I don't recommend the P&T episode, either.
I'm like Arduinna, I don't think it did a good job. I love Penn and Teller. I hate RIC. But I don't think the episode was persuasive. Not that it should have been, after all it was made as an entertaining television episode. It is fine for what it is. But I don't give it to people who are pro-circ to try to change their minds because I don't think it will.The main thing I remember is, when the expectant mother is worried about her son being teased for being intact, she says, "I just don't want him to be hurt." They just totally let that one go! Like, if you don't want him to be hurt, don't take a knife to his genitals! They did mention at another point in the episode that circumcision is painful, but they let stand the mom's idea that she could save her son from emotional pain and humiliation by carving up his body with a knife.
Besides, the "locker room" argument is just one more way cut guys convince themselves that they are GLAD they are circumcised. "Oh boy, am I glad my parents had me cut... otherwise I would be teased in the locker room, rejected by women, crippled by infections, etc. etc." They are afraid to let their sons be natural because then when all these bad things do NOT happen to the intact son, dad has to face the reality that his circumcision really served no purpose.
Jen
