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And, apparently, most of Africa. Joel Send a noteboard - 06/10/2010 11:46:32 AM
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 (:P) who at one point expresses the wish that those demanding Gentile circumcision would "go all the way" and castrate themselves. :P)

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 :P) 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.
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This message last edited by Joel on 06/10/2010 at 11:46:53 AM
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/of sorts. Culture in general. And more specifically, American culture. - 04/10/2010 07:32:29 PM 910 Views
Before answering that question, answer: "What is culture?" - 04/10/2010 07:48:40 PM 711 Views
Re: Before answering that question, answer: "What is culture?" - 04/10/2010 08:12:19 PM 611 Views
The foreigner POV - 04/10/2010 08:17:24 PM 701 Views
Thanks. This is what I was looking for. - 04/10/2010 08:22:40 PM 603 Views
Re: The foreigner POV is fun to read - 05/10/2010 03:14:00 PM 599 Views
LOL - 05/10/2010 08:13:39 PM 517 Views
- 05/10/2010 08:38:52 PM 475 Views
When I think of American Culture... - 04/10/2010 08:29:09 PM 682 Views
just a list? - 04/10/2010 08:31:19 PM 621 Views
How about traditional American values? - 05/10/2010 01:43:07 AM 760 Views
isn't that a bit misleading? - 05/10/2010 07:52:18 AM 702 Views
I never said they were unique to American culture - 05/10/2010 02:36:25 PM 551 Views
yes but we have more of it - 05/10/2010 02:50:53 PM 614 Views
- 05/10/2010 03:10:18 PM 464 Views
Do you know why it is rude to ask someone if they are from Texas? - 05/10/2010 05:53:19 PM 596 Views
ilu2 - 06/10/2010 04:13:47 AM 693 Views
I don't live in Gary. - 06/10/2010 04:25:36 AM 638 Views
It's part of IN though. - 06/10/2010 04:30:23 AM 668 Views
Good thing, too. He died recently. - 06/10/2010 10:13:26 PM 499 Views
Word (concept) association with "American culture" - 05/10/2010 09:57:07 AM 602 Views
i think those are pretty indicative word associations. *NM* - 05/10/2010 03:08:08 PM 258 Views
Indicative of what? *NM* - 05/10/2010 08:47:44 PM 277 Views
american culture? - 06/10/2010 04:50:27 AM 600 Views
Some of that may be more European than American culture. - 06/10/2010 04:20:16 AM 558 Views
But circumcision is a hot topic in the US - 06/10/2010 05:42:25 AM 624 Views
It is? - 06/10/2010 06:51:31 AM 667 Views
You're wrong about the default for circumcision the world over - 06/10/2010 07:44:40 AM 635 Views
That surprises me, but alright. - 06/10/2010 10:00:14 AM 588 Views
It is indeed only prevalent among Jews and Muslims - and the old British empire. - 06/10/2010 10:38:07 AM 658 Views
And, apparently, most of Africa. - 06/10/2010 11:46:32 AM 766 Views
I really don't think it is much of a hot topic here - 06/10/2010 09:37:50 PM 773 Views
You make a good point about tipping - 06/10/2010 09:58:10 AM 607 Views
I disagree - surely tipping is much more internationally widespread than some others in that list. - 06/10/2010 10:43:32 AM 577 Views
Re: I disagree - 06/10/2010 07:41:14 PM 699 Views
I don't think I disagree with that. - 05/10/2010 02:57:36 PM 657 Views
btw, I obviously think this is a good post. Fun. - 05/10/2010 03:21:21 PM 565 Views
sounds a lot like the America I know *NM* - 05/10/2010 05:55:27 PM 267 Views
Is the first part of that statement even true? - 05/10/2010 04:45:36 PM 541 Views
Hm. Interesting. - 05/10/2010 05:43:19 PM 519 Views
I think it is - 05/10/2010 06:00:18 PM 574 Views
Point! - 06/10/2010 06:02:33 AM 506 Views
Right! - 05/10/2010 09:42:20 PM 611 Views

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