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April 28th, 2011
12:40 PM ET
SF could vote on male circumcision banActivists who want to ban all male circumcisions in San Francisco took a step closer to getting the measure to a vote this fall. Led by Lloyd Schofield who is part of a Bay Area “intactivist” group, the advocates call the after-birth procedure "male genital mutilation" and liken it to cutting female genitals. Schofield and the intactivists seek to make it "unlawful to circumcise, excise, cut, or mutilate the whole or any part of the foreskin, testicles, or penis" of anyone 17 or younger in San Francisco. Under the proposal, a person who violates the proposed ban could be jailed (not more than one year) or fined (not more than $1,000). Exemptions for religious reasons would not be allowed. "It's up to the choice of the individual - not the parents, society or religion," Schofield told CNN in November. "This is a choice for body integrity. Just as females are protected from having a drop of blood drawn from their genitals, baby boys deserve the same protection. Should teens make circumcision decision? The activists needed 7,168 signatures by the end of this month to have the measure appear on the November 2011 ballot. The activists submitted more than 12,000 signatures, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The city’s Department of Elections will learn within a month whether the signatures came from registered city voters. “If so, the city will have another one of its classic only-in-San Francisco measures to debate,” according to the paper. The measure faces huge hurdles: Legal, religious opposition and varying public opinion. It has brought up some interesting discussions about why we circumcise and whether there are any sound medical benefits.
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Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love. Recent Comments
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havent those folkks got anything else to do ... like GET A LIFE!!!!
I think it's a legitimate problem.
Removing the foreskin is a vestige of a bronze age religious tradition. It has no medical purpose. Back then, medical doctors would bleed out their patients, those committing minor infractions were stoned to death, and science was in its infancy. Why we take any assumed "knowledge" and "belief" from that era always amazed me.
what's a jew to do?
Judiasm for most Jews has become more of a cultural connection that a strident religious belief. How many Jews really believe that the world was created by God in 7 days about 6,000 years ago, or that a guy lived in a whale, or the fellow who gathered ALL the animals on a home made boat? Nah, it's all about cultural connection and family for today's Jews. I doubt that most Jews today keep a Kosher home or would be upset if their pediatrician did not lop off the foreskin of their male child.
Have it done elsewhere
So why don't we also ban all immunization shots and wait for babies to become teenagers to make their decisions! Shots cause the poor babies a lot of pain! Bood test after birth give medical staff the right to draw "drops" of blood from babies! Using this logic, in particular when it comes to "if" and "buts", "theories" or "facts" we end up giving parents and all authorities no power at all to make any decisions on the behalf of their kids before they reach a majoriy age, right? You've gone too far!
This is a very good point.Needles are incredibly painful and frightening to children. Not to mention the inherit dangers of immunization which may cause autism, seizures, poor school performance, teenage ma3turbation, and baldness. SF should immediately ban these barbaric and dangerous procedures.
Paul is an abject idiot.
vaccinations do not cause autism you fool.
I can't express enough what a fool you are. Spreading lies and fear.
You fool.
Immunizations prevent deadly diseases. It's an absolute scientific fact. Babies who haven't been immunized, either recently or before modern immunizations were available, regularly DIED from diseases that can be prevented with an immunization. People these days don't even remember how regularly babies died from illnesses before the modern age of medicine with vaccines and immunizations. Plus, the vaccine-autism myth has been debunked. So... vaccines SAVE LIVES. The pain of a shot is a small price to pay to keep your child from getting measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and so on.
I've never heard of a baby boy dying because (OMG!) the parents DIDN'T have his bits snipped.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Paul was being sarcastic, and that the rest of you just didn't get it.
Paul was clearly being sarcastic folks
It is really amazing! You all have access to the internet and don't seem to bother to search the facts about the risks of immunizing babies, children and even adults! Please, go and do your homework before disagreeing based on your bias judgment that is based on hating every thing that comes from religious people, in particular Jews and Muslims!
Most parents are idiots, especially the religious ones. They have no business making medical decisions for anyone but themselves.
What is wrong with San Francisco? That town is bonkers.
What part of barbaric practice don't you understand ... you twit.
Just another liberal attempt to control your world because the public is too stupid to make decisions on their own.
SF-The land of the lame and home of the G*y.
James= idiot
Are they trying to force all Jewish and Fundamentalist Christians out of SF?
If so. what a great idea!! Get rid of the strident believers and fundies. They are a cancer on any community.
Clean up the town. No need for religious nutjobs who want to hack up baby boys' anatomy. San Francisco would be better without people who are so religiously obsessed that they feel the need to have their baby boys cut up for NO GOOD REASON.
fundamentalist christians, YES, YES, YES
Let's hope so.
This is stupid... pretty soon parents will have no role to play! Plain laziness/weakness on parents' part...allowing the state to say what they can/can't do w/ their kids.
Parents don't own their children you moron! It bothers me that 40 years ago my parents had me mutilated. Disgusting. I had absolutely no choice, and it's my body!
PMS: You are exactly right. I feel the same way. And it's all done for the sake of religious ignorance.
Fck you OhMy. I don't have a problem so much with the surgery itself, but what I have a problem with is doing it to a little baby. It's that person's body, and it should be their choice. By the way, did you know that some surgeons use no anesthetic on infants because they can't tell anyone how excruciating it is and the fact that by the time they could, they would have absolutely no recollection of it?
Infant genital mutilation is an insane, barbaric practice that has no place in a civilized society. Anyone who plays any part in it should be thrown in jail.
Your a moron.
It's not mutilation; it doesn't decrease the functionality AT ALL. It's just foreskin people. I'm not a fundamentalist, but it's the PARENT's job to decide these things as long as it doesn't cause irreparable harm to the child which, 20 billion people later in history, has been proven it does NOT. What if I want to pierce my baby's ears? Get her immunity shots? A haircut? Shall I wait until they're 16 and suggest they do it themselves. Get over it.
When you resort to name calling you have lost the argument.
"Your a moron."
LOL!!! If you're going to call someone else dumb, don't undermine your own argument by MISSPELLING your insult!!
your, you're – Not that difficult to understand the difference, except for intarwebz trolls!!
What if its a late term abortion?
This is a religious practice people! It is not up to the government to decide! Do you not understand if we let them put a stop to this the next thing they will do is stop people from being baptized! What happen to a divide between government and religion!
Skegeeace
Immunizations do no perm. damage and save lives
Hair grows back
Even pierced ears will heal if you leave the rings out.
Removal of the foreskin serves no medical purpouse and permanently alters the childs body in a way which time, unlike the other examples you listed, will never fix.
Notch you're exactly right. The problem is, christians ALSO have no place in a civilized country, and so they would like it to continue to be uncivilized.
No, they should be hanged AT ONCE! Mutilating a poor baby. Plus, that's akin to trans-gender surgery, making the babies barely boys.
@Guest, terrorism by radical Islam is also a religious practice. And you're right, the government has no right to stop a suicide bomber who is simply practicing his religion. *sarcasm*
The "Save the Smegma" bill... Feel bad for these lads sweethearts.
I always wondered why SF had a peculiar smell.
I have tried to reach you by phone .I was told to call back after the 18th to see if any non-student tickets had been reretnud and available for sale of the 27th show for Rodrigo y Gabriella. Please let me know if I can buy 2 (or more). Thanks.
Everyone who's been snipped and is fine being that way, please reply with an Aye.
Aye! Its cleaner, healthier, and even *if* its true there is some diminished sensitivity, that is a good thing because you will be a longer-lasting lover.
Aye!
You know what? I don't remember any pain.
It is MUTILATION!!!
Aye! And I'm a Scotsman, and the sheep are OK with it, too.
AYE! I don't remember any pain, either. Weird, huh! And as sensitive as I am now, I'd highly doubt it could get any more sensitive with the foreskin.
Jesus, aren't you dead?
Oh, and Aye....
Aye. I've never missed mine.
Aye.. I'm not in any way religious and I love my little buddy the way he is without a turtleneck. This kind of potential legislation is just as narrow minded and oppressive as the archaic religious rules they people are rallying against... so stupid.. let the parents decide what is best for their child
Aye, can't say I remember the procedure and my dong works just fine and dandy
Aye, and (@ Boater) no, Jesus is not dead. He's alive now and forever more!
Aye. Happy to not have an anteater dangling between my legs.
You are dumb. Stop using the Internet.
Aye! Very happy to not have an anteater. I've never had any complaints from the ladies either.
Gays with hetero envy.
Who would want to live in a city mainly populated by? well, cnn won't post if I use the G word. They must have a bunch of G's in the censorship room.
Dont cut the babies pekers, leave them how god made them...a little skin never hurt noboby!!!
Until it gets infected.
Using that logic.. all women after 50 should have their breasts removed. Not going to nurse babies and prevents cancer !
It's there for lubrication purposes. There is greater risk of infection from surgery than of not having it at all.
Surprised to not see more women weighing in here, so I'll say it for those like me, who like the clean look... foreskins are gross. They are germ catchers, they smell bad and they are just ugly. The act men really like women to perform is one that is widely known among women for being something they are not ever going to do on a p with a foreskin. Keep it smooth and clean, guys. A lot of us won't get near it if it isn't.
As for the permanently altering the body issue, they do that to all of us right after we are born with immunizations. They are given to keep us and society safe from illness. Perhaps we should be looking at circ as a way to immunize men against stds. Foreskins tear during rough..activity, allowing a direct pathway to the blood stream for STDs. Just saying.
Wanna go out tonight?
You're using logic and reason to make you point. You can't do that in SF. Also, you can't make it so obvious that you're position on this issue is clearly influenced by you own personal preferance of penis types. You have to hide your true agenda and make it look like you really only care about the children. Use extreem words to make your point and play to people's emotions. Even play the race card maybe? How about a little class warfare? You have lots of options here. Right now, you would make a horrible politician or activist.
P.S. Oh, and make sure you use the word "facist". You can never go wrong with that one.
You also stated the same reason for why a woman's Labia should be removed.So perhaps we should remove them.Think about what your saying and if the roles were reversed.The foreskin is there for a reason,and I would hope a male is taught to wash himself,as women should be also.
Somehow I doubt you've seen any foreskins. You're just repeating the same propaganda that earns doctors easy money. That or you just think that men are too stupid to wash. Either way, you ought to educate yourself.
your points are ridiculous, not factual. I expect you have religious bias
If it's OK for women to say what parts of men's genitals they're allowed to keep, then sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Any man who doesn't like a woman's dangly bits should be allowed to have them cut off his baby daughter. OK by you?
I think you have valid points.
I am sorry but don't speak for me. Also, don't speak for women in other parts of the world either.
I have no problem with the uncut.
I guess that mean you would like your labia to be cut off because it dirty underneath all that folded skin? Easier to keep clean that way, and I mean, what guy would want to go near you if you had a labia that was undesireable. BTW, Im sure nobody would want to touch you either way, you sound like you are completely uneducated, let me guess, you are from the south...
San Francisco should rename itself "Granola". Because after you take away all the Fruits and Nuts all you have left are the Flakes.
What else should we expect from the land of fruits and nuts?
I was up for a role in a play and I had a nude part as a "non cut" gentile and I had to have my friend Phoebe fashion a fake foreskin for me out of silly putty. It didn't work though.
That was Monica that fashioned that fake foreskin. lol
I was at a bris and fainted because the Mohel was shaky and I flinched. It was embarrassing. The baby turned out okay at the hospital later, but there was an incident with a pig man.
I don't recall it hurting one bit...
In a parallel universe where parents cut half of their children's ears off, you would hear exactly the same argument. "Well I don't remember it hurting when I was an infant". But that doesn't answer the most basic question: WHY do it?
Ridiculous! There is no comparison to female genital mutilation, which is designed to destroy and offers no health benefits.
San Fransico has truly become the land ideas should go to die, but don't.
Liberal California want to restrict this personal decision,,,and they also think abortion is ok????? Whats the difference,,,Government and liberals,,,KEEP YOUR DAMN IDEALS OUTA MY LIFE! (gives California the finger)
Wait 'til you see what you have to take off now to get on a plane at the San Francisco airport.
Lloyd Schofield is only an extreme example of the self-righteous pushy psychos with a lunatic agenda who populate that area and influence its politics.
I guess if it becomes law, the SF police department will be foced to post **** police at obstetrics wards.
I completely agree.
Cut Please.
Its cleaner, tastes better, looks nicer.
I shot my mouth off and he showed me what the hole was for.
Give me a break, don't you people have anything better to do with your time
In this day and age the fact that we still allow this barbaric ritual to continue is unreal.Those who defend it either already have had the procedure,or are trying to ease or justifie having it done on their sons.It's not needed plain and simple.If this was a female topic there would be a major out cry.Don't site scripture,a baby needs protection not mutalation. For God's sake people grow up.Go watch a procedure and then see if you think it's no big deal.
I have not had it done, and I have 2 daughters. If I ever have a son, I will have him snipped because I would never want him to go through the pain or discomfort I have as an adult with forskin.
Reason #4,923,834 not to live in San Fransisco....
The capitol of nanny cities strikes again!
SF, please secede from the USA and go join what's left of Russia. Is is plain to see that is where you would rather be. We folks who like a thing called freedom, prefer you spread your communism elsewhere.
I for one am glad I did not have to go through grade school with sleeping bag on the end of my penis.
It's actually nice. Improves sensation.
Quit comparing it to getting your ears pierced already
Pierced ears heal themselves. IF you wanna compare it to the ear in anyway, copare it to have part or all of the earlobe (dangly bit of the ear) removed.
Killing the unborn = fine
Snipping a bit of foreskin after birth = BAD!
Have I got that right?
no moron, if you're against one you should be against both. You're just a hater of liberals, you saw SF - liberal - I'm against what they're for - answers all fall into place. Think instead and you'll see they're independent questions.
So are you saying the pro-foreskin movement is also pro-life? Still confused.
Another classic case of MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
That's what the babies woudl say.
After reading this I now think the entire Bay area should be evacuated. It sould then be restored to it's original wild state and be designated a wildlife preserve. You people living there are out of your minds and the dang otters and seals deserve this area more than any of you do.
Personally I am glad it was done back at a time I cannot remember. I say leave it up to the parents. Why do we insist in this country on passing law after law to tell people how to live their lives. We need less government intrusin, not more.
Parents should NOT decide! Oh, if i didn't like my son's ears, just cut em off. His nose is too big, cut it off. (sarcasm)
Alex
Parents should NOT decide! Oh, if i didn't like my son's ears, just cut em off. His nose is too big, cut it off. (sarcasm)
Nothing bad can happen if you leave the skin on your son's ear or if you don't cut off his big nose. But there is a great chance that a boy can get an infection on his penis. I'm not saying that people are uneducated and don't know how to clean, I'm saying that people, especially young boys, are lazy and will not clean it everyday. What's more is that if you neglect it even for a couple of days, the skin can have dry patches and crack. If this happens, it can and will be a timely and painfull recovery.
That parents have had the option of having a healthy, normal, necessary structure amputated off of their son's penis for any reason or no particular reason is insane! Name another healthy, normal body part that parents can ask a doctor to amputate and the doctor goes along with it. Imagine - "You think she looks better with three fingers instead of four? OK, no problem. We'll use some numbing cream and she'll be just fine." The medical profession's complicity in these mutilations is unethical and reprehensible.
Giving boys' genitals the same protection that our girls currently enjoy cannot be enacted fast enough for me. And enough of these sneering comments about "only in San Francisco." Plenty of people all over the country, but particularly on the west coast, have had enough of this disgusting practice. I'm grateful to Lloyd and the large group of volunteers who are finally taking action to do something. It's like Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus.
Actually, the foreskin serves no function, so your analogy doesn't work, just fyi,
Well, I'm just happy my BF is natural and uncut. I just prefer the way it feels. It's not a huge diference but if more men grew up with their natural parts their future partners will appreciate it.
This is about mentally perverted people trying to take away the rights of parents to control the welfare of their children. It's just another attempt to control others through a misuse of the law.
Shut your fcking mouth. The parents have no right. The child should decide later on.
The photograph accompanying this article doesn't specify whether the person pictured is even qualified to perform unnecessary surgery on a child's genitals.
It's between the parents and the doctor. It's nobody else's business!
I think the USA needs to sink some more of their money into the education system, or should I say China's money, honestly, every other civilized country not living in the stone ages frowns upon this practice, but then again, they are highly educated, unlike the US, sure the Muslims and Jewish people do it for religious purposes. So I am to assume that the USA wishes to model their behaviour after Israel and the MIddle East?
You dont see baby girls getting their lips cut off at birth because they might hold more germs, or they arent that appealing do you? Any woman in favour of cutting off part of their babies anatomy, should go to their plastic surgeon, get their lips removed, and then see if you think its something that you want to put a baby through, oh and do it without anestesia, thats what happens to your child.
Most people around the world feel bad for the minority of educated people in the US, its the uneducated that still run the country, and this is a product of that, wake up, cutting off your childs body part because some human wrote that it should be this way in a book 2000 years ago is probably the most simple minded and uneducated decision a parent could ever make, but then again, who said religious people were that intelligen in the first place.