I never thought I would be posting this.

[MyBoysBlue]

My SIL preferes a circed guy and was planning on circing any boys she had. She told us that her husband is circed and they are trying to have a baby. I was shocked into speechlessness. Both her brothers and her father are all intact. All three of her nephews are too. She didn't know. We are in Canada, I never though I would encounter this. Especially in my own family.

She asked me if I circed my boys. I was so shocked that I just said "There is No way I would ever ever ever even consider doing such a barbaric thing to my boys, I think it should be illegal." Probably not the best thing to say in front of her circed husband. But my other SIL, (common-law wife to my husbands brother), agreed with me. Which was a shock as we don't often agree. Then a half french half english discussion ensued. I wasn't able to follow the whole conversation.

Now I want to send her an email. I am not much of a writer and I don't know if I am saying the right things as I have never had to do this before. This is my first step into intactivism.

Here is what I have so far:
_______
After our circumscision discussion at Christmas I have been running it over and over in my mind. It left me shaken. This is a subject I feel very strongly about. I have put off writing you about it as I didn't want to over react.

I have spent many hours reading about this subject as I wanted to make sure my boys are protected from harm. It is a subject I know a lot about.

I am sending you a link to a very well written article. It quotes it sources at the bottom of the article. If you read only one thing about circumscision please read this article.

http://mothering.com/articles/new_ba...cumcision.html

I believe that no one should have the right to alter someone genitals without their permission. A baby can't give their permission. If they want to be circed when they are 18 fine with me, that is a choice they can make for themselves but I won't take that choice away from them as Circumcision cannot be undone. A girl is legally protected from all forms of genital cutting even the cosmetic forms, boys are not. Where is the equality in that?

Many men that are circumcised will insist that their male children are too. This is my worry for any future nephews. This is also why I can't keep quite and why I am writing you now.

Please read the article and feel free to ask me any questions you want.
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Please critique. I know it needs work.

Is there maybe a different link that would be better. Personally I really like the Mothering Link but I didn't need to be convinced.

TIA

[PuppyFluffer]

Please go through the Web Resources sticky thread at the top of this forum. There is SO much information there.

As you dialog with her and she comes back with concerns, please share them as the membership here can certainly help you reply to all of her reasons to want to circ.

(Please remember that we do not allow the posting of private conversation that you recieve, so you cannot copy/paste her reply but you can summarize the content in your own words. It is fine to share your email as you composed it. Please PM me with any questions you may have regarding this.)

[Fi.]

It's not the worst thing to say in front of a cut guy because it's not a slight against him.

[anony]

Make it clear you don't think her new guy is deformed in any way, only that what was done to him was painful and unnecessary overall. It would pain me if I found the same out about a relative of mine considering none of my cousins or siblings are circ'd either. The line should be drawn over the custom of cutting and if you can eradicate it everywhere in the family if you can, then it's worth trying. The thought of a newborn relative being subject to MGM would bother me greatly. Some would call me (or people like us) hardcore or extremist, I'd say it's compassionate, or common sense.

[Greg B]

I would send her this link, myself:

http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcisi...tatement0.html

as it is written by doctors and includes references. I think it is valuable to the information presented in this type of authoritive manner when fighting irrational thinbking. And it spends a great deal of time on the rights issues.

However, the other article is easier to read and more plain english, so it may work better for your sister. That is something for you to decide.

What you have written is good as is. I do not think it needs to be well researched and crafted. It is more important that it is from you, in your words, voicing your concerns and reasons. If she is willing to discuss it, there is time to bring in carefully crafted responses to her concerns.

Best wishes