I've seen links for the "Penn & Teller Circumcision" video on this board before, and yesterday I did some browsing and watched 4 episodes of "Penn & Teller Bullsh*t!"- Circumcision, the Drug War, Recycling, and Endangered Species.
Sadly, I was not impressed. Penn & Teller did not change my mind AT ALL about any of these topics. (FTR, I am your typical MDCer when it comes to all these topics- anti RIC, anti drug war, prorecycling, pro Endangered Species Act.)
I thought that Penn & Teller left out the main argument against infant circumcision- to wit, the lack of consent. I am not at all convinced that circumcision prevents the spread of STD/STIs, but EVEN IF IT DOES, that is still no reason circ babies. If a man wants to make the informed decision to to have his foreskin removed, good for him. Babies, however, are not sexually active so even this psuedoscientific argument is useless.
The way they ended the show, not saying what the couple had decided to do regarding their son just reinforced that whole notion of "whatever the parents decide is fine". My big hope is that we reframe the debate. Hell, I'm going to stop saying "circumcision" and start saying "genital mutilation".
Did anyone else feel this way after watching this show?
Sadly, I was not impressed. Penn & Teller did not change my mind AT ALL about any of these topics. (FTR, I am your typical MDCer when it comes to all these topics- anti RIC, anti drug war, prorecycling, pro Endangered Species Act.)
I thought that Penn & Teller left out the main argument against infant circumcision- to wit, the lack of consent. I am not at all convinced that circumcision prevents the spread of STD/STIs, but EVEN IF IT DOES, that is still no reason circ babies. If a man wants to make the informed decision to to have his foreskin removed, good for him. Babies, however, are not sexually active so even this psuedoscientific argument is useless.
The way they ended the show, not saying what the couple had decided to do regarding their son just reinforced that whole notion of "whatever the parents decide is fine". My big hope is that we reframe the debate. Hell, I'm going to stop saying "circumcision" and start saying "genital mutilation".
Did anyone else feel this way after watching this show?
