From: gdavis@griffin.uvm.edu (Gary Davis)
Subject: Re: Circumcision and Anti semetism?
Keywords: Circ
Organization: University of Vermont -- Division of EMBA Computer Facility
Distribution: default
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 19:47:29 GMT

In <daved.726505864@convex.convex.com> daved@convex.com (David Dorfman) writes:

>In <gdavis.726427057@griffin> gdavis@griffin.uvm.edu (Gary Davis) writes:

>> Re: My comments about Parent's magazine... what was met was that many
>>yuppie parents both Jewish and otherwise read and believe the rather
>>party-line (old ideas about the necessity of circumcision).
>>It was not intended as anti-semitic in anyway,but as a person who has
>>studied the issue of circumcision for some years I would be dishonest
>>and politically correct if I said Jews are nuetral when discussing
>>the topic. Many leave this procedure as a cultural ritual,but I have
>>seen many Jews who are also magazine publishers,physcians and so forth,
>>attempt to justify circumcision medically!! This is what annoys me.
>>Jewish people have a bias concerning the subject just as surely as
>If I understand correctly both the Jewish and Muslim Religions require

 Yes, they do,but Moslems make up only a tiny tiny percentage of the
U.S. population and do-not own,publish or have great influence at
PARENTS magazine.






>I consider this an ANTI-SEMITIC comment.  You are assuming that because the
>editors have traditional Jewish names that they are Jewish, You are
>assuming that the editors suspend their required editorial objectivity
>because of their religious persuasion.  IMHO if a person is willing
>to display a mild bias for all to see then a stronger bias lays below
>the surface. I hope this is not true in your case.

What a fantastic statement and presumption! Yes, I spend my spare time
fire bombing synagoges. Does this please you?
And since we are now enter an accusatory stage with psychological
motives being inferred.. may I ask why a person such as yourself needs
to feel someone is persecuting them. Get a life PLEASE! 

      >>If anyone has an alternative hypothesis of why PARENTS is so PRO >>circumcision let me know! (Let the NET know too)
>>Lets not be to quick to assert anti- anything... we all are human and
>>with many of us religion and culture cloud objective thinking in many
>>areas. Circumcision is perhaps a prime case in point!

>Check the Boston Globe for January 7, 1993 and you will find an article documenting
>that the chances of PENILE CANCER are three times greater for non-circumcised
>men then for circumcised men. IN general the attitude is that the foreskin
>no longer provides any useful function in a modern society and some cases
>makes the chance of infection greater, this coupled with a general cultural
>bias among all americans towards Circumcision ( I want my Son to look like
>me) Has led to a generally accepted attitude that circumcision is part of
>the process of bringing a male baby into america today.

 A good point in part which does have some substantiation. In 1989 when
the AAP changed (not reversed) its stand on circumcision,headlines around
the country procliamed that the procedure was now a front line in well
child health care. The headlines were ofcourse not correct.
Are you saying PARENTS published such an article because that what they
think Americans want to hear?
If so this would erode any religious bias from the article.
But,quite frankly... people have biases based upon religion.. look
at how the U.S. treats homosexuals.   

As far a penile cancer goes this is an old scare tactic. Lets remove
a boys breasts too since breast cancer in men is more frequent than
penile cancer.
Today Dr. Dean Edell announced a new study showing a strong link
between smoking,multiple sex partners and a virus as the predominate
cause of penile cancer,one of the most rare known.

As far as bias for circumcision being shared amonmg all Amercians
I believe is both a bigoted and biased statement. Did you write
the Globe concerning this insult? Native Amercians do-not circumcise!

Gottcha  .

Watch out who you are calling an antisemite as you may meet the real thing
someday.


--
            ******** Gary E. Davis***** WQ1F *****
 The most common of all follies is to believe passionately in the
 palpably not true. It is the chief occupation of mankind.-H.L.Mencken
Newsgroups: misc.kids