The ban is silly, not because of the religious aspect, but because it's not that big of a deal, and the government shouldn't be making these decisions for parents.
I would agree that, to use a very crazy hypothetical, the government could prosecute a parent who tattoos a swastika across their child's face, as this would have such a negative effect on the life of the child, it would amount to child abuse. But, circumcision is not that.
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I don't think it is matter of degree but a matter of principle. Does the individual have the right to decide whether their body remains intact or not, given that no medical decision needs to be made when a child too young to make one.
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If you agree that no adult has the right to cut bits of skin off another adult, you need to justify doing it to kids. We justify making children have tonsillectomies, brush teeth for health reasons & taking stuff away & grounding them for learning reasons.
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"Because I am the parent" is not a justification and we see this in most cases. Parents are prosecuted if they cut other bits off their kids even if it equally mild - eg an earlobe or if they tattoo or brand kids even if this can be reversed. Because the child has rights too.
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You are going at it from the wrong direction. There is no justification needed for keeping kids bodies intact & letting them back their own decision. There is a justification needed for not doing so & "I am the parent & it's not that harmful' doesn't cut it.
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But, it is a matter of degree, isn't it? Parents should be allowed to make decisions as to what they think is best for their children, without government interference, so long as it they aren't neglecting or abusing them.
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Yes. I think it's clear that cutting bits off their penises falls on the "no" side of that line for the reasons I've given. There is no justification for this while there is for making them brush their teeth, have needed surgery, do their homework etc. Going in circles now.
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1. Sorry you think we're going in circles. It seems like an interesting debate to me.
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2. No one is advocating cutting bits of the penis off, but trimming useless skin from one part of it, which is the difference between a harmless cosmetic procedure, and genital mutilation. But, it's the location of it that's the problem for you, isn't it?
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