An interesting perspective...

[PuppyFluffer]

This is from an the perspective of a man who underwent circumcision as an initiation into manhood.

He asks some very good questions at the end.

http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=418820

[Pumpkinheadmommy]

Wow. That was really touching. Wouldn't it be great if a group of Xhosa men would bon together and say "enough" to their tribal leaders.

[PlainandTall]

http://allafrica.com/stories/200907150148.html

Here is a news story from last year- some boys from Zimbabwe were kidnapped and forced to be circumcised in South Africa...

I'd really like to know how the people who believe that this is some sort of a "rite of passage" can justify forcefully making a person who is not a part of your culture conform to your social standard? What is the point of that? That's not culture- that's just mayhem. That's not a transition to manhood, that's just assault.

If they would do this to boys from outside their culture- you can see just how much free will boys within their culture have to participate.

Can you imagine what sorts of things could be accomplished if the strength and courage and desire to be respected in their community was employed for some *real good* in their comminities- rather than suffering sequestered alone in huts fighing bloodloss and infections in order to "become men"?

[PuppyFluffer]

Plain and Tall, that's a powerful question you ended with!

[anony]

Originally Posted by PlainandTall

http://allafrica.com/stories/200907150148.html

Here is a news story from last year- some boys from Zimbabwe were kidnapped and forced to be circumcised in South Africa...

I'd really like to know how the people who believe that this is some sort of a "rite of passage" can justify forcefully making a person who is not a part of your culture conform to your social standard? What is the point of that? That's not culture- that's just mayhem. That's not a transition to manhood, that's just assault.

If they would do this to boys from outside their culture- you can see just how much free will boys within their culture have to participate.

Can you imagine what sorts of things could be accomplished if the strength and courage and desire to be respected in their community was employed for some *real good* in their comminities- rather than suffering sequestered alone in huts fighing bloodloss and infections in order to "become men"?

Those who deny the impact of male circumcision always defer to the excuse of "Well the female version is much worse. It's like a form of rape!" which I find so pathetic because it implies that boys cannot be raped. We treat African cultures who cut girls as sub-human and find pedophiles who harm boys the same, but don't think those who insist on cutting boys as irrational? Typical cultural brainwashing.