Celivia,

http://www.circumcision.com.au/

With modern techniques, circumcision is as painful and as risky as cutting your finger nails.

While the benefits are not sufficient to justify it as a routine procedure for all newbornes, the benefits exist, and there is no scientific evidence to justify stopping anyone doing it.

While as an adult the procedure is much more sensitive, there are still many many more adults opting for circumcision than reconstruction.

The foreskin like the appendix is a redundant appendage, and terms like mutilation are purely inflamatory, and could be applied to all procedures.

"my son had a mutilation to remove his appendix"

Laser eye surgery is also mutilation, as one can simply wear glasses.

BOth Celivia and Cornflower have failed to provide anything to show that having a foreskin is better than not having one.

Mutilate: To disfigure by damaging irreparably.

I don't usually see people's appendix or notice the shape of their cornea.

Houellebecq,

By omission, you do notice other peoples' penises?

We have a word for those that peer at other's private parts.

Having extended yourself to look up mutilate, you can complete the half job:

dis·fig·ure (ds-fgyr)
tr.v. dis·fig·ured, dis·fig·ur·ing, dis·fig·ures
To mar or spoil the appearance or shape of; deform.

Damage: Harm or injury to property or a person, resulting in loss of value or the impairment of usefulness.

Irreparably: Impossible to repair, rectify, or amend.

Which seldom apply, unless you have a fetish for gazing on foreskins?

Obviously you're a lights off in the bedroom kinda guy.

"Obviously you're a lights off in the bedroom kinda guy."
ROFL!

SM,
Removal of the appendix is not done routinely on babies, neither is eye laser surgery. Circumcision should also be a procedure that's done only when there is a medical reason for it.

Did you read Cornflower's "The Royal Australian College of Physicians" summary?

Anyway, the last thing I'm going to say on this matter is that although I would like to see circumcision for frivolous reasons banned, I also think that we're not ready for a ban until the vast majority of parents have been adequately informed and educated about the circumcision or else we will only expose babies to the dangers of backyard circumcision.

Excuse my little on-topic paragraph about fluoride, but Severin and perhaps some others mentioned that they object adding it to drinking water.
There is enough much evidence available that fluoridation does prevent cavities.
It is a mineral that naturally occurs in water. Fluoridation just means that the fluoride levels of deficient water is adjusted. Nothing bad about increasing fluoride levels where it's needed

Shadow Minister, "BOth Celivia and Cornflower have failed to provide anything to show that having a foreskin is better than not having one."

What absolute nonsense, routine circumcision is cosmetic surgery performed on religious grounds or because dad was so unfortunate to have had it done to him before.

Your statement could equally be made by those who would circumcise girls, where arguably through normal bodily processes of elimination and the probability that girls might not wipe themselves in the correct direction after urinating, infections will occur. Cut off the offending bits, the choice or pain of children being too trite to consider, huh?

Up until quite recently Australian children were not usually taken to the hospital or doctor unless their presenting conditions were obviously long-lasting or severe. Many people born post-WW2 can relate personal stories or those of school friends who endured such problems as broken limbs for days before the hospital visit was considered. "Kids always bounce back because they are tough" was the catch-cry back then.

They were days when child abuse and neglect were not reported and all turned a blind eye, but since then times have changed and there is a gradual realisation that children just might have rights. It is fair warning to those who profit from cutting little boys and those who agree to it that one day soon those children or the State could pursue them for what they have done.

You offer frivolous mumbo jumbo to support the sexual molestation and assault occasioned to infant boys, but thankfully the incidence of this disgraceful practice is waning.

I notice that the clinic whose site you linked to apparently do not comply with the recommendation of the RACP that where circumcision is performed it should be done under a general anaesthetic. They use a local and "for two hours he should not feel any pain". Either way there is no fooling oneself that it is unnecessary and there are risks. What a time to find out that your child reacts to the anaesthetic.

What about the resolution to "First do no harm"?