To the Burnt-out Intactivist

Take heart intactivist.  The war will be won!  There's no losing this war, just quitting it!  There's no bad press, it's all good.  I say this with confidence because the first thing my wife showed me when we started discussing the topic for our first son was the reasons that support removing the prepuce from the penis (aka circumcision).  THAT is what got me to say "what?!"  Let these people that promote the procedure attempt to promote it; it's just going to make people question it even more.  In the day my parents made the decision to have my prepuce removed, there was no argument, no protests, no contention in the media and no information super-highway.  If people question it, more often than not, they're going to see the truth.

I know it seems like a daunting task.  Think about the numbers, though.  There are over 300 million people in the USA.  We know that many of those are ignorant to the anatomy of the intact penis and have been accustomed to the "circumcised penis."  Let's just say 2/3 of that are people that need to be reached (not children or others that wouldn't have an impact).  Now, lets say half of that is currently for removing the prepuce.  That is still 100 million people!  The main Facebook group for Your Whole Baby only has around 30k in it.  But, the movement is growing faster and faster!

There are plenty of people that laugh at us.  But, that just means we're irritating them.  We're getting them thinking.  Even if they disagree with us, there's really very little cost to them to just say "give them what they want."  I know, I know, there are the doctors that are afraid of admitting wrong-doing and risking legal repercussions.  There are the men that think it means that giving into the movement means admitting that there's something wrong with them.  There are parents that think it means they made the wrong choice.  But, think about other movements in history.  The slave owners had a ton invested in their slaves; not that I think this will ever have to go as far as blood-shed (even though it's blood-shed that we're fighting against).  But, doctors can find plenty of other work.  Men don't have to go public with their choice to leave their son(s) intact.  Parents, well, that's a tough one; they may just have to apologize for their choice.  However, if they continue to push the procedure, they will just make themselves look heartless.

I have been watching and participating in this fight for over 13 years now.  I've seen intactivists get negative.  I've seen intactivists become dismayed by some of the other intactivists that become very aggressive, rude and disrespectful.  While I know some people run the other way when encountering these kinds of intactivists, and that can be disheartening because we may feel that we've lost that person. I'd much rather keep people engaged rather than see them run away.  But, either way, we actually have not lost them.  The more people like this see anger about the issue, the more they're just going to want to leave children intact!  The anger over children having their genitals mutilated needs to over-shadow any anger that exists for not getting the children "circumcised."

If you need a break, definitely take a break.  I just hope that these words help the break be just that: a break.

Seriously, there is NO losing, just quitting!

Thank you for speaking out for the next generation!

Reasons some people respond so offensively to intactivists

As an intactivist, it helps to understand these things to approach people with empathy:

• If it was done to them, they don't want to think of themselves as damaged.
• If it was chosen by their parents, they may want to defend their parent's decision. Plenty of people rightfully want to protect their parents.
• Some desire to protect the routine as a part of their religion. Challenging any part of one's religion can be very scary. People don't want to be an outcast among their religious group.
• Some don't want to believe they made the wrong choice for their own child.
• Some want to believe that their doctor and/or medical system has told them the truth.
• Some are medical professionals that can't even consider the possibility that they have been performing a procedure (or supporting a procedure) that hurts people.

This may be redundant, but this helps explain:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance

As an intactivist, I keep this stuff in mind and not take it personally.

Filed criminal complaint for 'circumcision'

I filed a criminal complaint regarding the removal of part of my penis!  I went to the website for the Sheriff's office in the county that I was born, downloaded a "Voluntary Statement Form," completed it, scanned it and e-mailed it.  YES, I DID!  And, they sent back a case number!

Yes, I'm betting there are going to be many people that will laugh.  That's fine, every person in history that challenged a popular belief was laughed at.

This is what I said:
"Sometime between {birthdate} and {8 days later}, a part of my penis was removed without a medical indication at the {hospital} where I was born.  I consider this to be a sexual assault and battery with a deadly weapon."

Am I hoping to win a financial settlement?  This was not a civil case that was filed, thus, no.  Besides, I'm pretty sure we are well past the statute of limitations.

Am I hoping someone will get arrested?  Gosh, no.  However, if the doctor is still alive, I would request that the doctor make a public statement against the procedure.

So, what am I hoping for?  I am hoping that it will get attention.  I am hoping the news media may decide to make a story out of it.  I am hoping that the hospital administrator(s) and maybe even some doctors hear about it.  They may laugh and joke, but, the next time they chose to cut off a part of a baby's genitalia, I bet they will be thinking about me.

Note my selection of words.  I didn't even use the word "circumcision" because that would give it credence as a medical procedure.  I didn't identify that it was a doctor that did it, either, because that wouldn't make it any more OK.

If you're curious, there is this well known case of a man that did win a settlement:
This link no longer works:  https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=127183&page=1
This is an interview of William Stowell, the person that was covered by the story:  https://youtu.be/H8szj1jFCWM

And, here's a story of a lawyer that has been fighting a "war on circumcision:"
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/4361831-moorhead-lawyer-fights-two-decade-war-circumcision

Another lawyer that takes "circumcision" cases:  David J Llewellyn

Aren't hospitals and doctors risking fraud charges?

If you've read my previous posts, you already know that I'm an intactivist.  There are many reasons that I am, that I have not gone into detail, as there is a mountain of information out there and I just attempt to point my readers to where the information is rather than re-hash the details here.  But, I seem to continue coming up with thoughts that I have not really seen covered elsewhere.

I am tempted to send this to all doctors and hospitals where infant circumcisions are performed.

This is how I understand the prepuce (foreskin):  During childhood, it's attached to the glans (an indisputable fact) similar to how a fingernail is attached or how a kitten's eyes remain closed until the finish developing.  During the "circumcision" procedure, it is torn away.  In many cases that I've heard, if the parent chooses to keep the boy intact, the parent/caretaker is directed to forcefully retract the foreskin to clean underneath it and to do that repeatedly until it stops adhering.

Now, I'm not a doctor, but: I know that, when a toenail is ripped away, it doesn't grow back the same.  Of course, I didn't rip away my toenail repeatedly.  I wonder if the inner-mucosal part of the foreskin and the glans are permanently damaged by this process.  And, if that's the case, the foreskin probably seems like just "extra skin."  I also imagine that if I removed my toenail repeatedly, I would be increasing the chances for infection.  I also imagine that there would be plenty of scar tissue build-up, leading to a lack of sensitivity.  I have lots of scar tissue where my appendix was removed (3-4 inches in length) and it's like there is no nerves in the scar tissue.

This leads me to believe what I have heard:  In the USA, many boys, that are left intact, end up having to have foreskin amputation later because of problems like skin bridges (scar tissue buildup) and recurrent infections.

Now, either the doctors are culpable because of malpractice or they are committing fraud in order to make the money on performing the circumcision.  Another possibility is that they simply are taught wrong.  I have seen an anatomy book in a doctor's office and it does NOT go into detail about the prepuce; which is why I can see why they just think it's extra skin.  Of course, if you speak with an intact doctor, I doubt they would say that.

Circumcision Researcher's Shopping Cart

There is a mountain of information about circumcision out there.  I thought I'd put together a quick shopping list for those looking to educate themselves.

Videos:

I enjoy videos and find most people have the patience for them.  I'm sorting these by what I find most valuable and relevant.  There are also many videos on YouTube that don't cost anything, and well worth watching; I just recommend watching these first:

Books:

I am not a big book reader, but you may be.  I tried to group the books based on specific interest/subtopic.

Female:

General:

Religion:

There are more books here:  https://www.yourwholebaby.org/books

Why more circumcised men aren't complaining

Why do so many men seem OK with the fact that a highly functional and valuable part of their body was removed during infancy?

First of all, how many of the circumcised men even have the slightest idea what foreskin is?

If they're like I was for the first 35 years of my life, they probably think it's just "extra skin" that's problematic.  They don't teach anything about it in sex education.  Even anatomy books that doctors have do not go into detail.  An old AAP statement did more than the doctor's anatomy book that I looked at, but they removed the information even though it is no less true today than it was then.

Guys don't talk about their junk, either.  Women talk about their genitalia more than men do.  I'm not attempting to be homophobic here, but, homophobia is a reason; and, even the guys that aren't, think talking about their junk is just weird.

Don't guys miss it?

Why would they?  Imagine being born without something that so many other people have.  This something would have to be hidden from most people's view most of the time.  Even those born without limbs or with some deformity are going to notice that everyone else has a "normal" body.  Heck, in the USA, it's the other way around considering the number of men without foreskin.  This can make circumcised seem "normal."  It's the reason so many people say that someone with their foreskin are "uncircumcised."

And, if they do know what foreskin is?

Even after I started learning about what foreskin is, its functions and benefits, the harm that does as well as the harms that may come from not having it, I didn't completely realize it all for several years.  Just because you read, watch or listen to something doesn't mean that it's all going to click right away.  And, even as the realizations came, I had to go through the stages of grief (look them up if you don't know what they are) as they happened.  And, since I didn't realize all the impacts all at once, I had to go through the stages repeatedly.  And, there's no time clock on grief; it takes as long as it takes.

Even if a guy does know, you think he's going to be brave enough to face the public about it?  Not likely.  Men aren't supposed to complain; it appears weak.  And, hey, you can urinate standing up and have sex, right?

After I personally got through all the realizations, the grief and thought through all the fear, I finally realized that I have to be an intactivist.  It's not about me, it's about the next generation.  It's about those baby boys getting their foreskin ripped off every day!  No, they aren't starving to death and that's an important issue too.  But, this is an issue that I understand well.  It's an issue that I'm well informed about and can speak from personal experience.  Something I really think I can have an impact on.  Thus, it is my DUTY to do so.

Here's another good essay on the topic:  https://drive.google.com/open?id=1j3SptZXnDo7au6WhNtpI30dk-p51nUcZ

My journey as an intactivist

September 30, 2018

First of all, in case you don't know what the word "intactivist" means, it's an activist that fights for keeping children's bodies intact.

You may want to read my blog post from January of this year before reading this one.  Titled "Infant Circumcision" at http://johnadkison.blogspot.com/2018/01/  

It was at the time that I wrote the article in January that I decided to head full speed into intactivism.  Up until the time that I wrote that article, I struggled with the idea of speaking out about non-consensual circumcision.  I think the same things that kept me from confronting people is the same that keeps many men from doing so, and why I often see more women speaking out then men.   Men are raised to be tough, not to cry, etc.  Also, like Brendon Marotta put it, it touches on taboo subjects.  I then had the thought that I may very likely meet a child that gets circumcised today in 18 years from now, hear how angry he is that he's circumcised and not be able to tell him that I did everything I knew to educate people and protect him.

I joined groups of intactivists on Facebook.  There are many, but three of them I want to cover:  Your Whole Baby, Intactivists Stop Circumcision - ISC, and Bloodstained Men and Their Friends.  Each of these have a place, depending on what an intactivist feels prepared to do.

Your Whole Baby is a "gentle education" group.  This group does not allow you to reach out to other members via private message to convince them that child circumcision is wrong.  They don't allow bashing or shaming.  They only allow asking questions and providing information in a non-judgmental way.  And, this group does not go outside of the group to educate; it waits for people to join and ask questions.
Intactivists Stop Circumcision is more aggressive than Your Whole Baby.  The members of this group are supposed to be people interested in finding all avenues for educating and stopping the practice of child circumcisions.  This includes commenting on posts that are made public on Facebook about circumcision.  Many people don't know how to handle privacy settings on their posts, so, this happens daily.

Bloodstained Men and Their Friends is a group of people that go outside and protest with signs.  Quite often, wearing white pants with what appears to be blood stains on their crotch.  As I understand it, Jonathon Conte (may he rest in peace) was the one with the idea of the blood stained pants.  A few weeks ago I joined several of these guys in Vancouver BC.  It felt very good to be standing out there with them for the two days I got to be there.  Brother K even gave me a pair of his blood stained pants!!!  There are many very interesting and wonderful members of this group that I would love to talk about here, but, I've been thinking of starting an "Intactivists Wall of Fame" that may be a better place for that.

I even joined groups that are related, but not necessarily supporting intactivism.  Those groups include Circumcision Club and Circumcision Choice. 

Circumcision Club seems to be heavily comprised of men that tout the benefits of being circumcised, particularly when it comes to sex.  Someone new came along into the group and identified that I was an intactivist and attempted to have me booted.  With a simple defense, that person deleted his post.

Circumcision Choice ended up booting me once they determined that I'm an intactivist and I was challenging their way of thinking.  It didn't completely stop me from confronting the people from that group, though.  They have a web page that accepts comments, so I continued challenging their way of thinking there.  Surprisingly, they didn't just delete the comments and actually responded!  I consider it a win.

Other social networks, such as YouTube and GoFundMe have been excellent places to speak out as well. 

It's surprising how many people ask for money to pay for their child's circumcision on GoFundMe.  This is coming about as fewer and fewer insurance companies are covering the procedure and are now considering it strictly cosmetic.  It amazes me that this fact alone isn't enough to give people pause about the procedure.

There are several YouTubers that are intactivists.  James Loewen, who I originally got to meet at the American Circumcision screening in Seattle, runs a channel called Bonobo3D.  While he does some of his own speaking, the channel mostly consists of his video interviews of others that speak about the topic.  Two others of notable mention are Jordan Arel and "Momma Michelle," who I group together specifically because they both have a parent that performs circumcisions.  They both have their own unique discussions about intactivism.

Of course, there's other social networks like SnapChat and Twitter that can be useful.  I just have not done much with these.

There is a ton to learn about intactivism.  There's no way I'm going to be able to cover it all here; you'll have to go to all the places I've identified in my previous posts, the places I've suggested in this post and more.

I think the biggest challenge for intactivists is the statement the AAP made in 2012 and have not updated:  "...health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks and that the procedure’s benefits justify access to this procedure for families who choose it."  They go on to say that it "prevents" certain things such as UTIs, certain STDs and penile cancer.  I really think they need to replace the word "prevents" with "reduces chances of..." as it gives people the wrong idea.  Circumcised males can still get all those things.  Plus, the policy includes "they will need to weigh medical information in the context of their own religious..." - the AAP is supposed to be a medical organization; religion or culture is NOT supposed to play into their recommendation.  Here's a sign I'm thinking I'd like to see at the AAP conference: "AAP: Stop promoting the violation of the 1st amendment!" This is what they're doing with their statement, right? They are saying that the procedure should not be outlawed in support of religious/cultural reasons, which is actually violating the child's religious freedom.  I certainly think my own religious freedom was stomped on when they cut that part off of me!  Back then there weren't nearly as many studies showing medical benefits as there are now; unless they were strictly going by Dr. Kellogg's "let's stop masturbation" hypothesis.

Eric Clopper created a show this year by the name of "Sex and Circumcision: An American Love Story" that does an excellent job of addressing the AAP statement.  I do need to point out an important thing, though:  I don't think he did a good enough job of avoiding anti-Semitism.   Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon, the maker of "Cut: Slicing through the myths of circumcision" does an excellent job of calling this out in his video here.

People come up with all sorts of reasons to defend infant circumcision.  I came up with a simple set of responses:

• If you support circumcision in the name of medicine, you have to support cutting off many other body parts for the same medical reasons.
• If you support circumcision in the name of religious freedom for the parents, you have to support freedom of religion for anyone else with power (i.e. Sharia law).
• If you support circumcision in the name of aesthetics, you have to support other body modifications to children.

Another response I often use is "The only person that should be promoting circumcision is a doctor trained in these things that both enjoyed sex before their foreskin was removed and after - I bet you can't find one!"

Many often wonder why, if it's a big deal, not many men complain.  Why are so many men OK with the fact that they are circumcised?  Here's my response:

Try to imagine a society where every person had their pinky toe removed at infancy. Also imagine that everyone always wore socks and/or shoes all the time. Imagine that doctors told everyone that it is more hygienic because it's one less area to keep clean and reduces the chances of that area becoming infected.

If no one had that pinky toe during their life, and it was almost always out of sight, how many people would talk about it? Guys don't talk to other guys about their junk - it's weird and some say "gay." Circumcised guys don't ask intact men what it's like to have foreskin. When you grow up not having it, you aren't likely to miss it; unless, just unless, you learn about foreskin like I did when I became a father at 35 of a son. It's been over 13 years now. I still don't know what it's like to have foreskin, and that's part of what makes me furious: I'd really like to know! I do have a good imagination, though and have read about the anatomy and functions and now notice every single day that I'm missing something that could be making things better for me. I now know that I dealt with an issue as a child and am still dealing with issues as an adult and one of the issues will continue to get worse as I age.

There is a mountain of resources out there to support the intactivists.  Websites, YouTube videos, FaceBook groups and pages, as well as blog posts like this one.  Doctorsopposingcircumcision.org probably would be considered the most reputable since it involves actual medical doctors.  Unfortunately, everyone wants one place to go, that they feel they can trust.  Most want to trust their doctor, but, in the USA many doctors are only interested in making money.  And, many (if not most) USA doctors don't even understand the anatomy and function of the foreskin.  I verified this in person when I opened a doctor's anatomy book that was sitting in their office and found the complete lack of information.  It's no wonder so many just think that it's a "flap of skin."

I would be happy to point out the mountain of resources, but, I understand very few people are willing to take the massive number of hours to look at as much as I have, so I usually send people to the following videos:  American Circumcision, Cut: Slicing through the myths of circumcision, Elephant in the Hospital on YouTube and Dr. Guest's videos on YouTube.  I haven't met anyone that has watched those and come back to tell me that their mind was changed, but I'd be surprised if these videos weren't sufficient to do so.