Even Jews Are Axeing Circumcision

[Lemur]

As a father (and your wife), don't you make a number of decisions for them already? Things that involve their physical and mental health?

Yup. And my rule of thumb is, "First do no harm."

If you and others believe that this is something you want to let them decide on later in life, that's your own deal and we can respect that, but the you all need to get off your high horses about how some of us are "mutilating our boys" and this is "child abuse", and all the other nonsense flying around about this.

I've never said any such thing. My goal is persuasion, not to demonize you or call you names. I'm sorry others have done so.

Goofball couldn't have said it better, my thoughts are exactly the same as his, if/when in the near future I end up with boys, they will be circumcized as well, because we believe the benefits vastly outstrip the potential negatives.

What are the benefits?

What I have noted about this discussion is that none of us who believe in the benefits of circumcision have mentioned trying to force circumcision on other parents' children, or have even really gone out of our way to try to convince you that it is something you should do.

On the other hand, the anti-circumcision camp seems adamant in their belief that they are right and want to (at best) exert pressure on other parents not to circumcise and (at worst) criminalise the idea of infant circumcision.

Who has talked about criminalization? Is it helpful to portray those who disagree with you as fanatics?

The reason I've posted about it is that I made the decision myself not too long ago, and I did a gah-load of reading and studying before I made up my mind. I didn't exactly walk into this with a preconceived notion.

Children, like animals, are dependent on us to make good decisions and not mess them up. They have very few rights. So why do people like me advocate that you treat them differently? Well, at least party it's because they can't.