Circumcision
The United States is one of few countries in the world that practices routine circumcision of infant boys for non-religious reasons. Once regarded as fairly innocuous, broaching the topic of circumcision has become a sure-fire way to start a shouting match. There are those, like the group Mothers Against Circumcision, who believe circumcision is tantamount to child abuse, and others who believe it is a safe, preventative health measure. For an issue that is seemingly black and white — there is, after all, no such thing as a little bit of circumcision — there is a remarkable amount of middle ground.
The American Academy of Pediatrics diplomatically concedes that there are "some benefits but not enough to recommend circumcision for all infant boys." Circumcision is widely thought to reduce risk of disease in both circumcised men and their partners. Another argument in favor of circumcision is cosmetic; some say ladies like circumcised men better and that a quick snip in infancy will eliminate any risk, once your son reaches adulthood, of women laughing at him behind his back because they think his penis looks funny. So: is circumcision a barbaric custom or a civilized way of improving health? Do you really want to remove your baby's foreskin because there is a chance it might cause cervical cancer in your future daughter-in-law? Then again, why put your baby at increased risk for penile cancer?
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