- Because “the foreskin would fall off by itself if it wasn't cut off by the doctor, just like the umbilical cord.”
- Because "If you don't do that they get a rupture....the urine will get all backed up and won't come out properly." / To allow
him to urinate. (A nursing graduate)
- Because a military surgeon "wanted to get back into practice because she could get $100 apiece for them in private practice" / To
provide practice for house-surgeons (interns) / To provide practice for Navy surgeons waiting for action.
- Because impurities collect in the foreskin and by removing it we are purer and closer to God. (A Lebanese Muslim man)
- Because it is an act of the civilized world.
- "I had him circumcised because the foreskin kept getting tighter and tighter as he got older to the point where he could no longer
retract it and if he did not get it circumcised the chances of his developing gangrene were not even a question."
- Because "apparently there is something in the Korean genotype [hereditary makeup] that causes problems with penile phimosis" (A
teacher in
- Because the foreskin's purpose is to facilitate rape.
Unbelievable but obviously true…The complete list of 343 circumstitions can be found on the website After reading these one tends
to become speechless or numbed or both, but also there’s the likelihood of becoming enraged and outraged. However there can also be
deeply saddening feelings brought up by the sheer volume of animosity and ferocity with which the foreskin is perceived by the multitude
of people encompassing all levels of society. This leads to the very pertinent question of “Do we live in a civilized world?” or are
we under some illusion that we do? Indeed if there was a conscience to prick then there might be some tangible hope that things might
change, but with such entrenched views and beliefs, this seems to be a forlorn and vain hope, and millions of neonates, children,
adolescents and young men must seemingly continue to endure genital torture, sexual mutilation and deep psychological traumas through
the blood sacrifice called circumcision.