Europe doesn't have a problem but then Europeans know how to care for foreskins. There's an entire generation of Americans who've never seen an intact penis due to medical advice that circumcision was good. So thwey're a bit afraid of it and believe all the hype about disease and other nasties. Despite the hype, Europeans do not suffer from an epidemic of diseases related to non-removal of foreskins.
I looked up the phimosis statistics a while back and it was something like 4 in 10000 get it. Contrast that to 1 in 500 who have problems with a botched circumcision, the "cure" causes more problems than the condition it's supposed to prevent. The other one commonly quoted by circumcision advocates is balanitis, which is an infection that can be avoided by basic hygiene. As above, knowing how to care for a foreskin ought to avoid this issue so only the ignorant need to be cirumcised to protect them.
OK, so I'm biased; I've still got mine and my son still has his. If he wants to get his chopped off when he's 18 then he's free to do so, but at least he's got the choice to stay intact if he wants to.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2005-09-04 06:20 am (UTC)I looked up the phimosis statistics a while back and it was something like 4 in 10000 get it. Contrast that to 1 in 500 who have problems with a botched circumcision, the "cure" causes more problems than the condition it's supposed to prevent. The other one commonly quoted by circumcision advocates is balanitis, which is an infection that can be avoided by basic hygiene. As above, knowing how to care for a foreskin ought to avoid this issue so only the ignorant need to be cirumcised to protect them.
OK, so I'm biased; I've still got mine and my son still has his. If he wants to get his chopped off when he's 18 then he's free to do so, but at least he's got the choice to stay intact if he wants to.
D