents, keep your son intact! As an adult he can choose whatever mutiliations he likes, but foreskin restoration is a long and arduous process.

Elizabeth Noble and Leo Sorger, M.D. are authors of The Joy of Being Boy, a book for intact young boys. Noble is a board member of the National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers

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