Well, just a wild stab, but my guess would be either American Indians or you guys, and I'd bet on the latter. The real question is why it became so prevalent outside Jewish and Islamic cultures if it was so unique to them (though in some ways making the distinction between "Hindu Indians" and Indians in general robs that stat of its punch; the high populations and prevalence of Islam in India, Pakistan and Indonesia mean there are plenty of circumcised non-Americans. ) There's certainly no religious basis for it among Christians; the NT is VERY clear on that (I believe it's Peter () who at one point expresses the wish that those demanding Gentile circumcision would "go all the way" and castrate themselves. )
One presumes Americans took it from the Jews and not from the Muslims, but as to why, I don't think there's a single explanation. Wikipedia suggests that it had to do with somewhat primitive views on germs in the early 1900s on the one hand, and on the other hand with preventing masturbation. Though it also says, somewhat surprisingly, to me at least, that only 60% of American male babies are circumcized today, and the sources seem to disagree significantly on how high the percentage was at the time when it was most prevalent, from 70% to over 90%.
In Australia, it was apparently quite prevalent in generations past, but is falling quickly now. In the UK, it never was dominant but was more prevalent in the past than it is now.
At least according to Wikipedias map, which indicates it's at least as common as here in all but about a half dozen southern African countries, and more common in most (though the map is itself a bit misleading based on the article, since it sets the cut off (if you'll pardon the term ) at 80% and states the frequency here is 79%. )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Global_Map_of_Male_Circumcision_Prevalence_at_Country_Level.png
Given that includes a mainland Chinese population that accounts for about 1/5 of the planet, the articles "30%" global prevalence is also a bit misleading.
I'd never made a connection with masturbation, and still don't really get it; unless the procedure is very badly performed a child shouldn't even notice after a week or two, and certainly not years later. The main medical issue I see is that folds of skin are more likely to trap pathogens than bare skin, so a more aggressive level of hygiene will be necessary to ensure the same level of health. The survey responses from circumcised men who seem to feel they're traumatized victims are a little bizarre to me; as a circumcised male I've never felt the lack. Which is the problem with the whole "let him choose" philosophy: Severing part of a highly sensitive area is rather painful, if only after anesthesia wears off, which is why it's traditionally done at birth so the child has no conscious recollection of it. The notion that it inflicts some kind of life long psychological damage smacks to me of the same mindset that doesn't trust parents to make any other decisions for their own children. Sometimes I think parenthood is being slowly abolished and a literal nanny state taking hold, which is deeply troubling.
Honorbound and honored to be Bonded to Mahtaliel Sedai
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
This message last edited by Joel on 06/10/2010 at 11:46:53 AM
/of sorts. Culture in general. And more specifically, American culture.
04/10/2010 07:32:29 PM
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The foreigner POV
04/10/2010 08:17:24 PM
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I think of how the Rockies and Appalachians were created by MGB and Chuck Norris wrestling. *NM*
05/10/2010 12:57:31 AM
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How about traditional American values?
05/10/2010 01:43:07 AM
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isn't that a bit misleading?
05/10/2010 07:52:18 AM
- 702 Views
yes but we have more of it
05/10/2010 02:50:53 PM
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05/10/2010 03:10:18 PM
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Do you know why it is rude to ask someone if they are from Texas?
05/10/2010 05:53:19 PM
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Word (concept) association with "American culture"
05/10/2010 09:57:07 AM
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i think those are pretty indicative word associations. *NM*
05/10/2010 03:08:08 PM
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Some of that may be more European than American culture.
06/10/2010 04:20:16 AM
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every other animal leaves it on the ground.
06/10/2010 04:50:00 AM
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Yeah, but even the "bigger is better" thing isn't purely American; we just took to an extreme.
06/10/2010 05:06:27 AM
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really, the part that most people go to at the Canyon isn't really a "nature park"
06/10/2010 05:33:48 AM
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My whole point there was that most US nature parks are tourist attractions.
06/10/2010 06:37:00 AM
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Nothing's purely anything, but you guys've got the The World's Biggest [everything] over there.
06/10/2010 07:14:55 AM
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with your medical training you really want to advocate leaving it on the ground? *NM*
06/10/2010 09:30:57 PM
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But circumcision is a hot topic in the US
06/10/2010 05:42:25 AM
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It is?
06/10/2010 06:51:31 AM
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You're wrong about the default for circumcision the world over
06/10/2010 07:44:40 AM
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That surprises me, but alright.
06/10/2010 10:00:14 AM
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It is indeed only prevalent among Jews and Muslims - and the old British empire.
06/10/2010 10:38:07 AM
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And, apparently, most of Africa.
06/10/2010 11:46:32 AM
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I've actually never heard it discussed except for two/three times on the wotmania/rafo boards.
06/10/2010 10:16:50 PM
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You make a good point about tipping
06/10/2010 09:58:10 AM
- 608 Views
I disagree - surely tipping is much more internationally widespread than some others in that list.
06/10/2010 10:43:32 AM
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Right!
05/10/2010 09:42:20 PM
- 611 Views
A Scandinavian fond of Creole and Cajun food? I thought my grandmother was the only one...
05/10/2010 10:30:57 PM
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You mean. . . there are people out there who don't love Creole and Cajun food?
06/10/2010 06:48:21 PM
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