Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 12, 1993 TAG: 9310120066
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Neil Chethik
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But a sizeable minority of letter-writers were passionately in favor of routine infant circumcision. And they offered up some fascinating reasons why they had it done to their sons, and even to themselves.
Here are excerpts from the letters, some of which have been edited for length and clarity.
From mothers: Mary, Port Huron:
I had my son circumcised. Even if you have very little experience with children, you're probably aware that it can be almost impossible to get them to do something as simple as brushing their teeth - much less properly cleaning their penis each day. And what self-respecting little boy is going to let Mom or Dad check to see if it's clean? To me, circumcision just eliminated one more opportunity for parent and child to lock horns.
Christine, Roanoke: After our son was born, there was a veritable parade of health care people trooping into my room to ask if we wanted him circumcised. I seem to remember shouting "No circumcision!" to a guy with a mop. For my husband and me, the only consideration was one of pain. A circumcision has to hurt. We are quite open about anything concerning the human body, so if our son had been bothered by being different than Daddy, we would have known. So far, there have been no boy's bathroom problems, no urinary tract infections, no cleanliness issues, and no psychological problems.
From fathers: Kevin, New Haven, W.Va.:
I am delightfully intact and my son is circumcised. Problem? Actually, quite the opposite, as that difference helped open the door for honest, uninhibited discussions very early about human sexuality, the penis, foreskin, masturbation, masculinity, pregnancy, venereal diseases, contraception, respect for himself and females.
Warren, Roanoke: I have three sons. They all were circumcised. You are right to question this practice. I wish I had. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. From sons: Douglas, Roanoke:
I am a white, well-educated family man who was never circumcised at birth - and glad that I was not. Although my father was circumcised, I never felt different or in any way was I ever embarrassed around my boyhood friends, most of whom were circumcised. The foreskin has never presented a problem, as I was taught at a very early age to "skin it back" and wash with soap and water daily. We chose not to circumcise our sons - not because they would be different from Dad, but because that is a decision they should make on their own.
Thomas, Prairie du Sac, Wis.: I was not circumcised because of a grandfather who felt very strongly about it. I was told as a child that if I ever wanted it done, I could. It never tempted me. When a child knows he has something that the others had taken away, it makes him feel lucky.
Richard, Grand Rapids: I was born in Europe where circumcision is not widely practiced, but when I came to the U.S. at age 18, I had a natural desire to conform with the majority. I was sore after the surgery for 3-4 weeks. My greatest regret is the loss of the frenulum [the tissue under the head of the penis that helps hold the foreskin over the head], which was severed during the procedure. The degree of sensitivity there is completely gone. As a result, it takes me about 2-3 times as long to achieve orgasm. My wife doesn't complain about that.
MENT-ION
Here's an excerpt from the Old Testament on the question of circumcision
"This is my covenant which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee. Every man child among you shall be circumcised. . . . It shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you." (Genesis 17:9-12)
MALE CALL
Men: There are now techniques for restoring foreskin. Has anyone out there tried to do this?
Send responses and comments to "The Men's Column," in care of the Features Department, Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491.
by CNB