Penis Envy

San Francisco needs to ban its people from having any more children.  Seriously – this city hates everything..

They’ve banned Happy Meals, prohibited their citizens from sitting (or resting) on sidewalks during daylight hours, made it illegal to feed birds, fine residents who do not recycle their trash or compost their rotting food, and now they are voting on whether or not to strip parents of their religious and/or parental rights as it pertains to circumcising their sons.

In a state (and city) drowning in debt, tax dollars are actually funding a ballot measure that aims to punish any parent choosing to circumcise their son by enforcing either a fine or jail time.  (For the record, the measure currently provides no religious exemptions.)

The most disturbing discovery, however, is that the anti-circumcision movement is gaining momentum beyond the ever-constricting walls of San Francisco and loaded with misinformation.


Are circumcisions medically necessary?


Circumcisions are indeed medically unnecessary.  However, many have likened circumcision to a surgical vaccine – as the proven benefits far outweigh the risks.

**Interesting side note:  Due to its “medically unnecessary” status, the United Kingdom has made circumcision an uninsured, out-of-pocket expense – making it virtually impossible for new parents to afford the option.**

 

What are the medical benefits of circumcision?

A circumcised penis is hands-down more hygienic and according to America’s Center for Disease Control (CDC):

“A lack of male circumcision has also been associated with sexually transmitted genital ulcer disease and chlamydia, infant urinary tract infections, penile cancer, and cervical cancer in female partners of uncircumcised men. The latter two conditions are related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Transmission of this virus is also associated with lack of male circumcision. A recent meta-analysis included 26 studies that assessed the association between male circumcision and risk for genital ulcer disease. The analysis concluded that there was a significantly lower risk for syphilis and chancroid among circumcised men, whereas the reduced risk of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection had a borderline statistical significance.”

Is circumcision “Genital Mutilation” and barbaric?

Genital Mutilation refers to a practice whose sole purpose is to prevent sexual pleasure and/or procreation.  It is often a punishment carried out crudely and without the use of anesthetics.  Genital Mutilation has absolutely no health benefits whatsoever and is indeed barbaric.

Conversely, circumcision (when performed in developed countries, in a clinical environment, by trained professionals)  has many obvious health benefits, is usually performed on infants with a local anesthetic and leaves the penis fully functioning.

Are there risks?

Circumcision is a surgical procedure and harbors its own set of risks, which is why the procedure has always remained a choice.

Should a man be able to choose for himself whether or not to be circumcised?

One of the biggest arguments made by the anti-circumcision movement is that a man should be able to choose for himself whether or not to be circumcised; thereby outlawing the procedure on infants.  Parents make medical decisions that affect the lives of their children every day.  Whether it be participating in a vaccine program, or allergy shots, or ear tubes, or proper diet and nutrition, or vitamins, or brushing teeth – we have been making decisions for our young since the beginning of time.  Most parents are fully capable of choosing wisely for their children.

Is banning circumcision in conflict with the First Amendment?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. - First Amendment of the United States Constitution

Jews, Muslims and Christians worldwide have been circumcising their sons for thousands of years.  The act of circumcision is a covenant made with G-d that creates a physical identifier of ones belief system.  Banning circumcision would be in direct violation to the practices of all three of the Abrahamic religions, which makes this measure wholly unconstitutional.

Summary

It seems that whenever a secular tradition is rooted in G-d or religion, people worldwide want to abolish it regardless of any compelling scientific data suggesting its benefit.  The facts are that circumcision is proven to be a noble warrior in the fight against AIDS and STI’s and banning the practice would be a huge infringement upon our religious and parental rights.

It begins in San Francisco this November, but will end in your town if  We the People don’t take a stand now.

Below is the contact information of San Francisco’s Mayor, Edwin M. Lee.  Feel free to write him and make your voices and opinions heard!

Mayor Edwin M. Lee

City Hall, Room 200,
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Telephone: (415) 444-6141
Fax: (415) 554-6160
Email: mayoredwinlee@sfgov.org