What link should I use?

[Nandi]

I have an acquaintance on facebook who is having a boy. I went to highschool with her and we were acquainances then too.
What link should I send her that will make the case to a 26 year old?

[robertandenith]

this one!!!


http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...65256830319025

[Greg B]

Not having anymore information than what you provided, I would tend toward this one:

http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/

It is written by doctors so competes well with other material she may find. It has references. And it covers all the main points.

However, you might want to first bring it up casually, then see what her feelings are, then tailor your links and messages for her concerns, assuming she has any.

Regards

[Nandi]

Ok since I have never emailed her before I was thinking
"Hi ____, Congrats on your pregnancy! I hope you are both happy and healthy. I was writing to you today because I am hoping you will consider not circumcising him. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend it. Here's a link with info from some doctors regarding this."
Sincerely,
Nandi

What do you guys think?

[Greg B]

I think I might try a more chatty approach, like:

"Hi ____, Congrats on your pregnancy! I hope you are both happy and healthy. I was wondering if you had thought about the issue of circumcision yet? I ask because when it came up for me.....and when I looked into it I was suprised...then in discussing it with my husband....and further discussions on some forums I have read.... For isntance did you know that The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend it? Here's a very thorough link with info from doctors explaining the human/child rights angle and the various health issues regarding this."

Sincerely,


But you know her better than I, not to mention that I do not know if you can even fit into the spaces I suggested.

Regards

[nd_deadhead]

This is my favorite:

http://www.circumstitions.com/Itsaboy.html

[Nandi]

Thanks for all your great links.
I can't really say "when it came up for me" because I am not married and I don't have any kids.
I am a registered nurse though....

[Nandi]

Ok here's what I sent Hi ****, Congrats on your pregnancy! I hope you are all happy and healthy. I was writing to you today because I am hoping you will consider not circumcising your newborn. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend it. Here’s a great question and answer site http://www.circumstitions.com/Itsaboy.html
And here's a very thorough link with info from doctors explaining the human/child rights involved and the various health issues and risks regarding this http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/
All the best,
Nanda

My heart is pounding. At least I have tried.

[Greg B]

I think that is well written!

Hope she is willing to read and evaluate thoughtfully. You did good, the next step is up to her.

Best wishes

[Quirky]

Looks great! For future reference one of my favorites is:

www.oknocirc.blogspot.com

And the fact that you're a nurse....you can always say, "I saw one done in nursing school and I was amazed at how awful it was....if people knew the truth they would never let their newborn sons go through this. And it's also amazing how much misinformation they taught us about the foreskin in nursing school."

Anything to get people mistrustful of the "standard medical wisdom"! People need to start questioning their doctors and nurses because as we know so many of them simply aren't educated on the issue, yet don't admit to not knowing what they don't know.

[Nandi]

She wrote back saying it's a decision between husband and wife and her decision has already been made. I guess we all know what that means.
I have reached out and tried. Should I just go for it with talking about mutilation etc.? Or is that too antagonistic?
She's not my friend, just my acquaintance. Nothing to lose.

[robertandenith]

Did you send her the video I posted?

How about this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbo3a9ubaz4

[Quirky]

Sounds like the social conformity/follow the crowd/"look like daddy"/fear-based motivations are too strong.

Perhaps you could follow up with a detailed description of the pain that her baby will undergo and how he needs proper analgesia both before and after circumcision. Again play the nurse card really strong ("the one I saw during nursing school, the baby screamed so much he vomited/passed out/whatever.") Even if the pain issue doesn't deter the parents from cutting, maybe the poor baby will be one of the few who gets decent pain relief.

[Nandi]

Ok how about this
Dear
I hope you will reconsider and not cut off the most sensitive part of your newborns penis. When I was in nursing school I used to get dizzy and sick in my labor and delivery clinical, knowing that they were literally skinning newborn boys alive. The glans in newborns is attached to the foreskin, so during the procedure they have rip the two apart. This is like tearing off someones fingernail, except in a much more sensitive area. It's a terrible human rights violation, and in the U.S. it is completely illegal to do the same thing to a girl. Here's a video of a mom explaining some of the reasons not to do it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbo3a9ubaz4
I hope you will please reconsider and not subject your baby to such incredible torture. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Pediatric Society do not recommend it. It is being done in the U.S. because in the 1800's Victorian doctors thought it would "cure" masturbation, which they thought caused many diseases including tuberculosis. The only reason we continue to do it now is that it is social custom, just as it is social custom in Africa to cut off the genitalia of girls. The reasons given for doing these surgeries on males or females, are the same. Only 30% of babies in California are being circumcised, so he will be in the minority, not the majority. That means the whole worry about locker room teasing, is just not there.
Sincerely,
Nanda

[Greg B]

Do you think she even read the links you sent?

Hard to say if it is worth or how you should approach continuing to convince her. Maybe you should think about why you feelcompelledto continue when she has basically shut you out. Then add some words explaining why you cannot let it lie. That would explain why you are continuing when she has clearly tried to shut you out.

But it may not do anything. Hard to say if a more graphically stated 2nd attempt will shake her up enough to make her think.

You did try. Can't win them all.

Regards

[Nandi]

I doubt she read them. To me it would be a big red flag that there is a doctors organization opposing circumcision. I've been feeling terrible about this all day. But I have nothing to lose in a 2nd email, she is not my friend anyway.

[robertandenith]

I normally put intactivists slogans in my status, tons of my acquaintances from Panama are having babies...