Demi, Carla and Russ,
First, although I personally and ideally would like to see a voluntary end to circumcision – both religious and non-religious, I think parental choice is paramount, as it should be with vaccination, type of schooling, and other medical decisions. However, along with choice comes informed consent. Parents need to know the facts about this procedure in order to make an authentic informed decision. There has been so much disinformation regarding circumcision in the past that parents made the decision to circumcise their infants in relative ignorance.

And what about the pain issue? Why don’t we hear more about this? Because we can’t quite face this ourselves? Although more circumcisions are done now with some kind of anesthetic, it was routine in the past and is still common today not to use any. I would challenge anyone wanting to find out about the truth of the “pain issue” to spend a few hours in the “circ room” of a hospital.

Here is one description from a nurse about the procedure:
“I have assisted with about 200 and I have seen sleeping babies not wake up as I gently strapped them to the table. One even slept through the betadine and that is cold stuff. So it is not the restriction that is the problem. They take a metal probe - similar to the one the dental hygienist scales teeth with - and separate the foreskin from the glans. Babies scream so hard that they end up with their faces red and mouths wide open with no sound coming out. I had to hold their heads to the side because some vomit from the pain. I always had to get close to their faces and stroke their cheeks because they would stop breathing. The doc puts a bell over the foreskin and slides a sterile safety pin through a hole and then through the skin. He cuts with a blade for what seems like an eternity for this baby and deposits the skin o the sterile tray. The penis is RAW - I often thought it must feel like a 3rd degree burn with alcohol being poured over it. Consoling is impossible. They shake and their eyes are wide open with panic. Yes, I felt horrible every time. I never got used to it. Each procedure looked as barbaric as the next. Many had too much skin taken off or too little (not worth all that torture). “

Enough said!

As regards religious circumcision: Some Jewish parents are breaking away from the brutal circumcision ritual. They advocate a symbolic non-amputation ceremony called Brit Shalom which replaces Brit Milah (ritual circumcision) for newborn Jewish boys. At one such ceremony where the family and friends were gathered to celebrate this new human infant into their community, a chopping block, a knife and a carrot were brought forth. The rabbi then proceeded to chop off the end of the carrot. Ritual complete. No traumatization of baby or participants! In other words, if we want the ritual and the ceremony there are ways that are loving and compassionate.

I too, will not post again about this subject on the forum. However, if anyone would like to discuss this privately, my email is: hallen45@yahoo.com
In gentleness and caring,
Harriet

Thanks for the information Harriet.

Like the vaccine issue, I would like to retain our freedoms to make our own decision and then let the people educate each other and let each individual parent make their own choice.

Many thanks.