March for Genital Integrity 2011

[carriebft]

2011 Schedule of Events
18th Annual Demonstration / March Against Infant Circumcision
United States Capitol - Washington D.C.
March 28th - April 3rd, 2011

March 28th - April 3rd, 2011
US Capitol Demonstration
West Lawn of the US Capitol

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
March from the US Capitol to the White House
The march will begin at 4:00pm

Saturday, April 2nd, 2011
March from the US Capitol to the White House
The march will begin at 4:00pm

http://www.stopinfantcircumcision.org/2011events.html

facebook event link:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=171320322887705

I know it's a long way off still,  but I figure, the earlier we start talking about it, the more people will be there! My new daughter and I will being staying at the Capitol Skyline April 2-3 so we can attend the demonstration and march. We are driving from the Philadelphia area and have plenty of room for others if anyone would like a ride. I can also fit two more in my room, but there will be an infant in there with me so be warned on your possible lack of sleep!

[Galatea]

I have wanted to go for years and I am going this year.  Guess I'd better get on a room!

ETA: don't know if dh and dc1-3 will come, but ds3 and I will be there!

[carriebft]

It is a week/weekend of the Cherry Blossom Festival, so it would be a good idea to book early! But there is the added bonus that you get all the free museums AND the Cherry Blossom Events. should be a great time to be in DC.

we could have a mothering get together one of the days :)

[Galatea]

Wow, cherry blossom time, huh?  I better get on it!

[PuppyFluffer]

I will be there again this year.  I live within driving distance.  I could attend during the week if enough of us were there to manage an extra set of eyes in terms of child care.  My husband works during the week and I can't bet there with three kids in tow.  I will definitely be there on the weekend!

It's a really enlightening experience to talk with people face to face on this issue.  We are in the middle of the west lawn of the Capitol.  There are plenty of signs to hold if you wish to hold one.  if you are not comfortable talking with people about the issue (because you are not confident on the talking points, you are shy or what ever) you don't have to say a word.  There will be others who will speak to the public.  I find that as a woman, I can't talk to the sexual impact of circumcision upon a man but I can talk about the impact of it upon a woman.  The first year I went, I just hung back and listened a lot to the various questions from the public and the way that they were answered.  I learned a lot that way.

The responses from the people we talk to are really so huge and amazing!  It's a real lesson in human behavior!  Many of the young people really get it!  Even if they are victims of circumcision, they are able to understand the facts.  Many older people are in denial.  The people who are from out of the country (and there are many foreign travelers to DC) are baffled by the whole thing.  They are completely unaware that this happens in the US.  They think we are there being outrageous because we have freedom of speech and are just pushing the envelope simply because we can.  They are quite shocked when we tell them that it's a legitmate issue.

[carriebft]

Do you guys have any idea which days you will go? Maybe we could set up a lunch or something :)

[Thandiwe]

Oooh!!  I'd love to go!!  Maybe at tax time we can find a way to book a room and make a mini vacation out of it!!

[PuppyFluffer]

Carrie, I will absolutely be there on Sat and Sunday and as many days during the week as possible.

[carriebft]

Sat night there is a fireworks display and festival to go along with the Cherry Blossom time...that might be fun to hit up :)

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by carriebft 

It is a week/weekend of the Cherry Blossom Festival, so it would be a good idea to book early! But there is the added bonus that you get all the free museums AND the Cherry Blossom Events. should be a great time to be in DC.

we could have a mothering get together one of the days :)

I should be there at some time on over the weekend, if you're all putting something together let me know so I can work it in. :)

Edited by Fellow Traveler - 1/2/11 at 8:29pm

[Galatea]

Talked to dh - think we might do Tues-Thurs.  Can't close the store on a weekend!

[PuppyFluffer]

I've not attended during the week but I have heard that there are bus loads of teens that come through visiting the capital.  They are very open to honest information.  I really want to be there during the week for at least a few days to talk to these young people.

Fellow Traveler, I hope we can get together for dinner with a group like we did before.  That was fun!  FT's a super nice person!!!!

Galatea, are any others coming from your neck of the woods?

[Galatea]

I don't know.  I'll ask Ron.

[PuppyFluffer]

I love Ron!  I hope to see him.

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by PuppyFluffer 

I've not attended during the week but I have heard that there are bus loads of teens that come through visiting the capital.  They are very open to honest information.  I really want to be there during the week for at least a few days to talk to these young people.

Fellow Traveler, I hope we can get together for dinner with a group like we did before.  That was fun!  FT's a super nice person!!!!

Ahhh.   Thanks. I hope we can all do something like that too. I am looking forward to it.

[Galatea]

Ron's not sure yet.  I called my travel agent and asked her to find me a room on a VA metro line for Tues-Thurs.  We will be doing the Smithsonian, too, for homeschool.  Maybe we can wear MDC buttons?  (And I can't believe we've never met, Karen!  And FT!)

[NaturistMale]

I want to say, THANK YOU! I was badly cut at birth, have restored my skin and now feel "whole". I wish I could attend but I'm in the country and so I do my acticism against circumcism on the computer as well as help Males on Restoration sites and NORM learn how to restore. You are champs! OH and the Males in the restoration sites are totally not fo ANY type of mutilation towards Males AND Females, we were all made "perfect". Tens of thousands of restoring Males in the USA and abroad know first hand teh emotinal AND physical pain having a piece of flesh stolen can cause.

This really bothers me right now.

"The idea of using fibroblasts—including those swiped from baby foreskins—to repair skin is not new. Companies such as Organogenesis, Inc., in Canton, Mass., and Forticell Bioscience, Inc., in New York City already market such FDA-approved products to promote wound healing. But treating wrinkles with baby foreskins? The jury is still out."          "http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=a-cut-above-the-rest-wrin "

  Having the Males on the Restoration sites write to The Doctors Show, Oprah/DrOZ, and any other pro-cut sites where lies and half truths are meant to hide truth. Wish a Lawyer would take the newborn Males' case to court since newborn Females are protected under the law and Males aren't when it comes to circumcism. I mean, Europe does not cut as much as in the USA, WHERE are their labs in Europe getting all the skin? hmmmmmmmmm,...

God Bless the Child, Steph

[Rylins mama]

Okay I didnt know anything about this until I saw it on facebook but I am only 4 hours and would love to go. What all goes on with it and whatnot? I will be about 34 weeks pregnant at that point but I would have either DH or a friend tag along.

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by Rylins mama 

Okay I didnt know anything about this until I saw it on facebook but I am only 4 hours and would love to go. What all goes on with it and whatnot? I will be about 34 weeks pregnant at that point but I would have either DH or a friend tag along.

Your avatar says your in NC is that really four hours from DC? Anyway here is what generally happens:

Every day of the event people are invited to meet on the West lawn of the Capitol building. Generally, we spend the day there with various placards and signs ect talking to tourist and such. I believe the rule is (not just for us but everyone doing anything of this type) that you can only speak to those who ask you about your protest, we don't (and you can't) approach people directly (if that makes sense). We hand out literature to those who take it, answer questions, and try to engage in constructive conversation on the issue. This goes from about 9 to 4 or 5. On two days at the end of the day there is a march to the white house where we picket for like an hour or something.

There is usually a core group of people who are there everyday and then others come and go as they can. Any level of participation is welcomed, I (for example) am not a big picketer but I'll linger around and contribute to conversation occasionally. Signs and literature can be provided, or you can bring your own or whatever. It sounds like there might be some extra curricular activities too, like last year a bunch of us all went to dinner one night. And for those who are staying with the group (at the hotel) there might be other evening things. These things are frequently ad-hoc though. That's what it's all about.

I met quite a few interesting people there and it's worth the trip if you can do it. I believe, assuming good weather, the weekend is the busiest, obviously.

[Fellow Traveler]

Here is the schedule of events:

http://www.stopinfantcircumcision.org/2011events.html