Circumcision – by Karen Ranzi
Written by Fiona on August 2, 2010 – -by Karen Ranzi
I read Karen’s new book, Creating Healthy Children, and was intrigued by the chapter dedicated to circumcision. Karen kindly agreed to write a short wisdom nugget for our pregnancy month on this topic.
“Just before I gave birth to my son, I read the chapter “Mutilation of Male Babies” in Dr. Herbert Shelton’s book Hygienic Care of Children. I already knew I wouldn’t allow a circumcision to be performed on my child, but I became extremely concerned for other baby boys while reading some of the details about the procedure.
In 1880 it was thought that masturbation caused blindness and epilepsy. This began routine U.S male circumcision, and boys no longer resembled their fathers. Due to the pain and complications that circumcision has brought to boys and men over the past 130 years in the U.S., we need to focus on doing the same today: ending male circumcision and having boys once again not resembling their fathers.
The foreskin of the penis grows from 12 to 15 square inches of erogenous tissue, the inner and outer layer included. The foreskin is attached to the gland which protects from feces entering the area. It adheres like the nail to the nail bed or the eyelid to the eye. We certainly wouldn’t want these important protective body parts to be severed. The foreskin has to be detached before it can be cut.
The foreskin can be as much as one third of the outer skin of the penis. It’s meant to be a moist internal organ. The foreskin has protective functions: We know it prevents feces from entering the penile area. It is also highly erogenous tissue.
Some people say the baby doesn’t feel the pain of the circumcision, but in fact the cutting of the foreskin is excruciatingly painful. If you have had a natural childbirth and understand attachment parenting principles, following the needs of your child, you would want to foster trust in your infant. Circumcision is a painful and unnecessary practice which causes physical and emotional pain for the young soul who has recently entered this world and expects the mother to protect him/her from harm.
Every male mammal has a foreskin, and 85% of the men in the world are intact. The United States is the only country which does circumcision for medical reasons, although there is no national medical organization that endorses it. Nowhere else in the world do they remove normal healthy functional tissue for a social custom. Every six seconds, a male in the U.S. gets circumcised.
There are so many benefits of not performing circumcision. For sure, your precious son will be glad to be intact.
The following are the possible consequences of circumcision:
- Severe infection
- Hemorrhaging
- Painful erections
- Although rare, death
I attended a showing of Cut, a documentary film available as a DVD, by Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon, raised an Orthodox Jew. The film examines the subject of male circumcision from a religious, scientific and ethical perspective. Using cutting-edge research, in addition to interview footage of rabbis, philosophers, and scientists, Cut challenges viewers to confront their biases by asking difficult questions about this age-old practice. It’s a powerful film, important for all parents to see before making a decision about circumcision.”
Raw Mom Karen Ranzi, is author of Creating Healthy Children.
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Tags: bris, circumcision, creating healthy children, foreskin, jew, jewish, karen, karen ranzi, penis, ranzi
Posted in Raw Food for Families, Raw Food Health | 8 Comments »
By Melissa on Aug 9, 2010
this made me sad…I debated and searched and read about circumcision. My father-in-law and brother-in-law are neither circumcised, they both suggested I have my son circumcised. Along with my pediatrician and others in my family…I regret my decision and wish I had the nerve to stand up for my beliefs in keeping my child whole.
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By gabriela on Aug 11, 2010
I had a c-section at the last minute (had planned a home birth) and was not prepared for the experience. The ob in charge was actually my doctor so that was a plus. The pediatrician in attendance was a monster! He was so rough with my son while “cleaning” him up. He kept insisting to my husband — whom I sent over to where he was working — that we should circumcise right then and there. Thank God we had discussed it earlier and were in agreement…..he would have buldozed me into it, no doubt.
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By Martin Burkard on Sep 16, 2010
Karen, Thank you for bring this topic up! I still can’t believe circumcision is even happening in America (not even the Taliban would do that). The rest of the (non-jewish) world has never heard of it. There is obviously a huge need to wake people in the US up about what they are doing. It’s staring us in the eyes but unless you put a flashlight on it, it will continue. All the while everbody agrees that female gential mutilation in Africa is barbaric. But a lot of the same people still believe there are merits to male genital mutilation in the US. Thanks again, Karen!
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By Frank on Oct 15, 2010
Karen or whoever feels like answering:
Being from Germany and uncircumcised could someone explain to me what the _supposed_ benefits of this practice are? I know that a cousin of mine was circumcised for medical reasons (his foreskin was too short) but other than for medical/ religious reasons this is a non-issue this side of the pond.
Thanks,
Frank
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By Pat on Oct 28, 2010
Frank, ever since the late 19th century a handful of doctors have been trying to claim that circumcision prevents diseases or infections. In recent decades, there have been many flawed research studies attempting to correlate circumcision with a decrease in the rates of urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and even cancer of the penis. As better education becomes available, more people are starting to recognize this fraud for what it is.
It does not make sense that having a short foreskin would make circumcision medically necessary. Are you sure your cousin didn’t do this of his own choice? If the doctor recommended it, then he was misinformed. If a man’s foreskin is short, he can simply stretch it and make it longer over time.
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By Frank on Nov 9, 2010
Pat,
thanks a lot for the explanation, this really isn’t something that could be overheard here.
As for my cousin: I know it was for medical reasons, but it was more than 30 years ago, so no contradiction here as this could have been a misinformed decision, too… Maybe the doc had studied in the US.
Thanks again for the insight!
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By Danielle on Nov 22, 2010
I have been further researching as well and both options have their ups and thier downs its really up to the mom. I know a women who has 2 sons the older one did not go through circumcision but he will be getting it. the older son who didnt go through the procedure is smelly and gets many infections in the area compared to his younger brother. through most mothers experiences it seems that babies who go through the procedure have happier healthier baby boys.
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By Jimmy on Nov 22, 2010
Danielle, you wrote, “through most mothers experiences it seems that babies who go through the procedure have happier healthier baby boys.”
Really? Is that so? Can you back that up? You seem to make claims based on what you’d like to be the truth. I believe it is best to stick with one’s own personal experiences when giving out info.
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