The burden of the Intellectual

[Runa216]

shakarak said:

I actually do agree with most of the points you are trying to make.  It is very hard to educate the ignorate without being agressive.  But even in some of the topics you listed as 'truths' could easily be up for debate.  Circumcision has it's benefits (pee better, easier to clean, etc..) and their is a counter arguement for global warming (earth is in natural warming trend, falsified documents, etc..).  While I actually do believe in global warming is a result of mankind (and also support circumcision) for you to say these are undeniable truths seems are things that can still be debated.  Their are certain things; however, that can't be argued that people insist on argueing about.

yeah, but there's that thing where you're mutilating your child's genitals becuase YOU think it would be nice.  I mean, I should have clarified that INFANT circumcision is the issue.  If you grow up and want to get cut, you have every right to do so if you think the pros (better looking, easier to clean/pee) outweigh the cons (loss of sensitivity, virtually irreversible) and the neutrals (Neither cut nor uncut have proven to be inherently cleaner or healthier), then go right ahead.  However, forcing your decisions on a kid (perhps it's a religious rite, perhaps you got cut as  a kid and happened to like it so why not share) is a decision that you're taking away from him for no good reason.  you don't know if he'll grow up to care about pulling it back to pee or clean it or not, you don't know what he'll value as an adult, visually or physically.  Something THAT intimate should certainly be your own decision, not the decision of your parents, as it effects your sex life, something that will last you theoretically from puberty to death.  

What I'm saying is that I should have clarified: Infantile circumcision without good reason is not really up for debate, but the act in and of itself is up to the individual. Is that fair?