makes you think a little bit

[muirichinnahali]

this is not intended to deny or minimise in any way the shocking pain and harm of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). but many people emphatically deny any similarity between Female Genital Mutilation and Male Genital Mutilation (MGM, circumcision).

FGMMGM

Cutting?YESYES

Of the genitals?YESYES

Of babies?YESYES

Of children?YESYES

Without

Comments

[our_nest]

word.

[paulshrink]

minimizing differences may promote campaign against male circumcision (a bit hysterical campaign BTW) but does damage to urgent campaign against female mutilation.

[muirichinnahali]

i disagree. there are varying levels of FGM, some of which are identical in nature to male circumcision. i don't think it serves any purpose to differentiate between which is worse within that spectrum, just as i don't think it serves any purpose to differentiate between the sexes. the human rights issue at the core is the exact same. all of it is unneccessary genital mutilation on nonconsenting individuals. both FGM and MGM try to be "justifiable" within the context of different cultures worldwide. if routine infant genital mutilation is examined as a whole, hopefully it can get some people to stop and think critically about the issue, reexamine their thought processes, and challenge their cultural programming.

[paulshrink]

be that as it may.......... having witnessed the consequences of A and B, I have to insist that male circumcision is a legitimate item of medical controversy (significant benefits and some drawbacks) and female genital mutilation is a travesty Where is the question?

[muirichinnahali]

there are no significant medical benefits.

[exoticdaydream]

Gee, that looks familiar. ;-)

[muirichinnahali]

yah, i looked up the code to put the chart directly in my journal rather than just linking to it ;)

[exoticdaydream]

Yah, I suck. I looked for that, couldn't figure it out. LoL

[mew]

This is always such a hard thing for me. I don't talk about it pretty much at all on my LJ, but I am Jewish, and Judaism is very important to me, and I intend to teach Nate Jewish traditions. Because of this, Nate is circ'ed, as is the Jewish tradition. I know to a lot of people that isn't a 'good' reason, but it is the right reasoning for us. Honestly, I feel as though religious reason are the only true 'good' reasons to circ, but even still, I know a lot of people would even have issue with THAT.

I don't know. I'm pretty outspoken, but it's something even I usually keep pretty mum about most of the time.

[muirichinnahali]

i've said it before and i'll say it again... i'm not making any of these "stop circumcision" posts to make people feel guilty or to cause any bad blood between me and my friends. they're here for information and thought-provocation and discussion. everyone who knows me knows that i am vehemently anti-routine-infant-circumcision. religion is not an issue i touch though. i know how I would feel if my faith followed such a procedure, but that's easy for me to say from where i stand now. i do know there are a bunch of jewish groups worldwide seeking to change the practice and religious justification, which i am happy to see. but if you (general "you", not you) circ for deeply held religious reasons, then follow your faith and feel confident in the decision.

did you have a bris for nate?

[mew]

Oh, I think these posts are great! I think if people can't have mature discussion about 'touchy' topics like this, then they should get the hell off the internet. ;) Personally, I LOVE seeing other peoples views about things, even if I don't always agree

[pinkbrita]

I <3 you. You make me feel more passionate about things.