Removal of the foreskin at birth destroys natural protection, eliminates the natural lubricating mechanism and amputates three feet of veins, arteries and capillaries, several feet of nerves, the preputial muscles and 60 to 80 percent of the penile skin system. The severe and unalleviated pain of the procedure has long-lasting and irreversible effects upon the baby, altering the pain receptors of his young brain. In a system designed for pleasure and expressions of sexual love, the extraordinary and excruciating agony of circumcision encoded on his brain is a telling feature of our society. During the procedure, the child typically screams with pain and then goes into profound shock. Perhaps if mothers would first voluntarily undergo a circumcision procedure similar to the one they would force upon their helpless newborn sons, the practice would end almost immediately.
The circumcised penis is characterized by a raw, exposed glans that heals in a process that measurably thickens the surface, resulting in desensitization, and it takes on an unhealthy sclerotic appearance. This tissue characteristically lacks resistance to infection and trauma, providing entry for microbial invasion. The United States, with the largest number of circumcised sexually active adults in the world, has the highest rate of sexually transmitted disease. And recent studies have disproved the myth that foreskin causes penile cancer.
None of this details the risk associated with circumcision. Many babies are mutilated beyond having the foreskin removed. It is not unknown to have the entire penis amputated during the procedure. Infections are common, and the death rate is one in 500,000.
About half of all births in Arizona are financed through the AHCCCS program. Half of those births are males, whose circumcisions are paid for with tax dollars. Arizona taxpayers are financing sexual child abuse.
Circumcision is a billion-dollar industry in the United States, where more than a million infants are mutilated yearly. Many hospitals charge the parents for the procedure, then collect the foreskins and sell them to cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies.
Three candidates for Arizona attorney general all claim that their first priority is to work to prevent sexual child abuse. One candidate has even demanded the death penalty for those so convicted. One of them has said that she does not disagree with the circumcision of male infants. I do not know the family histories of these candidates, but it would be fascinating to discover how circumcision enters into their lives.
As distressing as it is to hear of Ms. Makinde's struggle, there seems to be a far bigger story right under Mr. Graham's nose.
Rod Anderson
NORM-Phoenix
(The National Organization of Restoring Men)
Phunk Fan
Awesome article on the Phunk Junkeez ("Junkeez for Life," David Holthouse, April 9). I've been a fan since '90, even after their breakup and regroup. I really do hope their new album does well. I'd hate to see a band like PJ go down. They are a great show to see. It's just too bad some people don't know.
Matthew Magee
via Internet
