As It Happens - CBC

[karlatrx]

I was writing to the producers of the CBC show As It Happens with a suggestion for a great hockey song. I decided while I was at it, I would suggest that they do a segment on RIC. Their e-mail address is [e-mail] .

Here's what I wrote...

A suggestion for a segment that I would like to hear is regarding the controversy around routine infant circumcision (RIC). The rate of male circumcision in Canada has declined dramatically and after the death of Ryleigh McWillis in BC, I have heard that the rate has declined even more. Many of the Canadian medical societies are speaking out against infant circumcision, yet it still continues to be performed and it is even common in some areas. The College of Physicians & Surgeons of British Columbia has issued a very interesting statement that explores the legal, ethical, and human rights considerations of male circumcision. Here's a link. http://www.cirp.org/library/statements/cpsbc2004/

Has anyone else made a similar suggestion and had it acted on?

[Frankly Speaking]

That’s the first time I’ve seen that policy statement and it is obvious it was written in response to Ryleigh McWillis’ death. His finger prints were all over it. As far as these policy statements go, it is excellent and is clear that Canadian physicians perform circumcisions at their own peril. It did surprise me that they addressed ritual circumcisions as a ritual circumcision performed by a non-mohel has no religious significance at all and falls out of the category of a ritual circumcision and into the classification of a routine circumcision.

In the popular media, anything other than a cursory mention of circumcision has not been done as far as I know. Certainly, there has been no in depth analysis of it or the controversy surrounding it. Actually, there have been several times it has been proposed but each time, it has been struck down for various (supposed) reasons. There have been a few articles in special interest publications that only have a limited circulation but nothing in a broad based publication other than news items such as the New York boys who caught genital herpes and the death of Ryleigh McWillis. Certainly there has been nothing in depth that fully addresses the issues and the controversy. Although Montel Williams does not support circumcision and has done a part of a show, it has been some time (years) since then and although he has had many requests to do another show, as yet he has not done it. Ophra Winfrey has also had many requests for a show on this topic yet she prefers to use her bully pulpit to promote face creams that use infant foreskins as an ingredient. Dr. Phil literally publicly ridiculed a woman on his show for being concerned that she had made a poor choice in circumcising her son.

My hat is off to anyone that can get a detailed public discussion of circumcision on a prime time show on a major network such as ABC, NBC, CBS or FOX. The truth about neonatal circumcision has been carefully hidden for decades and there are a lot of people who are determined to keep it hidden by any means.



Frank

[namith]

Originally Posted by Frankly Speaking

The truth about neonatal circumcision has been carefully hidden for decades and there are a lot of people who are determined to keep it hidden by any means.



Frank

And thats how it is allowed to continue. If that truth came out to everyone, the rates of circumcision would drop dramatically. I don't think it would end, but it would come near to it.

[Mommiska]

I think it's a good idea to continue to suggest to networks that they cover this issue, but I wouldn't hold my breath that they actually will.

There is a huge 'silence conspiracy' surrounding anything and everything to do with RIC - on males (although people are willing to yell loud and long about FEMALE circumcision ).

Even here in the UK, where RIC is unheard of (only the Jewish and Muslim communities circ here), when a famous news presenter suggested doing a piece on RIC when he took over a well-known Women's Radio programme for a day, he was shot down. They simply refused to let him cover this topic.

SOOOOO frustrating. Makes you wonder what they are so afraid of over here in the UK, doesn't it?

But it also makes you realise that this topic has a snowball's chance in hell of ever appearing in the mainstream media (in its true and horrible light) in places like the US and Canada where many boys are still routinely circumcised at birth.

Don't want to make those parents feel badly, you know (or give them any ideas about suing their hospital/doctor)...

[calngavinsmom]

I've written to Montel Williams, Oprah, Speakers corner(Toronto), Howard Stern and written a complaint to TLCs "A Baby Story" And I've never heard back from any of them Oh well, I hope you have better luck!

Take care,
Tara

[colaga]

when a famous news presenter suggested doing a piece on RIC when he took over a well-known Women's Radio programme for a day, he was shot down

Who are you talking about?
I'm in UK, too!