Given the choice, I would not have parted with my foreskin.
But what can you say? You’re one day old. Your parents were doing what they thought was best, whatever their reason. So, from time to time, for the rest of your life, you wonder what it would feel like to be complete, to be whole. You wonder what it would have looked like; long, completely covering the glans, drooping off the end with a stretchy nipple of skin; or short and snug, leaving a peek at your pee hole. You wonder how having your foreskin might have affected your life.
It’s an ancient ritual suffered by approximately one third of the male population, mostly Muslims and Jews and Protestant American guys, rooted in religious or cultural convictions and rites of passage into manhood. Plus that boy will look like dad. A logical question – why is it still going on today?
Other than religion, the two main arguments in favor of circumcision (both controversial) appear to be hygiene and disease prevention: it can get ugly and smelly under there (unless, of course, you wash it!); you can be infected or pass along STDs (unless, of course, you wear a condom for casual sex!). And believe it or not, circumcision has also been used to prevent masturbation.
In 1933 the estimated number of “victims” in the US was 32%. The number rose to 70% by 1945; 85% by 1965; and peaked in the 1970s at 91%. Then we finally started thinking about it. The rate was 56% in 2005. Today it’s less than 1% in England.
Somehow many Americans thinks the penis looks better cut.
As opposed to uncut.
Ask an Englishman … that’s cultural. We’ve been conditioned.
In America the severed foreskin might be used for research in the skin-care industry; in some parts of Africa it might be eaten; Jewish law states that it should be buried. Why don’t we just leave the newborn males alone, let the guy make the decision when he’s older and screws up the courage to go through with it, if that’s what he wants? At least it will be his choice.
Many men are involved in foreskin restoration. For the best information I’ve found on this, check out NORM (The National Organization of Restoring Men).
What about you? Are you circumcised? Would you rather not be, or are you glad you are? If you’re not cut, have you had any associated problems, cultural or physical? Should we stop circumcising male infants and let them decide when they get older. If you’re female, what do you think? Does it make any difference to you if your husband or boyfriend has been circumcised?
