[QUOTE]Denmark may soon be the first country in the world to issue a ban on non-therapeutic circumcision of boys. Meanwhile, Israel tries hard to block changes that are broadly perceived in Europe as a clear step forward in children's human rights.
In two fresh statements, Danish doctors express deep concern over ritual circumcision of boys. The Danish Society of Family Physicians, whose 3,000 members include two thirds of all general practitioners in Denmark, announced in December that circumcision of underage boys with no proper medical indication is nothing short of mutilation. In a separate statement, the overarching Danish Medical Association recommended earlier this week that non-therapeutic male circumcision should wait until the boy or young man is old enough to provide informed consent. An editorial in Jyllands-Posten, the second largest national newspaper in Denmark, urged the Danish government yesterday to ban ritual circumcision of underage boys, and a result poll among readers of BT, another large national newspaper, showed that 87 percent of well over 26,000 votes were in favour of such a ban.
Not surprisingly, Israel has a quite different view on this matter. In December 2013, an Israeli delegation of Knesset politicians travelled to Paris in an attempt to overturn a visionary, human rights-based resolution that was passed by a comfortable majority of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on 1 October 2013. The PACE resolution 1952 recommends that member states start moving towards abolishing all kinds of physical assaults on children, including non-therapeutic circumcision of boys and girls. The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organization with a current total of 47 member states, each of which has signed the European Convention of Human Rights. Israel is neither a member, nor has it signed the European Convention of Human Rights but, since 1957, Israel has held observer status in the Council of Europe.
In the Israeli media, readers have repeatedly been told that the widely-held European stance against ritual circumcision is rooted partly in anti-Semitism, and partly in fear of an expanding Muslim population in Europe. Such anti-religious rhetoric is unjustified. The vast majority of Europe’s opponents of ritual circumcision are religiously tolerant, but consider cutting off an important part of a non-consenting, healthy child’s genitals to be contrary to modern ethics. This view was clearly expressed in September 2013 in a common statement of the ombudsmen and spokespersons for children in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Greenland and Denmark. To most Europeans circumcision is an ethically problematic ritual that is intrinsically harmful to children: every child has the right to protection of his or her bodily integrity and the right to explore and enjoy his or her undiminished sexual capacity later in life.
Infant circumcision’s negative long-term impact on human sexuality has been recognized by Jewish authorities for ages. Scholars like Philo of Alexandria (appr. 20 BC - 50 AD) and Moses Maimonides (1135-1204) knew well that reduced penile sensitivity was not an unfortunate side effect of the brit milah; rather it was part of the point: to diminish the animalistic sexuality of men. It takes more than a strongly media-promoted literature review by the world’s leading circumcision advocate, Brian Morris of Sydney University, to eradicate the bulk of scientific evidence and several thousands of years of knowledge. Circumcision ablates the most sensitive part of a boy’s penis and thereby diminishes his sexual sensitivity for the rest of his life. In October 2013, the Nordic Association of Clinical Sexologists stated that the bodily injury associated with circumcision is a violation of the boy’s sexual autonomy.
The head of the Israeli circumcision delegation, Reuven Rivlin (Likud Beytenu), has repeatedly referred to a series of highly questionable benefits from circumcision. His source of information is a 2012 policy paper on the topic by the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, Rivlin has unfailingly forgotten to inform readers that this policy paper has been seriously criticized for cultural bias by pediatric societies, general medical associations and 38 medical professors, doctors and researchers from 17 countries across Europe and Canada. Unlike their US colleagues, European doctors do not accept the postulated health benefits of circumcision as being well-documented, including the claimed reduction in risks of urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS and penile cancer. And, importantly, even if the claims were valid, they would still not constitute a compelling argument for circumcising boys before an age at which they can make the decision themselves. Moreover, while parents are generally told that circumcision is a safe and painless procedure, the truth is that no available local anesthetic is able to provide pain relief, but only some level of pain reduction, and even the most efficient method has a failure rate of six to eight percent. Additionally, a non-trivial proportion of boys – five percent according to a recent Danish study - will experience significant procedural or post-operative complications, even when the operation is carried out by experienced pediatric surgeons in a university hospital. In rare instances, complications can be fatal. This little-heard of, but well-known fact is the humane Talmudic reason for permitting Jewish parents to forgo circumcision of their son if two older brothers died as a result of the procedure.
On January 27, a motion for a new resolution, conceived by the Knesset’s circumcision delegation to marginalize the recently passed PACE resolution, will be discussed in the Bureau of the Council of Europe. If successful, it will lead to a new debate and a new vote in the Parliamentary Assembly during the spring of 2014. Hopefully, the Bureau of the Council of Europe will have the resolve to stand up for children’s rights, despite this pressure.
Although religious proponents of circumcision often claim otherwise, the growing European opposition to ritual circumcision of boys is by no means a movement against Judaism, Islam or religiosity in general. It reflects instead an increasing awareness that children are humans, and that all humans have inalienable rights from day one, a view that is supported by a growing number of Jews in Israel, the US and elsewhere around the world. As pointed out in a recent article by Jewish scientist and blogger Rebecca Steinfeld, under Jewish law a boy with a Jewish mother is a Jew, whether he is circumcised or not: circumcision does not confer Jewish status.
Today’s and tomorrow’s children should be protected against irreversible and medically unnecessary alterations of their bodies. When they reach the age of majority (typically 18 years), they can freely choose to undergo any ritual surgery they might want. Hopefully, 2014 will be the turning year when politicians across Europe will agree with their doctors, ombudsmen for children, sexologists, and human rights advocates that religious arguments must never trump the protection of children’s basic human rights. To cut off functional, healthy parts of other people’s bodies without their explicit and well-informed consent can never be anybody’s right – religious or otherwise.[/QUOTE]
[url]http://cphpost.dk/news/circumcision-divide-between-denmark-and-israel.8440.html[/url]
Israel needs to stop sticking it's stupid nose into something that's none of their business all the time. It's not like they don't breach human rights enough within their own borders.
Other shitstains like Saudi Arabia [I]at least[/I] keep their barbaric idiocy like limited woman rights to themselves and don't try to push it onto other far away countries (on official, national level, I am not talking about individuals who move west and suggest sharia law should be followed everywhere and such). In that way, Israel is literally worse than them, with it's donwright manipulative ambitions.
Finally someone decides parents shouldn't be allowed to decide to give their children permanent changes to their body when they can't consent to it.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;43654671]Israel needs to stop sticking it's stupid nose into something that's none of their business all the time. It's not like they don't breech human rights enough within their own borders.
[B]Other shitstains like Saudi Arabia [I]at least[/I] keep their barbaric idiocy[/B] like limited woman rights to themselves and don't try to push it onto other far away countries (on official, national level, I am not talking about individuals who move west and suggest sharia law should be followed everywhere and such). In that way, Israel is literally worse than them, with it's donwright manipulative ambitions.[/QUOTE]
wait what? i mean sure israel needs to stop with the bullshit, but are you seriously saying that saudi arabia which finances terrorism, keep their stuff to themselves? lets not go overboard here.
Why is it when i come here, i keep seeing discussions about circumcision?
I reckon other countries should follow in Denmark's wake.
What about girl circumcision, is that not pretty horrible too?
[QUOTE=Warship;43654804]What about girl circumcision, is that not pretty horrible too?[/QUOTE]
Yes it is. But I imagine that female circumcision is not really practiced at all in Denmark, so its not really something they would really address.
[editline]24th January 2014[/editline]
[QUOTE=KennyAwsum;43654783]Why is it when i come here, i keep seeing discussions about circumcision?
I reckon other countries should follow in Denmark's wake.[/QUOTE]
I give the US a few hundred years due to our blatant misinformation on the topic.
[QUOTE=Warship;43654804]What about girl circumcision, is that not pretty horrible too?[/QUOTE]
Already illegal.
[QUOTE=Demache;43654819]
I give the US a few hundred years due to our blatant misinformation on the topic.[/QUOTE]
Annual rate of circumcision in the US is less than 40%, down from 80-90% in the 80s and 90s. Additionally, no pediatric society that I know of recommends it, and its actually most prevalent in muslim societies. Its fixing itself pretty rapidly here in the US.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;43654671]Israel needs to stop sticking it's stupid nose into something that's none of their business all the time. It's not like they don't breech human rights enough within their own borders.
Other shitstains like Saudi Arabia [I]at least[/I] keep their barbaric idiocy like limited woman rights to themselves and don't try to push it onto other far away countries (on official, national level, I am not talking about individuals who move west and suggest sharia law should be followed everywhere and such). In that way, Israel is literally worse than them, with it's donwright manipulative ambitions.[/QUOTE]
With a nose that size it's probably hard to keep it from ending up somewhere
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I'm glad that people are realizing that circumcision should not occur unless there's a medical reason for it. I'm surprised it has taken this long for people to realize that practically mutilating somebody without medical purpose, before they can even walk (let alone speak for themselves) is terrible.
[QUOTE=Fatfatfatty;43654888]With a nose that size it's probably hard to keep it from ending up somewhere[/QUOTE]
max help
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[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;43654877]Annual rate of circumcision in the US is less than 40%, down from 80-90% in the 80s and 90s. Additionally, no pediatric society that I know of recommends it, and its actually most prevalent in muslim societies. Its fixing itself pretty rapidly here in the US.[/QUOTE]
That's pretty interesting. Shame I was in that time when it was in the 90%. Good to know that people are realizing its not all that beneficial.
[QUOTE=Fatfatfatty;43654888]With a nose that size it's probably hard to keep it from ending up somewhere[/QUOTE]
isnt this really bigoted or something
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;43655204]isnt this really bigoted or something[/QUOTE]
Nope.
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;43655204]isnt this really bigoted or something[/QUOTE]
The word you are looking for is "booger-filled".
[QUOTE=01271;43655913]The word you are looking for is "booger-filled".[/QUOTE]
This guy nose what he's talking about.
I'm so sorry.
[QUOTE=The golden;43655131]I sincerely hope Denmark tells Israel to fuck off and mind their own business.[/QUOTE]
Count on it. Public figures in Denmark haven't had trouble with that in the past. Especially not people like outspoken politicians, influential artists and so on.
Also, fuck off Israel.
Israel should invade Denmark like the ancient Israelites invaded their neighbors and create piles of foreskins.
I'm glad to see Denmark is moving in the right direction. Hopefully costs and people getting wiser brings it down in the rest of the world.
Israel probably feels that its entitled to join in on the circumcision debate over there because of the criticism European countries have been putting on its illegal settlements. They probably think they're being clever by "butting in on their business", but the whole thing is stupid because its not comparable.
My circumcision took too much skin and made me have to shave my fucking shaft because of all the hairy skin it had to borrow every time it got erect. Fuck circumcisions, and fuck the 1800s for America deciding it would prevent masturbation.
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;43655204]isnt this really bigoted or something[/QUOTE]
It's a joke, and though it's not the most tasteful one, it's a joke nonetheless
[QUOTE=Appellation;43656209]My circumcision took too much skin and made me have to shave my fucking shaft because of all the hairy skin it had to borrow every time it got erect. Fuck circumcisions, and fuck the 1800s for America deciding it would prevent masturbation.[/QUOTE]
Who thought circumcision would stop masturbation?
I'm circumcised and can still masturbate.
Also, sorry about your dong, mate.
[editline]24th January 2014[/editline]
Also why does Israel need to get into their business? If the Danes don't want circumcision then let 'em ban it.
[QUOTE=Moustacheman;43656560]Who thought circumcision would stop masturbation?
I'm circumcised and can still masturbate.
Also, sorry about your dong, mate.
[editline]24th January 2014[/editline]
Also why does Israel need to get into their business? If the Danes don't want circumcision then let 'em ban it.[/QUOTE]
You probably can't fap as easy as someone with a foreskin (unless you're very lucky)
[editline]24th January 2014[/editline]
[QUOTE=Appellation;43656209]My circumcision took too much skin and made me have to shave my fucking shaft because of all the hairy skin it had to borrow every time it got erect. Fuck circumcisions, and fuck the 1800s for America deciding it would prevent masturbation.[/QUOTE]
I get some hair on my dong too, perfectly normal for people with high testosterone (for example: teenagers)
[QUOTE=katbug;43656711]You probably can't fap as easy as someone with a foreskin (unless you're very lucky)
[editline]24th January 2014[/editline]
I get some hair on my dong too, perfectly normal for people with high testosterone (for example: teenagers)[/QUOTE]
Not that hard, really. I've never even used lube, let alone lotion.
[QUOTE=katbug;43656711]You probably can't fap as easy as someone with a foreskin (unless you're very lucky)
[editline]24th January 2014[/editline]
I get some hair on my dong too, perfectly normal for people with high testosterone (for example: teenagers)[/QUOTE]
We ain't talkin' 'bout [I]some[/I]. And I'm 23,but since I don't date/hook up anymore, it's not as much of a pain in the ass as it used to be. Still wish I had all my bits though.
[QUOTE=Moustacheman;43656766]Not that hard, really. I've never even used lube, let alone lotion.[/QUOTE]
The foreskin retains moisture which acts as a lubricant (the glans is actually a mucous membrane, not normal skin, its not supposed to be dry). While you can masturbate, its still not as easy or as pleasurable as someone who does still have their foreskin. Circumcision also destroys a lot of nerve tissues, on account of them being cut off, hence the argument of less sensitivity.
Of course, a lot of this depends on how you were circumcised. Some aren't as nearly as bad as others.
I'm very indecisive, so I have chosen to have only half of my penis circumsized, right down the middle.
[QUOTE=Appellation;43656876]We ain't talkin' 'bout [I]some[/I]. And I'm 23,but since I don't date/hook up anymore, it's not as much of a pain in the ass as it used to be. Still wish I had all my bits though.[/QUOTE]
I understand completely.
Pretty damn sure none of the political parties in Denmark even likes Israel.
So i'll not be surprised if the collective response from the parties is something along the line of [I]"lol fuck off wankers"[/I]
[QUOTE=Fatfatfatty;43654888]With a nose that size it's probably hard to keep it from ending up somewhere[/QUOTE]
There's a special kind of hell for people who find this hilarious.
And I'm definitely heading there.
I always feel like these issues are a direct attack on my genitals.
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