'Intactivists' to San Francisco: Ban circumcision

[T@T]

This is crazy! Why would there a big deal in circumcisions?

In the California city that banned Happy Meal toys,outlawed sitting on sidewalks during daylight hours and fined residents for not sorting garbage into recycling, compost and trash, Lloyd Schofield wants to add a new law to the books in San Francisco: A ban on all male circumcisions.
Those who violate the ban could be jailed (not more than one year) or fined (not more than $1,000), under his proposal. Circumcisions even for religious reasons would not be allowed

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/19....sf/index.html

[Reggie Dunlop]

Meh. No skin off my nose.

[HOOT]

This is such a messed up world we live in. I don't understand why someone would want to put a law like this into place. What does it accomplish and/or help your city?

[WilsonFourTwo]

Someone looking for their 15 minutes of fame.

I think San Francisco should ban Lloyd Schofield.

[red '00]

Never gonna fly. The US loves lopping off foreskins.

[starseed]

When you think about it, the practice is invasive and unnecessary.

[HotHotHeat]

This one is sorta weird, but San Fran plays a huge role in pushing progressive city issues all over the US. What's wrong with fining people for not sorting trash with recycling?

[red '00]

Originally Posted by starseed

When you think about it, the practice is invasive and unnecessary.

True. But it's also not necessarily harmful either. In the end it's simply taking away people's right to personal choice and freedom of religion.

Would stand a better chance of passing in Canada. Pretty sure we hardly snip kids anymore.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by red '00

True. But it's also not necessarily harmful either.

That's a pretty weak leg to stand on.

[red '00]

Originally Posted by Gozer

That's a pretty weak leg to stand on.

Not coming from me. But that's exactly how it's seen.

Actually, in the states in particular it's seen as not only 'not harmful' but actually beneficial. And there you have the debate.

[evman150]

Circumcision (male or female) is an astonishingly barbaric practice that needs to be banned in all progressive countries. Of note, however, is that hardly anybody in this country does it anymore anyway.

Circumcision is a ridiculous vestige of our theocratic past.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by evman150

Circumcision (male or female) is an astonishingly barbaric practice that needs to be banned in all progressive countries. Of note, however, is that hardly anybody in this country does it anymore anyway.

Circumcision is a ridiculous vestige of our theocratic past.

I think there has been several studies recently which have shown circumcised males in Africa had a significant decrease in the likelihood of contracting AIDS and other STDs. There is also a benefit when it comes to overall penile cleanliness.

However... most of us on this board probably aren't messing around in such a heavily infected partner pool and have access to regular running water.

[Mike F]

From Scientific American:

"The data are very clear that not only does circumcision help prevent HIV, but also has a significant, positive impact on prevention of herpes and HPV," says Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), which helped fund the research. He added that reducing men's risk of herpes and HPV would likely cut rates of the infections in women.

But, yeah, let's take away parents' choice to get it done.

[Hanni]

Originally Posted by Mike F

From Scientific American:


But, yeah, let's take away parents' choice to get it done.

Preaching circumcision as a preventative measure against std's is like preaching 20km/h speed limits after midnight to reduce drunk driving deaths. Sure it might make a small difference but there are much better ways of preventing it.

Watch the Penn and Teller's Bullsh*t episode about circumcision, if you don't think it's barbaric after seeing one there is something wrong with you. Why anyone would put a newborn through that kind of pain is beyond me.

All that being said the libertarian in me still thinks it's ludicrous to ban it.

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

I think there has been several studies recently which have shown circumcised males in Africa had a significant decrease in the likelihood of contracting AIDS and other STDs. There is also a benefit when it comes to overall penile cleanliness.

However... most of us on this board probably aren't messing around in such a heavily infected partner pool and have access to regular running water.

Yea. If we're using circumcision as a line of defense against AIDS, yikes.

[evman150]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Yea. If we're using circumcision as a line of defense against AIDS, yikes.

circumcision >>>>>>> condoms

Just ask the Catholic church!

[SebC]

Originally Posted by red '00

In the end it's simply taking away people's right to personal choice and freedom of religion.

Circumcision takes away the circumcisee's right to personal choice. It's an irreversable decision that the child is stuck with for the rest of his life.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by Hanni

Preaching circumcision as a preventative measure against std's is like preaching 20km/h speed limits after midnight to reduce drunk driving deaths. Sure it might make a small difference but there are much better ways of preventing it.

Two randomized, controlled trials in Uganda involving 5,534 men found that those who underwent circumcision as adults were 25 percent less likely to become infected with herpes and more than 30 percent less likely to catch human papillomavirus (HPV) than their uncircumcised peers. . . . Previous research has shown that circumcision reduces a man's risk of acquiring HIV by as much as 60 percent

Originally Posted by Hanni

Watch the Penn and Teller's Bullsh*t episode about circumcision, if you don't think it's barbaric after seeing one there is something wrong with you. Why anyone would put a newborn through that kind of pain is beyond me.

First, I'll take my medical advice from a doctor rather than Penn and Teller.

Second, there are many medical procedures which are painful to undergo and uncomfortable to watch, but are worth the long term benefits.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Yea. If we're using circumcision as a line of defense against AIDS, yikes.

Originally Posted by evman150

circumcision >>>>>>> condoms

Just ask the Catholic church!

I didn't realize it was either/or.

Oh well, if condoms are enough of a safeguard, I'm sure sexually transmitted HIV, HPV and herpes should be wiped out any day now.

[Reggie Dunlop]

I sport a turtleneck.