A good argument against, I think
Ironically, this article at Beliefnet, The Future of Foreskins is an excellent argument *against* ritual cicumcision. As regular readers of my blog know, I’ve struggled with the circumcision decision as a Jew by choice and heritage but Noah is intact and any future sons I may have will be intact as well.
I’m pretty sure that this author gets off on being controversial. Look at lines like this:
Circumcising my firstborn son was harder than I thought it would be. Not the emotional challenge, but the physical part, the actual slicing involved. It took more elbow grease than I had imagined.
Ughhh. Thanks for sharing. Then he goes on to paint a really macho argument for bris milah:
Maybe on some level we need small, ritualized acts of violence to curb larger ones. This is how sports work to channel aggression, or dancing in a mosh-pit, mashing potatoes, or chopping firewood. Circumcision, like a gang tattoo, is a small act of violence that makes a covenant between bodies. It is a moment of betrayal and danger that produces, paradoxically, a promise of trust and safety. “You are now like me,” the mark says, “so we will protect one another.”
This is the same argument people use for other types of violence — “I hit you because I love you” and “I spank you because I care.” I certainly don’t want my son associating “betrayal and danger” with “trust and safety.” This guy is crackers.
Crackers, indeed. What an odd and barbaric little viewpoint he holds, and inflicts on his babies.
Oh MY Goodness!! How AWFUL! (what he says) I did have my son circumcised. But I think His “outlook” on the whole situation is horrible! I did it for health issues. (I’m not Jewish, so I had no religous qualms to wrestle with).
With all the horrible volence that goes on out there in the world, and with out children, I don’t think we need to start propergating that view point!
just my 2cents