Mom, Why Did You Circumcise Me?
This excellent personal documentary both in English and Dutch with English subtitles, follows Dutch journalist/filmmaker Michael Schaap as he learns from interviewing his own mother, circumcisers, politicians, Jews, Muslims, a restored British man, and some American activists.
From the author: "I'm a Dutch born male who came to Canada in 1981. In most European countries circumcisions are only performed for religious reasons.
In 1989 I married a fine Canadian girl and we had our first son in February of 1992. Even though my wife had not seen an uncircumcised penis until she married me, she realized that circumcision without a medical reasons was a form of abuse.
There had been some comments made by my inlaws, but after a talk with them they also realized that there was no reason for our son to be circumcised or for that matter any child without medical need there off.
December of 1992 we adopted a son and one of the first questions to us was; "do you want him to be circumcised?" Of course our answer was no.
The worlds view point regarding circumcision needs to change. Most people will admit that amputating the clitoral hood of females is abuse. There is no difference in amputating the glans hood of males.
Thank you and please continue to raise awareness about involuntary circumcision."
Having practiced medicine for many, many years. I can tell you that very few uncircumcised men practice genital hygiene. Some have been so bad it has made me "PUKE." The smell is so repugnant. The build-up of smegma just 2-3 days is totally repugnant. Do your kids a favor, and circumcise them on the 8th day after birth unless they are sick. We now know that the available Prothrombin and Vitamin K+ are at their peak on the 8th day and the chance of bleeding is quite minimal.
The amount of bacteria and virus' that are hidden under the foreskin, yes and even several cancer causing pathogens. Not only are your sons exposed to this but you daughters when they become sexually active. I am not just spewing ancient trivia. but current medical knowledge. Wise-up all of you who are into the feel-good attitude.
To all you woman saying it prevents diseases **** YOU! DON'T SEE THEM GOING TO GET A LABIAPLASTY TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH!
I think anyone who advocates circumcision should look up the word "elective", because that's exactly what it is. Times are changing, rates are dropping and women are beginning to appreciate uncircumcised men.
circumcision is truly out of order, infact the only good thing about it is, that it highlights how stupid and contradictory all religion is, think about it, if there was a god and he had made everything we we see and know about, then i would say he was pretty dam good at his job, so how do these people who practice this draconian, human mutilation defend them selves in front of there made up god, when he asks them "why" did you change my perfect design.
i think these people are living in loolar land, go and have a word with your selves, and step away from the Scissors you idiotic oxygen wasters
maybe being circumcised makes men unduly concerned with the size of their penises, because all i ever hear is how big it is, or how big do you think HIS is, etc. pornography is concerned overwhelmingly with two things: big penises and big tits. as if size were everything ...
Very wrong and very irritating. If I had a boy I would not do that to him out of love. To destroy him is not right. Why most men world wide are not damaged? Since there parents were smart.
I've read through some of the comments.... and am honestly kind of shocked... 1) women who "love" circumcised penises(which I've predominantly seen commented by males, how would you know?) are basically taught that's how a penis is supposed to be. personally I'm not one of those women, I prefer uncut guys, and I don't know about other women, but I don't really spend my time in the bedroom admiring the form of the penis, there are more entertaining things to do with it. 2) Whoever mentioned other traditions like neck stretching, those are all done as rights of passage when the person is old enough to consent. 3) Whoever said its women and uncut men who disagree with this and they shouldn't talk about what they don't know about, do you remember what its like to be uncut? probably not, so you aren't really in a place to have an opinion either, you only represent one side of the equation just like the uncut men do. 4) To everyone who says its "cleaner" why the hell do you think men evolved to HAVE a foreskin, TO PROTECT THE URETHRA! read some medical journals people, just because it's been done forever, doesn't mean its right, nor does it mean the reasoning is sound. If an adult male wants to get cut, that's his business, but I don't think its our job to go cutting bits off our little boys...
ok, so ive only watched the first 48 seconds so far, but male circumcision uses anesthetic, female does not.
HENCE BARBARIC? YOU M*RON.
I would like to think, that there are few who would carry out such an horrific procedure on a human lifetime.
I'm with you there Happy Guy. Done as a baby and never regretted anything. All my buddies at school the same. I think the only people perpetuating the rumours of a fall in circumcision's popularity are those who are female or have a mudflap on their 'car'. My kiddo (aged 4) is circumcised like me and it's weird he always comments that he has the same wiener as dad and is pretty happy with that: I had a buddy at school who wasn't done and he always complained that he was the odd-man out in his family. Personally I wish people would just let me get on with my happy life - I am married twelve years, have excellent sex, have no locker room anxiety and have never had a problem with not getting the car started. I know some uncircumcised guys with those problems hey.
I thank my parents for circumcising me. I love it and my wife loves it. I cannot figure out why so many people get worked up about this. It seems like most of the people who are against it are women and uncircumcised males. Those people have no right commenting on something that does not affect them. Circumcised men hate what was done to them can legitimately discuss this issue.
I have had traumatic experiences that have shaped my life. This is not one of them.
I want to celebrate my circumcision. Every male I know who is circumcised that I have discussed this with feels the same.
It looks damn good! Yay for the head!
I got the vibe that this documentary was similar to another one that advocated parents not vaccinate their children. As for circumcision, I was circumcised I have not psychological issues relating to it, everyone of the people I know at my synagogue is not psychologically unstable. As an Israeli it would be safe to assume that a good percentage of the male populace is circumcised and I don't see bitter, crazy, angry dudes walking everywhere. Plus, I think it would be worse to go up to you son when he's older and ask, hey champ you wanna get circumcised? Let me tell you if he chooses yes, then at that point all the bad thing you associate with circumcision will probably occur. And keep in mind that when your son gets older he may end up resenting you for not having him get this procedure not that he will but theirs a chance. On a last note, what baby remembers their birth, a circumcision the pain felt at getting vaccinated? What man remembers getting circumcised at 12,13,16,18,20s,30s?
This is an intense issue and another reason why I don't want children.
Interesting note: some boys are born partially or fully without a foreskin. My father was apparently one of these.
It should be HIS choice when he is old enough if he wants to be circumcised or not! It is his body and shouldn't be a parent's decision, especially when it is done just for "looks." It is a cruel and painful thing to do, and usually completely unnecessary! It may be true that there are higher incidences of health problems arising from an uncircumcised penis, but think about it people...Do we automatically remove all newborn babies' appendix's, tonsils, gall bladders etc? I mean...there is after all a very high chance that one or all of the above may cause major problems later in life. So why not just cut them out at birth?? That's how I feel about the foreskin. Unless it causes a problem, then leave it alone! It was obviously meant to be there for a reason!
well, in the beginning he's talking about taking away the clitoris is the same thing as taking away the foreskin... c'mon! that's not the same thing!!! they don't take away the head... or am I wrong... Idk...
Hey a little message to all the people who say it is cruel and my son doesn't deserve it blah blah blah... My father is an urologist (Top notch guy with tons of awards and a Harvard degree) and I myself have been present many times at the procedure. I myself am circumsised. Thankfully I run less risk of getting infections because I have no foreskin. You ALL including this filmmaker really need to do better research. Talk to 10 Urologists and all of them will tell you that it is the best option. Talk to another 10 and you'll get the same answer. For those of you un-educated enough to know, a Urologist is: a doctor that specializes in the urinary tract system of males and females and the male genitalia. This documentary is spreading wrongful information. It is not cruel and it has not affected my life in a negative manner nor do I hate my parents for making the decision for me. They OBVIOUSLY were better informed than me at the time, so thank God they made the right choice and gave my penis a free and exposed head. Thank you!
I grew up just assuming that all boys/men were circumcised...it never really occurred to me that uncircumcised was really an option any more in this day and age. However when I got into my mid teens I began to step out side of the box and really start to do my own personal research. And I believe I have come to a decision regarding my future son/s. I would not want to circumcise my boys, I believe it to be unnecessary and cruel. However once they reach a decision making age, and they have the desire to be circumcised then I believe that is there decision to be made. And I will give them that choice as to whether or not they want to be circumcised.
In order to reduce the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV, the World Health Organization (WHO) is encouraging male circumcision. They have the following on their website:
"There is compelling evidence that male circumcision reduces the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men by approximately 60%. Three randomized controlled trials have shown that male circumcision provided by well trained health professionals in properly equipped settings is safe. WHO/UNAIDS recommendations emphasize that male circumcision should be considered an efficacious intervention for HIV prevention in countries and regions with heterosexual epidemics, high HIV and low male circumcision prevalence.
Male circumcision provides only partial protection, and therefore should be only one element of a comprehensive HIV prevention package which includes:
- the provision of HIV testing and counseling services;
- treatment for sexually transmitted infections;
- the promotion of safer sex practices;
- the provision of male and female condoms and promotion of their correct and consistent use."
Any questions please ask the WHO.
I am 44 years old and as expected am circumcised. I agree with many of the comments here that it should be abolished on infants and be a decision for a grown man to make. I don't hate my mom for doing it (as far as I know she may have not even been asked). However, I often wonder how sex would be if I had my foreskin still intact. I know I always have to use a lubricant which would not be necessary if I had my foreskin which is a real pain. The bottom line here is the OWNER should make the decision, not parent. Don't give me "a parent makes decisions all the time for kids well-being, blah blah blah. This is not the same as oh he has a 104 temperature, should I take him to doctor?
Intact infant genitalia would be a smack in the face of a very peculiar God...
I`m kind of circumcised, but circumcision is not a common practice around here. I was born with mild hypospadias and got myself fixed at age of 17, so after the operation I had my foreskin removed, because the lower foreskin just was not there, I did it because the foreskin, which was in the upper side was just kind of a flab and only messed up everything, but I did it for medical purposes. No one shoud be circumcised when they are fully dependents in their ancestors.
dont worry if you cant satisfy your wife,she will make appointment with an african.nuff said!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The thing that really bothers me now is how doctors and church leaders are telling mothers-to-be that circumcision prevents HPV (genital warts). EXCUSE ME??? I don't think so! There is no way that removing a piece of skin all of a sudden makes you immune to viruses. You may not see the symptoms, or the symptoms may be different, but I am positive you would still get and transmit the disease. It just goes to show religion will lie about anything (and how gullible and stupid people are) to get people to practice thier ancient barbaric stupid rituals. I am not circumcised and I am extremely gratefull to my parents. HEY PEDRO, how do you figure, or scientifically prove that cutting of a piece of skin makes you immune to diseases? How and where has this been established?? Show me the evidence!
I always wondered what exactly circumcision originally meant in the bible, was it a practice to cut the penis skin or just a way of being circumcicle energetically. One more thing that perhaps was edited from the original words to fit a popular Jewish practice.
I always prefered a natural penis, the same way that i prefer every thing natural in my life including my sagging breast, my vagina that gave birth (at home) to two beautiful girls and the lines in my face that are defining my years of rumbling around.
I also think men that are "operated" on this way, lose a lot of sensitivity...but how can that be proven,...the ones that are will deny this and the ones that aren't will support this! May be women know best about this from witnessing the differences!
az
@ Pedro- How is a person walking around asking others their honest opinions propaganda? All persuasive media is not necessarily propaganda, but it is intentionally and openly persuasive.
Even if removal of the foreskin helps prevent some likelihood of HIV transmission in heterosexual males (and parents will have no idea what sexual orientation their child has), that doesn't mean it is more effective than educating your child and equipping them with safe sex resources.
When you say women LOVE it, what women? I know many women who prefer natural, un-modified genitalia. Do you think some cultures are justified in removing the complete labia majora and minora in women because "smooth" genitals are pretty?
Also, just because parents don't want to take the time to thoroughly clean their son, that doesn't make it more hygienic. It makes it easier, which is a poor excuse for cutting apart your son. Shall I scalp my daughter so I don't have to comb her hair?
Popular does not mean right. EVER. It wasn't true for slavery, it wasn't true for women's oppression, it isn't true for female genital mutilation. I say, it is not true for Male Circumcision.
If you want circumcision, FINE! That's your choice. Not anyone else's. I don't think it should be illegal, but I think that recipients need to be of age to give legal consent, like any other body modification like genital piercing and tattooing.