losing an intactivist

[Telle Bear]

We spent the holidays in NY with my parents and my stepmom, who I have learned so much from..is having doubts that she did the right thing by keeping her son (my brother) intact.

She said that after she heard the recent "studies" about HIV she started to regret not having circed my brother. I tried to say how the studies didn't make any sense and that sex ed is the right way to stop HIV.

I am so sad to hear that these stupid studies are actually getting to people!!!

[Attached Mama]

Aids is a scary thing to a lot of people. I would show her some real research. Show her that it's just the latest scare tactic because circ is such a money making industry for the docs and also the secondary industry where they use cells from the foreskin in bandages and skin creams. History shows docs/medical journals saying that circ helps to prevent everything from the flu, to TB to cancer and now aids and a lot of other things in between there. They have *all* been disproven eventually. This aids one will be too!

[perspective]

Originally Posted by Telle Bear

We spent the holidays in NY with my parents and my stepmom, who I have learned so much from..is having doubts that she did the right thing by keeping her son (my brother) intact.

She said that after she heard the recent "studies" about HIV she started to regret not having circed my brother. I tried to say how the studies didn't make any sense and that sex ed is the right way to stop HIV.

I am so sad to hear that these stupid studies are actually getting to people!!!

Thats horrible. What I dont understand is why she would regret anything? All she did is NOT take an action, she left things as nature intended. I hate how in America not circumcising is almost seen as doing something to the penis!

Beyond all that, circumcision is the only thing to regret, because a man can always decide to get it done himself later on.

Why is it that people take a study, done on a limited number of people, in a unique situation, and suddenly think it can be applied universally? Honestly we just live in a culture where people are more scared of leaving things alone then cutting things off. Which is so illogical, I cant understand why people would think that way.

[fruitful womb]

Originally Posted by Attached Mama

Aids is a scary thing to a lot of people. I would show her some real research. Show her that it's just the latest scare tactic because circ is such a money making industry for the docs and also the secondary industry where they use cells from the foreskin in bandages and skin creams. History shows docs/medical journals saying that circ helps to prevent everything from the flu, to TB to cancer and now aids and a lot of other things in between there. They have *all* been disproven eventually. This aids one will be too!

:

I'd show her the Time Line of American's history re: circumcision:
http://www.icgi.org/medicalization/
Tell her she needs to go through the entire slide show in order to understand the latest CIRC prevents AIDS propaganda.

Some resources about the market for foreskin.

[liqzierda]

How is circing to prevent AIDS relevent in the US when the majority who contracted AIDS in the 20th century were circed???

[mightymoo]

Also, if your brother had contracted aids, I could see regretting that, thinking she could have prevented him from getting aids or something, but I assume he hasn't, there isn't any reason to regret.

[dnr3301]

even the HIV studies say it's not applicable to the US

give her this: http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcisi...Statement.html

[QueenOfThePride]

Originally Posted by perspective

Why is it that people take a study, done on a limited number of people, in a unique situation, and suddenly think it can be applied universally?

Welcome to the USA.

[Fyrestorm]

Originally Posted by perspective

Why is it that people take a study, done on a limited number of people, in a unique situation, and suddenly think it can be applied universally? Honestly we just live in a culture where people are more scared of leaving things alone then cutting things off. Which is so illogical, I cant understand why people would think that way.

Because in the US for the history of circumcision, it has been a cure in search of a disease...this is just the latest.

[Bm31]

Your brother is still able to weigh the "facts" in this whole circ/AIDS scare thing and if he thinks it's a worthwhile way to protect himself from it he can make that choice as a consenting adult if/when he becomes sexually active. And that's exactly how it should be; leave the babies out of it.

[llamalluv]

Is your brother sexually promiscuous? If yes, tell your mother to buy him some condoms. If not, tell her she doesn't need to worry about it!

[Eben'sMama]

Yes, this reminds me that that t-shirt, which I think is geared toward gay men, that says:

"If circumcision prevents AIDS, why are all my friends dead?"

[Night_Nurse]

Originally Posted by Eben'sMama

Yes, this reminds me that that t-shirt, which I think is geared toward gay men, that says:

"If circumcision prevents AIDS, why are all my friends dead?"

Exactly!
Too many HIV+ men in this country are circed.

[perspective]

Originally Posted by Night_Nurse

Exactly!
Too many HIV+ men in this country are circed.

and too many countries with incredibly low circ rates have even lower AIDS cases!

[Papai]

Originally Posted by Telle Bear

We spent the holidays in NY with my parents and my stepmom, who I have learned so much from..is having doubts that she did the right thing by keeping her son (my brother) intact.

She said that after she heard the recent "studies" about HIV she started to regret not having circed my brother. I tried to say how the studies didn't make any sense and that sex ed is the right way to stop HIV.

I am so sad to hear that these stupid studies are actually getting to people!!!

Share this with your stepmother

"Circumcision does not affect HIV in US Men"

http://www.reuters.com/article/healt...45545120071204

[Telle Bear]

Originally Posted by mightymoo

Also, if your brother had contracted aids, I could see regretting that, thinking she could have prevented him from getting aids or something, but I assume he hasn't, there isn't any reason to regret.

I hope he hasn't...... he's only 8

[fruitful womb]

Originally Posted by Telle Bear

I hope he hasn't...... he's only 8

I thought, I think we all thought, he was way older!

Have you had a chance to talk to her about this yet?

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I would make sure to get her all the information you can on this since she might decide to have him circed now. I dont know if she would or not but I wouldnt chance it at all.

[Mary-Beth]

Send her the info. so she can rest assured she has made a sound choice.
Since he is so young, I'd want to make sue she has help sorting through her doubts right now.

She just needs support. I'm sure many of us have doubted our "alternative" choice along the way...maybe not on this issue or others: vaccines, co-sleeping, on cue feeding, etc. It can be hard if the popular opinion and current science seems against you. So, with some help I bet she'll be back and probably and even stronger for it.

[Telle Bear]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

I would make sure to get her all the information you can on this since she might decide to have him circed now. I dont know if she would or not but I wouldnt chance it at all.

I WILL send her the info, because it is important to feel good about the choices she has made, but I highly doubt she would have him circed now...since my dad is VERY anti-circ.

Thanks for all the sources.