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From: joeh@sftig.UUCP (J.Hefner)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: THE CIRCUMCISION DECISION
Message-ID: <507@sftig.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 21-Mar-85 10:29:40 EST
Article-I.D.: sftig.507
Posted: Thu Mar 21 10:29:40 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 23-Mar-85 01:35:04 EST
References: <2298@drutx.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Summit, NJ
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> THE CIRCUMCISION DECISION
> 
> I would like to hear the pro's and con's of circumcising
> infant boys other than for religious reasons.

I'm sure that some may find this perhaps bad taste for for net.kids,
but here goes.

I'm first generation German Catholic my wife second generation Irish
Catholic. I am not circumsized and don't think anyone should be.

I have two boys aged 7 and 6 (also a girl, but that's another matter).
At the time of our first boy's birth my wife had read all the available
info on the big C and there was still some remanents of the incorrect
theory that non-C means unclean. Perhaps in the Pacific jungles of
World War II that was true (often used as an example), but not today.
There was also circulating at the time an additional incorrect theory
that wives of non-C men are more prone to cancer of the Cervix. That has
since been refuted since the study was based in several European countries
where there are many non-C men, but also women with poor health care, and
the researcher did not account for other factors. My wife felt strongly
enough at the time to strongly push for the big-C. I was so happy at the
time I agreed.

Then came our second boy. By now I heard both the above theories were
hogwash, and had to discuss the matter with my wife's Ob/gyn. He was on the
teaching staff at Yale Medical School, was Jewish and performed C as part
of his hospital duties and as an Merle at his synagogue. I
have the ultimate respect for this man. His recommendation
was that if he were not Jewish he would never do it to
his sons. I did not know what to do. My wife and I were torn. Do we
now have the boys different or multilate them both. Since the large
majority of boys were still having it done I again backed down.

I understand that finally the tide is turning and that more enlightened 
people are willing brave the scorn of the peers by not opting for C. Your
friends and family will say "don't you know it's unclean". Beware.