The First Cut is the Deepest - September 11, 2006

Okay, so part of the debate with adopting an infant is the snipping issue. If it's a girl, not issue. If it's a boy, should the baby be circumcised. Here is my answer - HELL NO!!!!

For those of you who don't know, human males are born with a foreskin that covers the tip of the penis. Originally, it can be assumed that the foreskin was there to protect the penis while we were walking around unclothed. So logically, now that we wear clothes, all excess protective skin should be removed. That's right, excess skin on the elbows? Trim it down because we wear clothes.

Now rest assured, I am not one of those people who believes that the kid will years later suffer the trauma of circumcision. That's not my reason. My reason is that circumcision is a barbaric practice. Look at the device used to strap the child down:


A Circumstraint

Now, look at the torture devices used to do the deed:



Why in the name of all that is decent would I do that to a child. Yes, the kid will probably not remember. But I will. And I won't do that.

"But Sean, your child won't be as clean." Excuse me? Can I not afford soap and washcloths? My child will be very clean. What are you telling me? That I should cut off any body part that is difficult to clean? Well, let's pull out the back teeth because it's hard to floss there. Sew that ass shut because that is not easy to clean. And what about the middle of your back? Jeez, that sounds awful. And more importantly, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states: "The uncircumcised penis is easy to keep clean. No special care is required."

"But Sean, everybody's doing it?" Really, as of 2003, around 60% of the newborn males in the United States are circumcised before discharge. In Canada, Australia, and England, the rate of circumcision is around 12%. And in New Zealand, it is less than 1%. And the rest of the world too. Since I am not Jewish, there is no religious reason to do so. "But Sean, the other boys will make fun of him," or "He won't look like his daddy." Number 1, I don't want my child hanging around with people who are only interested in his penis. Number 2, my child and I will not be comparing penises.

"You know, women won't like it." Well, first and foremost, I don't want my child dating any person who suddenly turns him away because of his penis. Those people are shallow and lame. If women are like that, then fine - I like nice firm breasts. All women should have barbaric, unnecessary surgery to please my aesthetics. Going back to not liking it. Smegma is the issue - the dead skin and bacteria that sometimes collect at the foreskin. Again - my child will be a clean child. So get over it.

"It's just not normal." Oh, so because we have mutilated children for hundreds of years, we should keep doing that. Okay, do you want me to use leeches to "bleed" the sickness out of me too? Should I go back to owning slaves? You tell me. Traditions are not always things to continue.

I will leave you with the American Association of Pediatricians, and their most recent policy statement on circumcision (1999):

Existing scientific evidence demonstrates potential medical benefits of newborn male circumcision; however, these data are not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision. In the case of circumcision, in which there are potential benefits and risks, yet the procedure is not essential to the child's current well-being, parents should determine what is in the best interest of the child.