Circumcision as a criminal act

So a few weeks ago, here in Germany, cirsumcision was ruled as a criminal act.
Now, there are more debates about if the ruling goes against religios freedom.

I know circumcision is extremly common in the US - so what do you think?

http://www.spiegel.de/international...ate-court-s-circumcision-ruling-a-841276.html

I do not support routine infant circumcision at all. It is considered cosmetic surgery now unless actually NEEDED in Canada and you cannot preform any other type of cosmetic surgery on your child so I don't view it as any different than getting any other procedure done.

My son was left intact. If this baby is a boy it will be left intact. I get really sad when people tell me getting cut makes you cleaner, less likely to contract STIs and a list of other reasons why they got their children done or why they would. For me personally it's easy to educate on safe sex and teach them how to clean themselves (so easy, you wipe it off like a finger in the shower). And since when is putting an open wound in a diaper cleaner?

Ugh I say this while cringing because as a girl who dates boys I do very much dislike the look of uncircumsized penises lol BUT

I think the decision on what to do/not do with their bodies,and especially sexual anatomy and especially cosmetic surgeries (which they are) and permanent changes.. should be left to the person whose body it is.
I think people should have the option.. but it should be left to THEM to decide when they are old enough to make the decision for themselves.

It's un-necessary, it's cosmetic, it's permanent, it's personal.. it should be left to the person whose body the part belongs to.

Cosmetic surgery and forcing surgery/changes on a child is illegal. Don't know why religion gets a special pass for everything but I certainly don't agree with it.
To think..female sexual mutilation is also religious and tradition in many cultures.. doesn't make it right.

Fran I had no idea that there was a difference when I started being sexually active. LOL! I didn't even form an opinion on foreskin until I got pregnant with my son and then I realized his dad did infact have foreskin. Such an informed 18 yearold I was!

lol my first two boyfriends were circumcised, I thought that was all there was!

Until I saw a *ahem* movie (and by movie I mean porn lol).. featuring an un-circumcised penis and was like.. WHAT?!? ACK!!

but even so.. I agree. Should be the choice an adult makes. It's a cosmetic surgery.

I find it so amusing that I had no idea. I think it's totally find to prefer something as a sexually active adult. There are lots of sexual preferences I have but that has nothing to do with my parenting choices. One of the few things I have a very strong opinion on is circumcision and a man's right to decide unless medically needed as a child. It's his penis, not his parents'.

Ditto!

Although, DH is circumcised and he's never complained or anything about it. A friend of ours isn't, though, and he's pretty miserable. Apparently it causes a lot of issues for him, extremely painful, often bloody issues. The only thing that makes him pause about getting it done is just the fact that he knows it's going to hurt like hell! And embarrassment factor, too, I suppose. But he's the only person I know that wasn't done, so I don't know how any other men feel about it.

So I can see both sides of the issue. I've just never had any point to form an opinion on it, especially since I haven't planned on getting pregnant. Interesting it has been outlawed in other countries, though.

My friend's boyfriend had to get cut at 25 due to having tons of issues related to having foreskin but that is not the norm. I don't think anyone stands against medically needing to or an adult male even just wanting to. But they are against it when it isn't needed or wanted by the person who's attached to the penis.

I don't know anyone that is circumcised.

And I didn't know the difference either. I still haven't actually seen the difference. :rofl1:

It's only illegal if it's done out of religious or cosmetic reasons. If it needs to be done, medically seen, it's fine.

When everything is ready to go there really isn't much of one.

:rofl1: Yeah, I haven't either. First/only guy I've been with is my husband. But thanks for informing us Paige! Such a mysterious and withheld issue to us womenfolk. I honestly just assumed it was just done and that's how guys were born. No one ever really teaches you otherwise and in the US, no one questions it. I think many places still just do it without asking the mothers.

I wonder if any of the men on the forum will pitch in their opinions?

From the men I've talked to if they are cut, they say they prefer it and if they are not, they prefer it. They don't know any different unless they were cut later in life and usually they prefer being cut because they were having issues with their foreskin.

The only difference I have found between an intact penis and not from a sexual perspective is... oh god I don't even know if I'm allowed to say this... manual stimiulation on an intact guy has more of a gliding motion.

/hides

Honestly I don't have strong feelings about it one way or the other except to say that it's just not the kind of thing I care to see legislated.

not going to debate but my feelings are , Off with the skin! I had my boys done. without really any research but my uncle telling me if i did not he would kill me . ( could be cause said uncle had his off at 13 cause he did not grow right or something , not a convo i wanted to have with him)



how about ear piercing a little girl. it is cosmetic and while not cutting off part , but still holes and could be problems. how ya feel about that ? i am undecided (cause i am worried about care) on the girls even though there dad wants it.

I don't support ear piercing on children either.

As for earrings.. my opinion is the same..wait until they are old enough to decide for themselves and deal with the care. Ears can get nasty infections from not being taken care of/cleaned properly.
but, that said, it's a totally different issue. Ear piercing isn't permanent. If she doesn't want her ears pierced when she is old enough to decide, she can just take them out..holes close. I certainly don't AGREE with cosmetic baby ear piercing, but that said.. it's not as HUGE a deal as permanently surgically altering sex organs.

AND it's not technically a surgery, although it is cosmetic. Most of the time, there is anestesia involved in circumcision and with that.. there is MUCH more risk. Not to mention the pain factor. Ears vs. Sex organs nerve wise/healing time wise.. there is no contest.

this is pretty much how I feel. No strong feelings for or against but as for my preferences sexually I prefer circumsized, I've experienced both but definitely have a preference.

I'm not a guy (obviously) and can't really relate but my feeling is if I had to choose between having it done at a time that I wouldn't have any recollection of it or have it done as an adult and have to remember the pain and go through all the pain before hand that leads up to adult males needing it done... I'd wish I had it done when I couldn't remember it lol.

As for ear piercing, another thing that I don't feel strongly about either way. I didn't have Hannah's done because it was just one more thing to take care of and I had this paranoia that somehow the earring would come out and she'd choke on it or something lol. but if she asked me now I'd let her.

I prefer the look of cut, but it's not my body, not my penis, and my future son can decide what he wants.
I will probably feel a bit badly if he chooses to go for it, as he wouldn't have to deal with the pain and healing and what not, but I want him to choose, regardless.

I hold the same opinion for ear piercing. Especially since dealing with infections are a pain in the butt.

Actually, if the ears are done with a gun, it makes all the difference. Most gun-piercings do not heal or close properly, often leave irreversible damage, often scar, can cause horrible infections, it is extremely unsanitary...the list goes on. But most people are completely uneducated about proper piercing, take their baby girl to Claire's, and that is it from there. It should ONLY be done with a needle. The gun ought to be banned completely, let alone for piercing on young children.

I had all 7 holes in my ear done with a gun. I was young and didn't know any better but there was no damage done, they've closed up and I've had them repierced a time or two in my life and never had an infection.