Thoughts? I didn't realize it was such a hot topic!

Some dude on Twitter was arguing with me that circumcision is bad and should not be done. I said... who gives a shit?

I will say, if I have a son, he will be circumcised.

If you want to have it done when you're an adult, that's your own business, but I don't support the genital mutilation of male or female babies.

It's really fucking hard for me to give an impassioned plea for the empirical practice of circumcision, even for religious purposes. Certainly I'm disgusted by forced female circumcision of the clitoris in Africa Sure, I don't hold anything against my folks for performing it on me, but I've embraced aspects of my Judaism as cultural at least as much as religion-based. Every individual is different, and I completely agree in principle with the demand for those who are circumcised to be able to do so with their own valid consent.

That said, I don't believe that San Francisco should ban the act outright. It's discriminatory in that it impedes on basic religious freedom in the same way as France banning burqas. What's worse, banning a long-accepted custom will not simply stop the act from happening but only make the procedure more dangerous. Like abortions, there will always be some back-alley doctor willing to perform the procedure.

All that said, I welcome a debate on the topic. It's messy and complicated and a basic aspect of my identity that I know I don't truly understand.

I'm for parents still having the right to be parents and make decisions for their child.

Wow - - It's so rare to find a supporter of female circumcision - - and here we have one in our very own nghtvsn right here on KJ!

Oh c'mon Bradley, I think we both know nghtvsn is referring to the proposed ban in San Francisco. At least from where I'm standing it seems to be the spark that's ignited this topic. Out of friendly curiosity, may I inquire as to whether you simply don't support child circumcision, or if you would be open to the concept of banning it for males under 18 years old altogether?

I would absolutely support an outright ban of all childhood genital mutilation.

Unfortunately, the lobbying in support of the superstitious customs of such groups as Sudanese Muslims and American Jews will perpetuate this barbaric practice.

No child should EVER be subjected to the horror of genital mutilation, and no parent should ever wish such pain and lasting physical harm on their children.

If I ever have a son, he will NOT be circumcized. There is absolutely no good reason for such a practice.

It's one thing to, say, get your child's ears pierced (something else I'm against; they should not be unwillingly subjected to that pain just to put some pretty shiny things on their ears), because that will grow back if they choose to let it.

But genital mutilation is for life, and that decision should be left to the individual who owns those genitals. Parents do not own their children's genitals; you own your own and only you should have a say as to whether or not you are going to mutilate them.

I've done a lot of research on circumcision, out of pure curiosity, and it's horrible the things that can happen when the procedure gets botched up.

And I have seen my fair share of pictures of both circumcized and uncircumsized penises, and I am therefore not adverse to the look of either. I feel sorry for the guys who have been rejected by women based on the look of their genitalia; I will never scoff at a man's member based on circumcision.

I think it's hilarious when people say male circumcision is "mutilation".

I also think it's hilarious when approval of male circumcision means you're also for female circumcision. They have nothing to do with each other, at all. One is common practice and widely accepted in America, the other is common practice and widely criticized in Africa. And honestly, I really never even knew there WAS female circumcision. Idiotic.

Yes, and I also support amputating the hands of shoplifters too..

...except Hollywood folks would start to look pretty Goddamn freaky...

This is a picture of my Father.



He knew Rip Torn.

I seriously dont care. Who am i to decide if i want your kid with foreskin.

medically speaking, uncircumcised men and/or infants have a higher risk of Urinary track infection or any other infection in that area (if not well cleaned, of course), STD and Penile cancer, although this last one is rather rare.... BUT getting circumcision destroys the joyful part of sex and i say that's one huge disadvantage, loss of sensitivity for both men and woman.

and who the hell wants to get a circumcision when your an adult?! really? i know there are indications for that but its far more traumatic when you know someone is passing a scalpel or whatever cutting instrument to your penis. The baby is going to forget it in a few hours and really dont know what happend...

being doctor has made me quite cold hearted...

Shouldn't that be his decision?

No. Should the school he goes to be his decision? What about the food he eats?

Yes, the school he goes to should be his decision, depending on how old he is the same way it was your decision to decide what College you attend.. As for the food?? Why shouldn't he decide what food he wants to eat?? Again, how old is the son were referring to here??

Should a preschooler choose his school? What about elementary school?
Should my baby choose whether he wants breast milk or formula?

If he or she is smart, they'll opt for the breast milk.. What baby wouldn't want that??

My folks raised a stink when I was going to a nude beach.
At 23 they still hadn't let on that I had been circumcised and they didn't want that thing to be seen.
Later, they tried to use the fact in order to intimidate me out of my behavior.
This was at Pirate's Cove, the beach used for the "Planet of the Apes (1968) climax".

I was circumcised as a Protestant, but I no longer practice the faith...

I foresee a few "Well, you're an idiot" responses in this thread.

Well, you're an idiot.

I remember one member who no longer posts opting to undergo a procedure like this just a few years back. I wonder what he'd think about all this.

Who we talking about?? Joe?? Maybe that's why he was so bitter??