Quote:
Originally posted by DaryLLL
Why is it unimaginably evil and depraved to circ a 6 yr old, but great to do it to a 1 day old? |
I think most people instinctually know it is wrong to cut parts off of other people's bodies (esspecially the genitals) but they don't consider a newborn a "real person."
Turn the situation around slightly and I think you will see what I mean. Few parents would circumcise a 6 year old unless there was some medical problem and it was prescribed by a doctor or they were strongly warned by a doctor that problems were inevitable. They wouldn't do it because the child would remember it and may call them to task later. At 6 years old, the child has his own will and can communicate. The parent would have to explain why it was being done and would have to explain it to the child's satisfaction. They would also have to continue to explain it for the rest of his life.
Parents do it at birth because that is the first opportunity. But consider if the child was adopted at 6 years old and was intact. Their first opportunity would be immediately after the adoption. How many parents would take the child in for a circumcision within the first month for a circumcision? The first 6 months? I suspect it would be a rarity because this is a real person and we are talking about the genitals. We are talking about a thinking, cognizant individual who can form his own thoughts and conclusions. Surely the vast majority would just accept the child the way he came.
Now, Muslim circumcisions are a whole different thing. These children are circumcised as a celebration and they are prepped for it their entire lives and have some perception of what is happening. They have the support of the entire community and it is a part of growing up and becoming an adult. Certainly, this is a totally different situation from the typical American circumcision that is done with no input or understanding from the child and is basically done in secrecy and afterward, any discussion about the event is avoided and even prohibited.
It is a dirty little secret that we instinctually know is wrong. It's jsut that our society and the medical profession gang up on parents and override those protective instincts.
Frank
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