Reply to Any Jews having a tough time with circumcision?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I was raised Orthodox and consider my Jewish heritage and culture important, though I am not observant.  DH is not Jewish, but is circumcised (as are a a good portion of non-Jewish men of our generation).  I don't know yet if we are having a boy, but I feel very ambivalent about circumcision.  DH is fine with it, since he is circumcised as are most of his non-Jewish friends, even though the ceremony seems strange - but he is not at all opposed.  I know I will do it, because [b]I don't feel strongly enough about it to make my family unhappy [/b]- my parents would be devastated if we did not circumcise a baby boy according to religious ritual.  But I do agree with other posters who point out that at some point in the future we will all look back at this practice as barbaric and strange.  Sure, we can justify it with the STD protection benefits, but that is NOT actually why we do it here in America; we do it either for religious reasons, or because it is considered "normal" in American culture.  If you take a few steps back and think about it objectively - it is just straight weird and barbaric: we cut off a piece of little boys' penises!  It may not be very painful to the infant, nor does it have lasting awful effects like female circumcision/genital mutilation.  But it is still just as weird when you take a step back from the way it has been normalized in our culture.[/quote]

Watch a video. That's all I ask. Watch a video of them doing it under even the most favorable scenarios, with anesthesia, etc. They really suffer. I agree with everything you say and it sounds really level-headed, but I just beg you, if you don't personally feel strongly about it, don't put your baby boy on the chopping block for something you agree is barbaric to please your family. You will need to establish your own way of parenting and it will involve upsetting your family at times. This won't be the first or last time you'll need to stand up for what you think is right. [/quote]

I've got two other kids and married a non-Jewish guy.  Don't worry - I'm all ABOUT upsetting my family.  ;-)  Don't need to watch a video; have been to many brises.  Was raised Orthodox, remember?  But don't need to upset my parents with this one; I am comfortable with American doctors' research and competence in this area to trust that my baby would be fine.  Will totally be ashamed before the aliens who arrive in their spaceship to watch the bris, though.[/quote]

I like your first post and am glad there are more Jews who recognize the practice as barbaric, but I really can't understand why you would go ahead with circumcision if you really feel the way you say you do, and if you are usually not squeamish about upsetting your family. Very odd.[/quote]

You know, I may actually do some more thinking about it and come to a different conclusion.  I hadn't thought enough about it to form a really strong opinion, which is why I initially said I'd probably just go ahead with it - because it wasn't something I felt strongly about (I try not to upset my parents unless it is something I feel very strongly about!).  Though I don't really feel roped into the hysteria on either side of this question, I do believe I ought to give it more thought.  (No need to try to convince me further - I hear the arguments, and need to think about them.)[/quote]

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