Libertarian attitudes towards circumcision

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumcision

I'd like to know what peoples' attitudes are towards male circumcision of young boys, I'd be especially interested to know what Libertarians believe about this.

 

I won't be circumcising my children. If they want to at an older age, fine, but I'm not cutting off a part of their manhood when they're born.

 

I see no reason to mutilate young children. I don't feel like it's appropriate to make that choice for a child when they have no say in it.

Most people are appalled when they read about female genital mutilation in Africa and places like that, when really it's similar to circumcision... just a traditional cultural act that serves no real purpose. I know people from those cultures that live here have been arrested for carrying out those traditions on their children - why aren't we arresting the people who are circumcising babies here?

 

It's child abuse, plain and simple. It is a barbaric practice designed to reduce sexual pleasure. I still hate the fact that my parents subjected me to it. I think parents should not be allowed to circumcise their children without the child's consent as it goes beyond the role of a parent as a trustee.

 

well....i got circumsized, although i dont feel anything "missing" im probably not going to circumsize my kids when im older, partly because of the Godless agnostic that i am.

i dont blame my parents for getting me circumsized though.

BTW- does it really reduce sexual pleasure? i enjoy it immensely, i cant imagine how it'll be for a non-circumsized dude

 

Yes. The part of the foreskin that is cut away contains a large number of sensitive nerve endings, and it protects the head of the penis from chafing and such.

 

It also gets harder to clean but that's usually avoided if you wash it regularly.

 

Everything I believe about circumcision has been stated above.

I believe it's wrong, etc..

 

My parents circumcised me. I don't know, I mean yeah I think the child should have some say in it, but its not that big of a deal. The child doesn't feel anything at the time, they are too young that they forget about the pain rather quickly. So saying that its wrong because the child doesn't decide - yes, I'll agree on that. But saying its barbaric and unethical - no, I don't see why it is.

 

It's sick,
it's the kids choice!
When the childs mind is fully grown, and mature,
I believe it should be his own desition to do so,
not the parents,
and even if they do consent,
they are too young,
their minds are not truely set on what they want.

 

So if I tortured you and then gave you drugs to black you out so that you would forget the experience, it would all be ok? I'm just trying to put things in perspective - just because the child can't remember the pain doesn't mean the pain isn't real.

I actually had something like that happened to me, I broke my arm when I was 12 - they set the bone while I was still conscious, according to my family I was screaming in pain, but then they pumped me full of some obscure anesthetic which made me forget the entire experience, I still don't remember.

 

It should be done when you are a baby once you get 8+ its going to hurt.

its cleans out all the dirt and stuff inside the tunnel so its okay. nothing wrong with it. just grow the dang thing back

 

Soldier needs his helmet before he goes to war.

 

It is permanently removing part of your body. To me, that is both barbaric and unethical, especially because it is done without your consent.

 

i would have been slightly upset with my parents if they didn't have me circumcised.

the pain of it as an adult would be extremely unpleasant. i like my penis how it is; the extra skin would have had to go some time for me anyways.
GRANTED, i know very little about the scientific/medical advantages/disadvantages of the procedure.

however, for the record, i believe that pain you have no memory of does not, in fact, exist FOR YOU. i believe this in the same way that i believe that an alien from the planet snargle grub that i have never met does not exist because i have no evidence to back it up.

 

I dont think it is barbaric in the slightest.
1) It represents religious faith in certain religions (specifically judaism)
2) Personally, I think penis' look like weird pencils without it.
3) Studies have shown that it is actually more healthy then being uncircumcised, and prevents many infections and diseases.
4) In the jewish religion, it is done at 8 DAYS OLD, so you are practically senseless, and are slightly drunk from wine, so the pain is minimal. It is a forgotten memory, but it is an asset.

 

I was circumsized and personally feel that it should be the person choice if he wants to be stripped of part of his body forever.>_<