The Arguments Against the Circumcisions of Babies

by Amber Columbia

Circumcision is, to some, a religious rite. The fact is, religious rite or not, it is the surgical removal of living tissue from the penis. I don't see it listed among the Ten Commandments, yet many Jewish people consider it a commandment from God.
I was conditioned, as a non-Jewish woman, that the penis would become dirty per it's function and the foreskin held germs so it is necessary to remove it. In addition, many non-Jewish people hear that it isn't very painful and a baby won't remember the cutting.

I began to question it in earnest in 1986 when my then husband, a Jewish man, and I wanted to get pregnant and the topic became an issue that we never overcame as a couple. As a woman, I stood fast that if I had a baby boy, no one would cut the foreskin. I wouldn't allow that type of pain inflicted upon my child. At that time, however, I had NO IDEA of the many, many issues involved. Until YESTERDAY, I was unaware of what the removal of this tissue really means in the life of a man.

The arguments that I heard against my 1986 rebellion included "the son should look like his father"; "if you don't do this now and it needs to be done later, the pain and suffering will be horrible"; and of course, "It's his Jewish identity, commanded by God".

WEIGHING IN ON THE SCIENCE, The Mayo Clinic
According to the Mayo Clinic,
"...the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a policy statement that says the benefits aren't strong enough to recommend routine circumcision for all male newborns. Today, the AAP leaves the decision up to parents — and supports use of pain relief for infants who have the procedure". Furthermore, although there is an overall increase in the risk for penile cancer in uncircumcised men, cancer of the penis is rare. Risk of urinary tract infection in low in the first year of life, but may be up to ten times the risk in uncircumcised boys and this can lead to kidney problems later in life.

There are surgical risks, and we have heard horror stories as well. The Mayo Clinic article states: "Excessive bleeding and infection are uncommon, but possible. The foreskin may be cut too short or too long or fail to heal properly. If the remaining foreskin reattaches to the end of the penis, minor surgery may be needed to correct it."

If you choose NOT to circumcise your son, The Mayo clinic offeres this advice: "....Simply wash your son's penis with soap and water during each bath. There's no need to clean beneath the foreskin until it retracts on its own, often by age 5. Then teach your son to clean beneath the foreskin during each bath — gently pull back the foreskin, clean the area with soap and water, rinse and pull the foreskin back over the head of the penis. After each bath, pull back the foreskin again to dry the area".

I searched the Mayo Clinic site for "URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS" and found,"The urinary system is composed of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. All play a role in removing waste from your body. Urinary tract infections typically occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra and begin to multiply in the bladder. Although the urinary system is designed to keep out such microscopic invaders, the defenses sometimes fail. When that happens, bacteria may take hold and multiply into a full-blown infection in the urinary tract."

Women don't need to read the Mayo Site information to know that the most common types of urinary tract infections are found in women. We experience them at the onset of sexual activities often because of the proximity of the anus to the urethra and genitals. Our partners, if inconsiderate, bring bacterias on their hands and penises. Infant boys don't have sex and, per the article, the women, overall, are more suseptable.

This video, albeit non-scientific, is stunning and was shared with me by a young woman, a mother and anti-circumcision activist. The video features Jewish mother discussing circumcision as a cultural and medical issue. She is very well informed. Caveat, her words are graphic.

UPDATE: ADDED Friday, June 12 Australia appears to stand AGAINST circumcision: