Jezebel 
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New York, 8:14 PM
Mon Nov 23
65 posts in the last 24 hours
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10/29/09
10/29/09
However, my partner isn't circumcised, and I find myself getting defensive over the idea the circumcision is the only way to go, or a cure-all for STDs, as it's often seen here. Scientists have a point, of course - as scientists tend to do - but basic HIV education would do a lot of good, too, and that's still largely lacking. We've got a president (Zuma) who said (during his rape trial, natch) that he thought he could shower to avoid contracting HIV. Circumcision won't help much if there's not a general understanding of STDs. #circumcision
10/29/09
When I weigh in on it, though, I tend to get dragged into the circumcision wars. I find the medical case for circumcision in the developed world to be almost entirely baseless, and I've argued so; but the anti-circumcision crowd gets on me because I support the use of circumcision in sub-Saharan Africa, or in religious or cultural practice, which is frankly none of my business. I guess it's just one of those issues that is hard to argue about dispassionately. #circumcision
10/29/09
I'm new to this discussion, relatively, and I'm still surprised by how passionate people are about it. #circumcision
10/29/09
Circumcision doesn't help outside of sub-Saharan Africa, though, because those unique factors aren't found in other parts of the world. More importantly, circumcision has no effect on the spread of HIV in what are (still) the vast majority of transmissions: male-to-male sexual intercourse and the use of intravenous drugs. Circumcision further does not lessen the risk of male-to-female infection, only female-to-male. The procedure doesn't protect the people who are at risk in the developed world, and very likely protects the people in sub-Saharan Africa because of cultural and medical realities there that are not found anywhere else in the world. #circumcision
10/29/09
10/29/09
Just wanted to highlight these points, because they are particularly important (esp. for Western readers) to understand! Thanks for your post.
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10/29/09
As far as cultural or religious practice, that's above my paygrade. What I've said to people in the past who are wondering about it from a medical point of view is to say that perhaps the thing to do is to wait until the child is 12 or 14 or so and ask him if he wants to have the procedure then, when he is old enough to understand the situation and, with the help of parents, make an informed decision.
People tend to respond to that by saying "But then they'll never choose to get the procedure." To which I say, perhaps the fact that only infants who have no say in the matter get the procedure done should tell you something. #circumcision
10/29/09
10/29/09
@Freddie DeBoer: has it right.
10/29/09
And most insurance around me doesn't cover it at all. It's definitely considered elective to most insurance companies. #circumcision
10/29/09
10/29/09
08/25/09
Don't we all, Birthers. Don't we all.
08/25/09
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08/25/09
My father was born in Missouri in 1954 and wasn't circumcised. That happened when he went into the Air Force. So my mom's had it both ways. Ew.
The president is black. There is no mass C-O-N-spiracy to keep the white man down, it's just that things are changing. Get over it.
08/25/09
08/25/09
I'm so embarrassed to be a Hoosier right now. I have about a dozen rabid conservative females in my family that go by some version of "hoosiermama" as an online handle.
There is so much fail in this exchange. Maybe I'm too young, but i've never heard circumcision be equated with American-ness. I've had sex with American men of all races, only about half of them have been circumcised. I just don't get it. I mean, I want to see his penis, too, but I guess we'll all have to just satisfy ourselves with this: [cache.gawker.com]" rel="lytebox" class="commentImage
08/25/09
what. the. fuck.
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