I feel the need to express this - and I can't find anywhere to go with it other than here, in which my feelings and opinions on it won't be criticized and put up for debate. I can not and will not come to terms with infant mutilation, for the purpose of chance. We have done so many studies, so much research - and when it comes down to it, reality outweighs the possibility. I understand the fear of unknown, and I can respect that everyone has their own opinion on circumcision (and rightfully so, as this is a free country and I expect people to think for themselves.) But when we are no longer thinking for ourselves, but merely basing our decisions for our children on what could possibly happen in the future - I can't help but feel like something is completely ass backwards. To start with, it is a procedure done to an infant - who has just come from a cradle of dark warmth for the first 9 months of its existence... and the first thing we are going to do to him is strap him down to a board, freeze his body and cut him up? I feel like that is undoubtedly going to do some scary fucking shit to your head. I've heard the argument time and time again - "we don't remember infancy" but there's probably a reason for that! It's bloody traumatic... we probably sensor it out, or repress the memory. So why would I add to that trauma? There are countless debates as to why a male infant should be circumsized... none of which add up to the result of doing a major unnecessary medical procedure to my newborn child (in case anyone's forgotten - I'm a natural birthing, co-sleeping, breastfeeding, baby wearing kind of momma... who wont even take tylenol during pregnancy for fear of the damage to my unborn child) Here are a few:
#1) Cleanliness - male's are BORN with that skin for a reason. Just as we are born with eye lids, and ear lobes, and vulva's and butt cheeks and lips. Our bodies are designed (by science, or who ever you believe is designing us) to function. I can not convince myself that we have extra skin on us anywhere that would cause us to be unclean. And even in that case, it's not hard to teach a child to cleanse themselves - have you ever tried wiping a bloody vagina? It can and will be done.
#2) Religious purposes: well, you're all nuts. I can't understand religion period, let alone cutting my child's skin off because a man in the clouds screwed up and thinks you should correct his mistake? I'm actually completely ignorant towards this reasoning - I don't know what religions say you should, or why. I just know it sounds silly to me.
#3) AIDS/HIV prevention: This is the only one that you can almost find my sympathy for. Yes, it definitely did help a little when AIDS and HIV were rampant. It definitely did save a lot of lives... a LONG time ago. If there is one thing us as society are proud of, it is how far we have come scientifically and medically. We would not brand it as an unnecessary procedure just because they thought "oh hey, look - stat's are down, we're in the clear". It was proven that in this day and age, it has no links attached. And even then, this is basing a very serious decision on possibility - on chance. How can we pretend to have the power of fate in our hands? You can not prevent something like that happening - it is not possible. We can teach our children about safe sex, and discourage them from using drugs and inform them about the risks and dangers involved. But how for a second can we pretend like that is something we can prevent for our children?
After 5 short years of parenting, the one thing I have learned is that 95% of the time what happens is out of my control. I may not give up this control easily - but I am aware that despite my best and constant efforts - there is really not a lot I can do when it comes to what my children will face in life. So saying that I should mutilate my child's already perfect body for the sake of consequence just does not add up to me. I can not make myself believe that it is something right or just for me to do - that is a decision my child should make on their own.
That is my rant, and I hope you do not feel the need to be offended. This are merely my feelings on it, and I am only placing them here to vent out my frustration on the topic.
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