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| BamaDude: I have to ask this: Is April Fool's Day the best possible day for us to march on Washington if we want our cause to be taken seriously? |
Never thought of that. I just have to mention that to David of SIC Society.
| I have to ask this: Is April Fool's Day the best possible day for us to march on Washington if we want our cause to be taken seriously? |
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Originally Posted by kldliam
 ok-
so my reasons for posting were to try and find out: 1. How far you would personally go to try to end MGM 2. How far you would personally go to try and get BIG media attention What is that old saying about publicity....there is no bad publicity? Matter of opinion I guess. Anyway, I am feeling a bit frustrated that big media still largely ignores us. WHY????? HOW can we change this???? HOW do you MAKE MEDIA SEE THIS??? HOW do you make a COUNTRY SEE THIS??? HOW do you get the masses (via the media), who ignore you, to LISTEN, LOOK, THINK when you are on a shoe-string budget? The internet only goes so far. We need to be in the media more, without a doubt. But how? What's your bright idea? |
| Ms. Pope - I have been following and commenting on your recent piece, The Rights of Baby Boys. As others have done I wanted to thank you, but "off line" as it were, for bringing this topic out into a main stream publication and allowing the conversation to flow as it did. Although it may have seemed like the conversation was "fired up" it was quite tame as they go for this subject. Here is one that went on for nearly two years: http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=49943 (You may notice that most of the people who try to defend circumcision are from the US) As I mentioned in post 540, I hope that there were people following the conversation, even if not participating, who took out some good information. The opportunity to get good information, or get pointed to good sources, is very important since the sad fact is that, in the US, there are still many people who don't realize that the US is the only country that circumcises a majority of their boys for non-religious reasons; and with that are the rumors and misconceptions that get spread about intact boys and the care of intact boys that puts those who escape circumcision at risk. Unfortunately, these misconceptions are not just among the population but also among many practicing physicians. Despite the fact that the AAP care of intact boys is mostly correct some physicians, for example, may tell parents that they have to retract and clean regularly. Not only is this incorrect but it can be damaging as most boys aren't retractable until early puberty. Some physicians may also not know that most cases of phimosis, which can't really be diagnosed until puberty, can be treated with betamethasone 0.05% cream (post 449). A brief look at this site: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...splay.php?f=44 and this site: http://www.circumcisionquotes.com/index5.html will show you some of the stories that have come out of doctor visits. With this in mind I wanted to ask if you would do a piece in your Health/Wellness section that could address these issues since you already broke the ice with your current article, and seemed interested in how it turned out. Although I don't speak for them, I have little doubt that someone from NOCIRC (www.nocirc.org) or DOC (www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org) or both would be more than willing to provide information or do some sort of interview. The article could dispel myths associated with reasons to circumcise, such as the notion that an intact boy is somehow dirtier, as well as provide accurate information on what not to do in terms of care, no special or exotic steps are required. Perhaps break it into two parts: Why you don't need to circumcise and Proper care. I think this could be an invaluable resource for the public. Again I don't speak for either of those groups, I am more of a 'fellow traveler' who pops in and tries to correct bad information when I see it but I do know that such an article in a large publication such as yours would help a lot of boys by helping to crush persistent myths. I hope you would consider it; if you do the links in my post 540 would be a good jumping off point specifically http://www.circumstitions.com/ Thanks again. |
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Originally Posted by Night_Nurse
You're right, the internet only goes so far. That's why whenever NoCirc sponsors an ad in a national baby magazine I try to donate. My plan for the new year was to sponsor a billboard. Obviously, that is local attention, not national, but at least it's something (I've put up the money and made some calls but I haven't placed the billboard ad just yet, hopefully before summer...).
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Originally Posted by Night_Nurse
We, individually and as a group, need to think of creative ways to spread the word. I thought aerial advertising (banner behind a plane) would be a great idea and spawn a lot of attention. Doing that for one day was going to cost more than twice what a monthly billboard would cost so I dropped that idea. I'm only one person. Maybe some cheap and creative ideas would be to call into radio talk shows, write letters to the newspaper editor, hold up banners on nationally broadcasted shows (think the Today show) or sporting events, bring up the issue at a townhall meeting with your state congress person (how your state shouldn't cover RIC with Medicaid payments), etc. It's late and I can't think of other ideas but I know some people here will have clever suggestions.
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Originally Posted by Night_Nurse
I just think everyone who is against it needs to do something. Placing a bumper sticker, wearing a t-shirt, writing your insurance company, posting on message boards, talking to pregnant friends, these are all things we can do to educate people everyday. It's very disheartening to read some of the things people out there say about intact males. So much work needs to be done. There IS power in numbers! If we all work together we can do greater good!
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Originally Posted by Frankly Speaking
I see this as the single biggest impediment in our movement, the shortage of cash to move the movement ahead. Just over the weekend, I saw a report of a social function that raised more money in one evening than the entire year's budget for NOCIRC and all the other intactivist organizations combined. I see many movements that have far, far more money and are not nearly as important as this one.
I myself have donated more money to the cause than all of my charitable contributions combined in my life but I realize that most involved in the movement are young, trying to support a family, save for college educations, etc. That's the nature of being young, there's just not much money to contribute to our cause or any cause. But seemingly insignificant amounts of money add up to amounts that can alter the course of events. Just 10 years ago, you could have put all the intactivists on a bus and now, there are thousands of us. At $5 or $10 each every year, we can have a public presence and a presence in the media and that is certainly an amount we can all afford. I challenge everyone here to make a donation, no matter how small, to one of the organizations and to vow to make a similar donation every year. Frank |
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Originally Posted by sanity rules
I've been at this a long time, and I can report that most people are (still) all too willing to dismiss those of us who oppose circumcision as crackpots, extremists, the lunatic fringe, and carrying an inflatable penis through the streets is probably not going to dispel that unfounded image. I've found the best way to fight the good fight is through calmly, rationally, patiently combating ignorance with facts, and all the while show how normal (ugh, yes I know, lol) we are.
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| It doesn't necessarily require a lot of money, just a steadfast resolve to represent the truth in the best light. |
| Believe me, we've made huge strides forward since I got into this issue in the dark ages of the mid-1980's, and I'm very proud of what we've accomplished and keep on accomplishing every day! |
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Originally Posted by phatchristy
The intactavists I know, and the people I know who have kept their babies whole and intact are normal people.
Think legitimacy, professionalism, and information when you're protesting this....some already think the whole idea of a child keeping a whole penis is "radical". |
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Originally Posted by Jwhispers
Night_Nurse, what does that cost? (The billboard that is)
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Originally Posted by carriebft
We march twice in washington and the dates have specific meanings with reguards to child abuse prevention month and the passing of the FGM laws.
THe march on the 30th of March commemorates the passing of genital mutilation protection for females. The march on the 1st of April marks the beginning of child abuse prevention month. |
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Originally Posted by jwhispers
Night_Nurse, what does that cost? (The billboard that is) Also for those who are interested NoCirc is looking to do one of those ads (national baby magazine) in May. They ran at least seven of them last year and I am told that it defiantly generates interest.
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| While I like the idea I was never much of a bumper sticker or t-shirt person. |
