Nearly 8 years ago, we chose not to circumcise our first-born son. I was a little concerned that we wouldn't be adhering to Biblical law if we didn't do it, so I tracked down Brother Hyde, a former institute instructor. He guided me to Mormon Doctrine, where it explains that the Law of Moses, including circumcision, was fulfilled in Christ, so that concern was eliminated. As a man, Dean was all for leaving things intact. As a hemophiliac, Hunter would have had to receive blood products for the procedure. There were so many reasons not to do it, so we didn't. We've never regretted that decision, and left all three of our sons intact. I am surprised at how commonly it is done. The doctors at the naval hospital where Tristan was born came in my room in the middle of the night wanting to do it, so I told them for the umpteenth time that Tristan might have hemophilia, so "NO THANKS". Yeah, that was how my dad was diagnosed about 70 years ago (he didn't stop bleeding, and they didn't have clotting factor to give bleeders, either, so a bleed would last for days or weeks). Sure enough Tristan does have hemophilia, but that is beside the point. We didn't want to do it anyway, but that was a good excuse to get them off my back.
Today, I feel validated. I haven't done any more research on my own, but from a friend's friend's blog post I learned an awful lot, and am grateful that we left things as they were. Learn more here.
9 comments:
Your title makes me lol, thanks. My two boys are "intact". Making the decision not to cicumcise was very, very hard and unfortunately my sons and I are still called on to defend that choice regularly, but my gut screamed that cosmetic circumcision was wrong and it was easy to find literature explaining why not to do it. Then I stumbled onto the verse you mentioned in the scriptures that we should no longer be practicing religious circumcision and that was enough guidance for me.
Oh, I guess you didn't mention a verse, but the one I read was Moro. 8: 8 and it is also in D&C 74: 3.
Thanks Regina!
Fortunately I haven't had occasion to have to defend our decision yet; too bad that that has happened to you. Sheeple are ignorant - don't worry about what they thing! I know you don't.
So your post was very, very interesting. I only mention what I mention now to generate conversation, and particularly, for you to resolve the skepticism we have about keeping children "intact," because I believe that the jury is still out on whether circumcision truly is the worse step to take.
First, that link you posted goes on for nearly endless pages. Nevertheless, I didn't see any reference whatsoever to research, actual research done by doctors and statisticians, and yet the writer went on and on about the near infinite advantages to "intactness," and treated circumcision like your average liberal treats George W. Bush--a near pathological hatred borne out of almost no fact or counter argument. I went to Wikipedia to find at least some counter argument to the link you posted, and even Wikipedia gave extensive references to research done that promoted both remaining intact and getting the circumcision.
To me, the two best ways to determine whether "intactness" contributes to a better sex life would be first to find some dude that was intact and then got circumcised--a before and after. But circumcision during adulthood, we have read, hurts the nerves down there a lot more than it does a child--even though your link suggests otherwise.
The next thing would be to do a sample of the uncircumcised and the circumcised and see who feels more satisfied. However, this research would be difficult to gauge accurately because of the infinity of variables involved. Some attempts at all this research has been done, wikipedia referenced all of these, and the research is simply inconclusive.
As far as the cleanliness and over all health of remaining intact, I simply can't believe that such a high percentage of circumcisions go wrong and don't receive litigation from John Edwards. Or that intactness keeps you healthier, and therefore John Edwards can still sue, even if your circumcision went well. In our sue-happy world, it is unfathomable that the entire medical profession is so horribly wrong about the procedure generally.
I would also like to know why white people, particularly white American people overwhelmingly circumcise. I am not totally convinced that it is culturally related.
Anyway, the point isn't to rile you up or make you feel like you have to defend your decision. It's just that we have done our research too, and maybe we missed some things about it...
Curtis, it makes sense to me that the procedure as it is done these days would have been more lethal way back when, so it only makes sense that what they did was far less pronounced. I don't know why HF would have given the body part if it was to be "cut off". I don't necessarily think anyone should lose sleep over having done it, but for some reason "white America" just does it. We certainly felt pressure at the Naval Hospital - that's just what they expect everyone to do. I had to put my foot down. I think a lot of people don't put any thought into it - it's just "what you do", without doing any research. Supposedly fewer people are doing it, though. Dr. Laura once went on a rant when someone called her show asking about it. Her thinking was that not doing it was somehow anti Semitic, which is ridiculous.
HF also gave us mosquitos, cockroaches, and armpit hair. Do do need them or welcome them? No. I have to agree with the Merrill chick. Research is inconclusive, you do it, or you don't. You don't have to defend or offend anyone's choice. But the first time you have to help bath or clean an old man, say like your Dad, and if you never have to do this, think of someone who might one day, you're going hope and pray he's circumcised, because oh my nasty. Just saying, I like a tailored look myself.
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