Cultural Blindness and Circumcision (Intact America blog)

[SoCo Intactivists]

By Georgeanne Chapin
August 15, 2013

I can’t count the times I’ve heard people say that female genital mutilation (FGM) is “much worse” than routine infant male circumcision. And frankly, I’m tired of it. Cutting the genitals of children – female or male – is a gross violation of their basic human rights. Period.

Which is why a recent New York Times article, “Genital Cutting Found in Decline in Many Nations,” really galled me. While it’s indeed encouraging that the incidence of FGM is declining in some African countries, the article failed to note that in the United States, more than a million newborn boys are subjected to circumcision each year.

As Americans self-righteously decry FGM, the American government and funders such as the Gates and Clinton foundations are pushing male circumcision on misinformed and disadvantaged adult men and, increasingly, on male infants who cannot consent. Removing normal genitalia is not a legitimate public health intervention, yet they continue to relentlessly promote it. Whole ranks of international health specialists are building their academic and foundation careers on this worthless, unethical surgery carried out on third-world men, and American doctors continue to rake in the cash for inflicting it on American baby boys. And all of them are willfully, conveniently ignoring any discussion of the ethical disconnects and cultural biases that prevent honest comparison of FGM and MGM.

A recent study published in the Danish Medical Journal documents significant complications from circumcision in more than 5% of boys. The photo at right – which accompanies the report – generated disgust even among intactivists when we posted it on our Facebook page.

[In keeping with the Waccobb community policy on not posting gory or disturbing pictures, the photo from the Danish Medical Journal report has been replaced with this photo of an adorable baby and caption related to the subject. Click here to see the mutilated baby penis photo.]

Many asked us to remove it. We didn’t, because this photo of an infant’s mutilated, forcibly stimulated penis speaks volumes about our culture’s refusal to see circumcision for what it is: the unnecessary and unethical damaging of a perfectly healthy part of the body resulting in a spectrum of outcomes that no one has the right to dismiss. Why can’t we call that male genital mutilation? Will the DMJ report be picked up by American mainstream media? Of course not.

The hypocrisy and cultural blindness are mind-boggling.

[sharingwisdom]

I agree with you. Here's a powerful excerpt piece of writing and self-awareness from a man remembering being a newborn and experiencing what is 'culturally accepted and promoted.' I had recently posted it on my FB page- Moving Beyond Abuse.

From Leland Traiman, R.N. - Berkeley, CA... https://www.noharmm.org/mystory.htm

“...my great-aunt Sara, my paternal grandmother's sister.... sat crocheting, not looking up from her work, talking at me. ‘When you got there (to your grandmothers house), Celia was trying to have the bris done quickly... And then you began to cry. They put the wine-soaked cloth in your mouth as it usually knocks the baby out,...like a sedative. But not you... You cried for 18 hours, through the night...’

I was finally able to recognize the actual event responsible for the nightmares that had haunted my entire life. My fear of the bearded goat who wanted to bite off my flesh was the mohel who, like all orthodox Jews, must have had a beard. It was the mohel who cut off a part of my body.

I realized my revulsion of alcohol was related to the wine forced on me as an unsuccessful sedative.... They did this to me out of ignorance. As an oppressed and ancient people struggling to keep its identity, most Jews falsely believe that continuing the tradition of male genital mutilation will help Jewish culture and beliefs survive.

My questioning the authority of previous generations does not mean I hate them, nor that part of myself that comes from them. Rather, it is the appropriate task of every person to examine, question and change. Questioning barbaric acts on one's self and on innocent babies is valid. It is an inherent act of self-love. This Ritual Abuse not only scars children physically and emotionally, but some children die as a result. How many have died over the centuries is unknown. This is one of the facts obscured by those who practice it. I know that the pain and the deaths were unnecessary. As more people openly question circumcision, more information is coming to light about the pain and death it has caused.”

By Georgeanne Chapin
August 15, 2013

I can’t count the times I’ve heard people say that female genital mutilation (FGM) is “much worse” than routine infant male circumcision. And frankly, I’m tired of it. Cutting the genitals of children – female or male – is a gross violation of their basic human rights. Period....