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NBC Magazine 1981  

post #1 of 20
6/17/08 at 3:56pm
Thread Starter 
In keeping with my recent post that advocated the use of videos as a powerful tool in educating the masses about the evils of (routine infant) circumcision, I have dusted off an old VHS tape of mine that has a pioneering full-length 1981 NBC Magazine segment (about ten minutes total) hosted by the late Douglas Kiker, that questioned and tacitly condemned infant circumcision.

(I know, 1981...shows my age, lol. See, though, I HAVE been at this a long time!)

Even by present-day standards this was a jarring expose on the practice of circumcision and it includes some impressive footage---both religious and medical---of how terrible circumcision really is. It also includes interviews with Rosemary Romberg, Edward Wallerstein, and Paul Fleiss, and overall was a brave production for its time.

I am going to convert it soon and will be posting it on YouTube sometime this week, depending on what day I get a free half-hour. It's worth seeing and represents a classic moment in the fight to stop needless genital surgery.

Keep up the good fight! We're winning!
post #2 of 20
6/17/08 at 3:58pm
I can't wait!
Hubby and I were born in 1981
post #3 of 20
6/17/08 at 8:21pm
My brother was born in 1981 and immediately cut. No questions asked, that's just "what you do" with boys. Maybe if my parents had seen the video, it would have been different, but knowing my parents, he still would have been cut.
post #4 of 20
6/17/08 at 8:52pm
What is the title? I remember a show aired in Canada in about 1978 that was called "The cruelest cut of all", if I remember correctly. It, too, condemmed RIC.

Can't wait to see it. Edward wallerstien wrote a book, now long out of print , called "The fallacy of circumcision". I never did find a copy for sale, but have found it in libraries.
post #5 of 20
6/17/08 at 10:27pm
<---1981 too. Dh was also born in 1981 and was cut expressly AGAINST his parents wishes. The OB knew they didnt want it done, sent a nurse in to get him for a bath, circ'd him, then sent the nurse back with him and a paper on circ care. She heard him scream too.

I have to wonder if she saw that video and maybe thats part of what influenced her or if it was just her opinion. I know she had read Spiritual Midwifery and stuff too though, so who knows.
post #6 of 20
6/17/08 at 10:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by minkajane View Post
My brother was born in 1981 and immediately cut. No questions asked, that's just "what you do" with boys. Maybe if my parents had seen the video, it would have been different, but knowing my parents, he still would have been cut.
DH too His was very botched and he had to have surgery when he was 5 to correct it and make a new urethra.

His brother was born 2 yrs later and was cut too
post #7 of 20
6/18/08 at 2:12am
Looking forward to seeing this. (I was 9 in 1981.)

Quote:
Originally Posted by sanity rules View Post
In keeping with my recent post that advocated the use of videos as a powerful tool in educating the masses about the evils of (routine infant) circumcision, I have dusted off an old VHS tape of mine that has a pioneering full-length 1981 NBC Magazine segment (about ten minutes total) hosted by the late Douglas Kiker, that questioned and tacitly condemned infant circumcision.

(I know, 1981...shows my age, lol. See, though, I HAVE been at this a long time!)

Even by present-day standards this was a jarring expose on the practice of circumcision and it includes some impressive footage---both religious and medical---of how terrible circumcision really is. It also includes interviews with Rosemary Romberg, Edward Wallerstein, and Paul Fleiss, and overall was a brave production for its time.

I am going to convert it soon and will be posting it on YouTube sometime this week, depending on what day I get a free half-hour. It's worth seeing and represents a classic moment in the fight to stop needless genital surgery.

Keep up the good fight! We're winning!
post #8 of 20
6/18/08 at 8:54am
I think my bro was in 1981 as well. I'm sure he is circed, but my mom was one of the first ones to tell me how "barbaric" it is. I really haven't talked to her about it, but now I'm getting very very curious.
post #9 of 20
6/18/08 at 6:33pm
My brother was born in 1982. He was a premie and was in the NICU for quite a while. My parents knew the main doctor thought he should be cut, despite my parents' feelings on the matter. Shortly before discharge, my mom and dad went to the nursery and held him and told the doctor that my brother wouldn't leave their arms until they got in the car. The idiot doctor says, "But he hasn't been circ'ed yet." As if my parents hadn't already told him multiple times that they wanted him left alone. I truly believe that he would have been cut if they hadn't held onto him until they left. I'm so glad it's not 1982 anymore.
post #10 of 20
6/18/08 at 6:49pm
DH (circd) was born in 79 and MIL says circing was "the thing to do" along with NCB and BF. Well, she managed to have an unmedicated vaginal birth of triplets even when they told her she needed to have a CS for DH's sisters. They came 30 and 34 minutes after him, middle one breech! She tried pumping but claims she never got any milk (they were 31.5 weekers) She sees it as 2 out of 3 wasn't bad. I'm sure FIL wasn't circ'd either, he was from Canada. Wasn't the peak of US circumcision in the mid 80s before it started to decline?
post #11 of 20
6/18/08 at 8:17pm
I think the peak was in the 50's or 60's. By the 80's it had already started to go down, allbeit slowly.
post #12 of 20
6/19/08 at 1:09am
I'm just subbing so i know when the video is ready.
BTW..I was 11 in 1981
post #13 of 20
6/19/08 at 1:28am
I'd love to see it.

I was -5 in 1981.
post #14 of 20
6/19/08 at 11:41pm
i would love to see this when you get it posted. crazy to think it aired in 81. think nbc would show it again? that would be awesome.
post #15 of 20
6/20/08 at 4:11am
Awesome! Looking forward to seeing it. I was 10 in 1981.
post #16 of 20
6/21/08 at 11:23pm
What is it with 1981? :

My much younger brother was born in 1981. I was sure he was circ'd (I even thought I remembered his penis from babysitting him), but then my mom told me how the pediatrician said, "Oh, you have to retract this," and cranked my brother's foreskin all the way back at a well baby check. Maybe it's a loose circ? My older brother was circ'd in the hospital in 1972 without consent, although I think my parents would have consented at that time. My parents were asked if they wanted my younger brother circumcised in 1981. My mom is now against it. My dad is a minimally practicing Jew, so I don't know how he feels. Clearly, my older brother was not circumcised according to proper Jewish customs anyway...
post #17 of 20
6/22/08 at 5:58pm
Thread Starter 

1981 NBC Magazine video

I apologize for the delay in getting the NBC Magazine video online. We had a death in my family this past week, and I haven't been home much to get the old video converted and uploaded. I do plan on doing this later tonight, good luck willing. But sorry again!
post #18 of 20
6/22/08 at 6:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hakunangovi View Post
What is the title? I remember a show aired in Canada in about 1978 that was called "The cruelest cut of all", if I remember correctly. It, too, condemmed RIC
I've seen this one, Well I saw it in the early 90's on public access as a kid. It almost had a shock factor to it. Not something I agree with. I guess some people need to be shocked tho to get the message.

oh and I was -3 in 1981
post #19 of 20
6/23/08 at 12:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sanity rules View Post
I apologize for the delay in getting the NBC Magazine video online. We had a death in my family this past week, and I haven't been home much to get the old video converted and uploaded. I do plan on doing this later tonight, good luck willing. But sorry again!
I'm so sorry for your family's loss.
We all understand real life takes precedent over internet life. There is no need to rush on the video.
post #20 of 20
6/23/08 at 3:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Night_Nurse View Post
I'm so sorry for your family's loss.
We all understand real life takes precedent over internet life. There is no need to rush on the video.
^^^^^This.
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