You’re right, that was poorly worded on my part. I’m sorry to hear about your son; I hope he’s doing better now.

Circumcision is *completely* medically unnecessary and as with any procedure, complications can occur.

My son was not Circ’d at birth, however it became apparent as an infant that he was born with a condition called Phimosis, where the opening of the Foreskin is extremely tight. In my son’s case, it was so tight that it impeded the exit of urine, and urine would actually get caught between the foreskin and the penis, at times swelling his foreskin to the size of a lemon. He had repeated UTIs and was on precautionary antibiotics for four months. He underwent a partial circumcision (under anesthesia) at nine months.

As you can imagine, I’m of two minds on this topic. Certainly, my son’s case is an “edge case” — in most cases where Phimosis needs to be resolved surgically, the surgery happens much later — typically during adolescence or young adulthood — and its done simply because the opening of the foreskin is too small to allow the penis to exit. In my son’s case, however, had we had him circumcised at birth (my husband’s preference), it would have saved him months and months of discomfort, and months and months of daily antibiotics. (My fear is that his early long term exposure to antibiotics will make them less effective when he gets older.) But there was no way to know this was a problem — until it was.

So I agree with you that the routine circumcision of newborns is unnecessary, but I must also point out that a blanket statement like “circumcision is *completely* medically unnecessary” is completely wrong. For some children, in some situations, circumcision is medically necessary.

The fact that the two speakers are Jewish is relevant only for pointing out that even among people who circumcise for religious reasons, there are some beginning to doubt the teaching.

He initially stated that it’s important to him that his son looks like him. But seriously? The kid’s pen*s isn’t going to look like his fathers for YEARS. My daughters’ ladybits don’t look a lot like mine at this point and that doesn’t bother either of us. I find that to be a rather humorous argument now.

From a religious standpoint, I would say that, if/when the decision is put in front of me, I would have to look at my spiritual direction to guide me in that decision. There are reasons (as with everything done in a Church) for the practice.

I’m not saying I would blindly follow what they say, but that I would definitely have to research and make a decision based on what I know both in and outside of religious viewpoints.

Taking the religion out of it? Nope, wouldn’t do it. I don’t see the purpose other than religious stand point…and there is a deep religious meaning so I must respect that.

http://jewsagainstcircumcision.org/
http://jewishcircumcision.org/

“Cut: Slicing Through the Myths of Circumcision”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx89xECfHG4

“Jewish Women Against Circumcision”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3xBHgeAc3E

“Jewish Mother on Circumcision”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfnqN3YgTd8&feature=related

“mumy.. I don’t want circumcision – ??? …??? ?? ???? ???? ????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH-5ZdIMqrM

Muslim resources:

http://www.quran.org/khatne.htm
http://www.quran.org/CIRCUMCISION.HTM

?????? ????? ???? ??????? … ??? ??? ??????
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=37736989287

Interesting that both these men are Jewish. Since I’m not a religious person I get frustrated with the argument that “I’m jewish so we circ”… I respect one’s religion, but it still makes me sad that this happens. Again I will post this link and leave it at that.