[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Leoat 01 May 2004 04:27:31: Re: Circumcision, choice, resposibilities
As an answer to: Re: Circumcision, choice, resposibilities written by Charles II at 27 Apr 2004 01:19:36:
>I may not have read as much as you, but I already concurred with your points, all three of them, as to their point of view and arrangement of priority.
>While the responsibilities of the medical community to inform society in general, in your item 3, may get to the problem I see in item 2, I would like to advance the discussion about boys making their own choices at age of puberty. I'm not sure there is a magic age that will be best for all, and would hope that we won't be springing the matter suddenly on a boy reaching puberty and expect him to make an informed decision in haste. Some will already know of the matter and have formed an opinion about their needs and wants, even before then. The rest should not be left behind, but should be educated about an impending decison that will be theirs to make. I think boys reaching the age of reason, generally believed to be about age 7, can grasp this matter. By that age, they are expected to make judgments and decisons for themselves every day, and are rewarded, acknowledged or punished on the basis of those reasonings. Very soon after they begin school, they are going to start finding out about these things anyway. Better they get their information from reliable sources and not just at the school urinal, and I believe that age 6 or 7 is not too early to start.
This educational phase would most likely begin with the 'pottie-training' stage and end after the young adault (17-19) has experienced the joys and responsibilities of growing up with thier intact penis. But,, It all starts with the parents being GROWN-UP enough to deal with bringing this information to the child in a format that the child can understand. Afterall, it is thier responsibility.