Circumcision

I've had an argument with my wife who wants to get our son circumcised. Now, whilst I appreciate that this is Filipino culture, I find the whole thing completely unnecessary and it inflicts unnecessary pain and suffering on the kids who we have a duty to protect.

With her brother also adding in his two penneth (apparently he will be laughed at if he doesn't have it done - despite living in the UK!), I have bluntly said that this is something on which I will not budge and that there is no way a knife is being used on my kid unless there is a medical reason to do so.

I remember her nephew having had it done, and I saw him on a webcam crying his little heart out whilst everyone sat around laughing at his situation - it's part of growing up, I was told. Well, not for my boy it's not.

I suspect others of you have had similar "discussions" and I'm wondering if you relented (perhaps because you think circumcision is ok) or if you stuck to your guns (because you think circumcision is not ok).

my wife was a filipina midwife for 20 years--apparently it was part of her job to carry out circumcisions. but i agree with you 100% , Bird.

If we ever have a son there is no way he would be circumcised, and I've told my wife that. There's not even an argument to be had. It won't happen.

I think it's cruel and wildly horrible. As is the surgery some races subject their daughters too.

Thankfully not an issue for us having 2 girls

What's the big deal?

I have a Filipino son and he's had it done. And to lend support, at age 34, I had it done myself at the same time as my son. The procedure was not painful, although the recovery was slow and we weren't able to move around freely for 2-3 weeks, and another few weeks to move without any pain. Obviously we went to a hospital for the procedure; if you go cheap (as in all things), you can expect it to be 'less pleasant'.

It's worth mentioning that I'm really happy to have had it done. It's definitely more hygienic and the wife is much happier too.

It de-sensitisies the delicate parts, making love is less enjoyable...

I think you pretty much described yourself why I, personally, would never do it. Why do anything to a child that leaves him in pain for several weeks? I just don't get it. Would you count your child's earlobe off? Or part of a finger? Of course not, so why do this?

I've seen the hygiene argument used before. How is it more hygeinic? Just have a wash!

And why is your wife happy with it? As far as I can tell, the only reason this gets done in The Philippines is because of peer pressure and because kids will get bullied if they don't do it.

Not a good reason in my book. It doesn't even have religious reasons. It's nonsense.

Barbaric mutilation of a baby who is unable to give consent.

Non-medical surgery of this nature should be outlawed in all countries.

Religious privilege trampling over human rights.

http://www.thewholenetwork.org/twn-news/famous-atheist-quotes-on-circumcision



Disgusting & unjustifiable.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Circumcision/Pages/Introduction.aspx

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Hmmm, 2 weeks of discomfort? For something that is purely cosmetic and cultural? Not really selling this to me sorry.

Hygiene is down to bathing habits.

Ok guys...show of hands...who is a Roundhead..who is a cavalier?

Me = cavalier

I've been called a kn..head in the past does that count?

One of my boys had the operation through necessity at the age of about 7. The problem was that the foreskin kept closing up and he was taken to hospital several times to have it forced open.

They were horrible experiences and I was pleading for him to have a circumcision.

Eventually it happened but once he had come round from the anaesthetic he was scared witless to urinate for the first time. He cried and cried. The recovery period was 1 to 2 weeks from memory and he had to take about a week off school.

My personal belief is that unless it is necessary it should be outlawed as is FGM. It is barbaric and cruel, end of. I do not accept the personal hygiene or cultural argument either.

Sadly, these days, there are numerous things that are allowed under the banner of cultural belief.

You'll see that, perhaps predictably, the NHS does not comment on the ethics surround non-medical circumsison.

The BMA guidance on the matter is also ambiguous - having been heavily lobbied down the years by religious apologists.

I wonder what the police and courts would say if I took a Stanley knife and hacked off the tip of the p*n*s of a young son? I would rightly be arrested, tried, convicted and locked-up.

So why do we permit such barbarity when a religion deems it part of their rituals?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4629604/GP-arrested-GBH-boy-circumcised-without-consent.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4424770/Surgeon-cleared-circumcision-went-wrong.html

See my views on my post above (the first one!)

I saw it Matt - and agreed with your views!

Holy crap - I join a message board to help my asawa get a visa and now I'm being asked about my todger!

#johnthomas

#allman