Posted on 02/28/2010 9:24:25 PM PST by Babwa
A group has filed the “Male Genital Mutilation Bill” with the Massachusetts Legislature. It calls for a ban on circumcision for males under 18, unless medically necessary, and with no religious exemptions. There will be a public hearing for the bill, S. 1777, at the State House in Boston on Tuesday, March 2 at 1 p.m. in Hearing Room 1A.
Of course, there have been anti-circumcision movements before, but most Jews historically have continued the religious practice of circumcision even under the threat of death. The leader of this current initiative, Matthew Hess, president of the group called the Bill to End Male Genital Mutilation, was quoted in the Boston Herald (February 21, 2010) as saying “circumcision is painful and unnecessary, violates a baby’s human rights and decreases sexual sensation in mature males.”
Because we see the proposed ban as a violation of religious freedom, we feel it will undoubtedly not pass into law. But these types of claims need to be answered. Jews have circumcised tens of millions of their infant sons for over 3,000 years with few complications and without the dire pain, trauma, and other horrible effects claimed by opponents of circumcision.
Medical research has proven neonatal circumcision provides a lifetime of medical benefits, yet the anti-cirumcisionists claim the medical benefits of circumcision are unproven. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published reports on circumcision from 1971-1989 questioning the medical benefits, but as research advanced, their latest report (1999) documented that neo-natal circumcision offered protection against six medical problems:
1. UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) 2. Penile cancer 3. STD’s (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and HIV/AIDS infection 4. Balanoposthisis (infections of the glans) 5. Phimosis (failure of the foreskin to retract) 6. Genital hygiene.
Since then, the scientific data has only strengthened the case for these benefits. Most dramatic is the growing evidence that circumcision helps prevent HIV/AIDS. Recent studies have confirmed circumcision has the ability to reduce transmission of HIV/AIDS by 50-60% or more.
The same mechanism that helps protect men from infection with the HIV virus causing AIDS also helps prevent infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which causes penile cancer in men and cervical cancer in women. As a result, Jewish women have a very low rate of cervical cancer. Long before Gardasil, a vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration to prevent cervical cancer in females, the Torah prescribed a proven vaccine for cervical cancer.
What parent wouldn’t want their child to receive these benefits?
But what about the “horrible” pain? Anyone attending a traditional Jewish circumcision (bris milah) will note that the baby begins to cry when the diaper is opened to the cooler air. The baby is comforted in the sandek’s (G-d-father) lap and given gauze with wine to suck on. The circumcision usually takes only 20-30 seconds, and the baby is shortly asleep.
Admittedly, the procedure used in most hospitals, lasting 6-40 minutes, is more traumatic, but severe pain is neither a religious nor medical necessity. Many doctors and hospitals have begun adopting the traditional Jewish techniques, although they are still not as quick as an experienced mohel.
An infant’s vaccination shots are also painful and might cause more crying than a circumcision. Would the proponents of this ban also ban parents’ rights to have their children vaccinated or treated with other painful procedures they deem necessary until the child is 18? The claim of reduced sexual sensitivity is also not supported by data. The claims are purely anecdotal, and the few discredited studies that claimed to show this were also only anecdotal and badly structured. Properly structured before & after analysis of adult circumcisions as well as physical testing have shown no reduction of sexual sensitivity from circumcision.
The evidence is clear that neonatal circumcision offers positive medical benefits to males, both as infants and in later adult life. The data is also clear that there is no physiological reduction of sexual sensation or performance associated with neonatal circumcision.
The medical benefit of circumcision is not of religious significance to a believing Jew’s decision to have a bris for a newborn son, but obviously, a parent would be concerned if the net effect were negative. Fortunately, G-d created a benevolent universe.
Throughout history, skeptics and opponents of Torah have made claims like these only to have researchers demonstrate a medical or other type benefit resulting from the performance of a mitzvah – a commandment of G-d. This coincides with a traditional phrase used by our sages that “only good and no harm can come of doing a mitzvah.”
For a Jew, the question shouldn’t be “what is the medical benefit of circumcision?” Rather, circumcision should be performed as a commandment of G-d and as a sign of G-d, affecting the family for generations to come.
But it’s nice to know it is actually good for you.
Maybe gay men prefer uncut, hence the new law.
So some people in Massachusetts want it to become the Homosexual, Smegma State.
fair enuff ..a mite late for me 52 years ago..this goy got the bris
Huh
Then your wife is truly blessed. ;-D
bingo....if I was young and was told women wanted it painted yellow and to put a hat on it and they would love me for it....I damn sure would
it makes the world go round..
she might argue that point now after all these spawn she’s borne
Men are uncut in most countries, unless Muslim. It simply isn't practiced in Europe, Latin America, Japan, China, Hindu India, and non-Muslim Africa.
I guess if he didn’t put it there in the first place then he couldn’t tell you to remove it.
I don’t believe they do it without parental consent.
The male and female are from the same design which is female first. Men have nipples even though they don't need them. The skin on a males part is a carryover from the female design. Removing it is hygienic and reduces the chance for bladder infections and some sexually transmitted diseases.
B.S.
The appendix acts as a store for probiotic flora in the gut.
The foreskin is one of the most sensitive parts of the male genitalia. Besides keeping the sensitive glans moist and callous-free, it inverts during intercourse and behaves in a manner as if to enhance sensation all along the shaft of the penis. Sorry for being so graphic, but that is how it exactly functions.
Sweden has a very low circumcision rate, while Pakistan has a near-100% rate of circumcision among males. Likewise, with Israel.
Sweden’s male genital health statistics are better than either.
That old African “study” pointing towards better male health through circumcision, is a big basket of rot.
“So why did God put it there in the first place?”
Why did G-d create tasty animals that are alive and uncooked?
I used to work in a hospital. We had a few men and older children who had to be circumcised at an older age because of infections and other things.
It’s very traumatic older. Best to do it young, and then you don’t have to deal with it.
See, I’m an atheist, so some of this stuff is a little confusing. If man was made in the image of God, and before original sin man was perfect, did foreskins start appearing after eating the forbidden fruit, or did God, knowing that man would sin, give him a little extra to cut off in order to prove his love? And from what I read, Abraham circumcised HIMSELF at the age of 99! If you did that nowadays, they sent you to a mental institution.
1) made in the image of G-d refers to the soul, not the body.
2) Jews don’t believe in original sin. Only Jews have to circumcise in order to show their connection to G-d. The muslims adopted it because Ishmael was also circumcised.
3) Abraham was a great man. But we do hear stories of people who were able to accomplish amazing feats due to increased levels of adrenaline. And it is probably not so painful if it is done properly. When my little nephew had his, he cried before but not during or after. It was over in an instant.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.