When I published my first blog post a couple of weeks ago, I never imagined how many hundred people would read it; nor did I think so many people would take the time to send thoughtful, considered responses.
But it seems like I discovered a new community. A community of ‘intactivists’.
When I first started planning the blog, I decided that no post should be more than a few hundred words – maybe 500 words. Any more, and people wouldn’t bother reading on, I thought. But one of the nice people who commented typed over 1,800 words.
In fact, I published the post just before going to bed one evening, not realising that the comments box wasn’t working – I’d set it to force people to log in, but then forgot to tick the box in the settings panel to allow people to register. Doh! So rather than do what most people (including me) would do – which is to not bother – several people emailed their thoughts to me.
Many jews are making the decision not to circumcise their sons, one commented. Another pointed out that my understanding of the origins of jewish circumcision was even odder than I thought (rarely having paid attention at Sunday school, I am happy to stand corrected). He told me that “god promised to look after Abraham’s descendants until the end of time, so long as baby boys had their foreskins trimmed when they were a week old. If jews don’t do that, god will stop doing them favours.” Forgive me for having trouble squaring that with the notion of a kind and benevolent creator.
One commentator, Robert Javier, asked whether circumcision might be worth it, because of penises which won’t retract? Or those which get a bit smelly? Joseph4GI replied that non retraction, called phimosis, is extremely rare and often misdiagnosed. Only 3-4% of cases require surgical intervention, he said, because most cases fix themselves or can be resolved using non surgical means.
Another helpful commentator, Lippy Girl, even helped out with a link which confirmed my gut feeling but which I could not prove. I said I believe I was permanently damaged as a result of my circumcision. Research funded by the Wellcome Trust, which she told me about, said that contrary to the popular belief, babies certainly are affected by pain. In fact, whereas adults have a mechanism which suppresses pain, “in newborn babies, this [mechanism] has the opposite effect”.
I still don’t think that any of this will have an effect on my brother and sister-in-law, who would still circumcise a baby boy, because “it’s traditional” or because the family expect them to. My sister in law is pregnant for a second time; it’s due next year. In case it’s a boy, maybe I’ll suggest they read my original blog post, and this one, and they might think again about whether they want to damage their beautiful son so early in his life.
When I was searching for a picture for this post, I found a number which were captioned “We attended a very nicely catered bris this morning for little Jake”. Poor little Jake. Never mind that he’s being wounded in such an unpleasant way, at least the bridge rolls were nice.
There’s nothing more ego-boosting than knowing that several hundred people have read your first ever blog post, and that many have taken the time to provide lengthy and constructive comments about something as close to their hearts as it is to mine.
Thank you for reading. Seriously.
Brit Shalom is a naming ceremony that is starting to replace the antiquated Bris. Many other archaic rituals have fallen in disuse. The circumcision ritual should be next ritual that is given up as archaic.
This haiku poem comes to mind:
Circumcision Rite
Music, dance, and food, and drink
Blood and pain remain
http://tlctugger.com/Audio/Contest/BP_Legacy.htm
Since 2006, the creator of the TLCTugger (restoration device) holds a poetry contest for circumcision awareness. Some good finds there…
This lady blogs about how circumcison today is total differentthan circumcison back in abrahams time. Figure she says it better than I can
http://www.drmomma.org/2010/07/biblical-circumcision-information.html
Thank you for all you are doing to help stop this insanity. I think it’s a good thing that we intactivists are being talked about. Let’s get this put of the shadows, and into the real light of truth. God bless you Joseph.
Thanks for your thoughtful blog. I would like to encourage you to take a serious stand to protect the infant boys in your family. Evil prospers when decent people do nothing. Baby boys are helpless and deserve our protection.
Just imagine this scene for a moment:
A one-week-old infant boy is stripped from the waist down.
He is given wine.
He is held down by some of his “loved ones” and while he screams and tries with all of his might to escape, his genitals are ripped and cut and the most sensitive part of his penis is torn away.
And then the party continues.
What part of this scene is sane? What part of this is NOT child abuse?
Who among the party attendees will be with this baby as he grows in to a man with his own sexual ideas and preferences? What part will they play in living out his intimate choices and experiences? Whose penis is it?
On the flip side, if no one cuts his penis and he decides for himself when he is a man that he wants to be circumcised, he can get circumcised.
Why can’t a Jewish family be a safe and loving place for babies of both sexes? Why does a boy infant have to be subject to such a brutal assault?
I have only been in social circles with Jewish people who questioned and ultimately rejected circumcision. G-d does not appear to be particularly angry with these folks, as far as I can see.
Check out the video on the homepage of the website:
http://www.coloradonocirc.org
Love and blessings,
Dolores
Thank you for speaking out against infant genital cutting. Genital mutilation rates are finally plummeting in the US, down to 32% in 2009. Time for more ethical doctors and citizens to take a stand and ban the practice outright.
I’m not a Jew but if I were I wouldn’t be in a rush to break with this tradition. Still I would not be opposed to a discussion of the matter.
:-))) @ ‘at least the rolls were nice’
Blood thirsty cults have nice food. Who knew eh?
My thoughts exactly…blindly following age old traditions for the sake of family values is officially bonkers.
Congrats on your blog success. The creator will be proud. X