the circumcision issue - Page 5

[motherearthdancer]

Everyone makes such good points. I do appreicate it. I'm really glad everyone took so much time to reply. At this point I'm just too tired to comment. I have lots of things going on and I may step away from the boards for a while just because I'm feeling too overwhelmed by information at this point. I do want to say that I have taken my son into consideration, and just because I chose to state opposing reasoning does not mean that we are planning on circ. If anything we are more likely not to, but even if we don't, I don't feel like its something we will ever bring up with people again. People have been really kind in their responses, but some have not and it really does make me not want to talk about it with anyone anymore. I'm probably just being hormonal again, but even if we don't circ our son (which we probably wont) I don't think I want to have people judging me or laying my friendship on the line based upon whether or not they agree with the issue or not. I understand why people wouldn't want to be friends with someone who decided to circ. when its such a hot button issue/personal issue, but in a way, I couldn't not be friends with those people I know who have circ. their sons based only on that single decision. Again, I understand why people would decide that, but that kind of sickens me in much the same way the circ. issue sickens anti-circ people in general. So thank you again for the information and allowing me to discuss it here. It was a great discussion and I learned a lot.

[carriebft]

I think you misunderstand many who say they would no longer be friends. For me personally, I feel that the kind of person who would take all the information and still perform genital cutting on their son is not a person I can be near. They hurt their child, with knowledge and willing. They would not be the person I thought they were (speaking here of people who are my friends right now-- if they cut their child despite having it all laid out to them, they would be destroying everything I thought I knew about them).

That may sicken you, but such a grostesque change in one of my friends, from a compassionate person who would never knowingly and willingly cause pain to child for nontheraputic/medical purposes to one who WOULD do that is extremely alarming to me. It would sicken me to know I had hung out with such a person for so long, shared so much with them...and then they change like that.

[kldliam]

People judge people everyday in many ways. Everyone has their own yard stick, so-to-speak, for how to judge anothers character.

Religion
Political affilation
Parenting style (mgm)
Human Rights (mgm)

You may not agree with those who use mgm to help determine good or bad character, but then they may not agree with you on the ways YOU define good or bad character.

[pdx.mothernurture]

Originally Posted by Quirky

Your son's body is his own. It belongs to him. He is not your property. You should not mark him as slaveowners brand their slaves in the name of perpetuating some misguided notion of tradition.

To do so, knowing what you know now about circumcision, would be beyond wrong. It would be an act of supreme hubris, demonstrating your power and control over your son's body at the weakest and most vulnerable time of his life, and it would be an act of deliberate ignorance, knowingly and willfully turning a blind eye to the harm that circumcision WILL cause your son whether or not he suffers any complications. It would be an act of deliberate harm to your son, and your excuse of "tradition" would be a thin fig leaf indeed.

Jen

[A&A]

Originally Posted by kldliam

People judge people everyday in many ways. Everyone has their own yard stick, so-to-speak, for how to judge anothers character.

Religion
Political affilation
Parenting style (mgm)
Human Rights (mgm)

You may not agree with those who use mgm to help determine good or bad character, but then they may not agree with you on the ways YOU define good or bad character.

: