My friend's boyfriend sent me an article written by Dr. Christiane Northrop on The Huffington Post titled: "We Need to Stop Circumcision". He sent it to me because, somehow, whenever he's around me circumcision or childbirth come up and I launch into one of my tirades. I think he drops keywords into our conversations just because he loves to see me get worked up... and he has a fascination with bodily functions. Anyway, back to the article. It makes some very good points about why we should NOT routinely circumcise males and it comes at a time when people need to hear it. The Center for Disease Control and The American Academy of Pediatrics are on a campaign to see that ALL males born in the U.S. get circumcised at birth. As soon as I heard this, one thing came to mind: renowned dermatologist Dr. Patricia Wexler on Oprah hawking the benefits of a face cream which was made from the foreskin of infants. I knew there was probably a bottom line that had to do with PROFIT, rather than the so-called "health benefits" of circumcision. I mean, our society is cleaner than ever, so the hygiene issue is really non-existent. The recent research that has come out about HIV and foreskin is also inconclusive. 
Now, whatever you think about circumcision, let me just say that I think it is horrible to take a tiny baby and cut off a part of it's body. I also think that it ridiculous for people who believe in God, the creator of the universe and all living things, to say, "God is all powerful, and all knowing, he created some amazing systems in our body (endocrine, skeletal, reproductive, nervous, cardiovascular, muscular, to name a few...), but he made a mistake with the foreskin!" It's there for a reason, and Penn and Teller explain it in a Bullshit! episode from Season 3 brilliantly. I also love the fact that I have a few Jewish friends who will circumcise their baby on Sunday, and eat a bacon sandwich on Monday. It just doesn't make sense. The other arguments are purely aesthetic, and that disturbs me even more. We are excising skin off babies because we are used to the look of cut men in our country.We wouldn't allow female circumcision in this country, so why are boys on the chopping block?
Outfit:
We are going to the Zoo. I haven't been for at least 20 years, and I am a little conflicted. I decided to wear an animal print for the occasion.
Wrap Leopard Shirt: I got this 15 years ago with a gift certificate I was given to a store called Le Chateau in NYC. It was on the corner of Bleeker and Broadway right down the street from the Angelica Movie Center. Ah, the good old days!
Knit Tank: Given to me by my boss in admissions. She game me some very nice duds she was off-loading! Her taste is impeccable!
Jeans: Purchased at the Big Sunday fundraiser thrown by Charlie's school.
Posts
I love this blog today. Perhaps you should consider a blog tomorrow on the zoo and whether or not you think it's humane. I love hearing your opinions. I guess Matty does too.
ReplyDeleteFirst, very pretty outfit. My favorite one in a while. Second, although I agree with many of your points re male circumcision, I don't think it is even closely comparable to female circumcision in severity or intent.
ReplyDeleteNo, it isn't as severe, but I guess my point is, why is it okay to cut off a piece of an infant boy? If you have ever seen it done, it's pretty awful. I say wait until the boy can decide if he wants to do it or not!
ReplyDeleteI hear you, I think it should be up to the individual, and not decided for a baby. But, there are a lot of people who think they are doing the right thing by their child. I would love to hear more men chime in on this, bc it's hard for me to completely feel comfortable advocating either way.
ReplyDeleteI'll be curious to see what Charlie and
ReplyDeleteLeo do! Leo did notice a difference between himself and his father a while back!
And, yes, I'd love to hear the guys chime in too!
ReplyDeleteWe gotta get some guys to read you blog. Or at least more of them. Maybe you should dress in drag a few times.
ReplyDelete