Commenting on Justin Miller’s letter, it is true that the religion
of Islam presents an invading force worldwide. However, there are
militant fundamental extremists in all faiths. How else would one
expect a society that abuses most of its males and the majority of its
females? By this of course, I mean circumcision. No matter how one
slices it, circumcision is sexual mutilation and molestation.
Childhood trauma, whether sexual or not, tends to manifest itself as
belligerence in later years. Western civilization is just beginning
to get past its history of child abuse and neglect.
Most cultures are rich and deep with history, and people of any
faith, if given the peaceful idyllic childhood that most desire for
their children, will raise a peaceful non-invasive people. We must
face the facts of what all religions really are, what their
fundamental teachings are. People of all faiths idealize the origins
of their religion. They like to point out all the good, and disregard
the bad, often saying things were different back then or that some
evils were overlooked by the gods, etc.. Believe in a god if you must,
but at least make sure that your god has the purity of spirit to act
morally in all his dealings with men.
However, the fact remains that if an action is moral in one case, it
is moral in all. If it’s immoral in one instance, then it is immoral
in all. Thus rape, theft, murder, slavery, abuse and lies are all
immoral in every case. It does not matter who commands or permits it.
We have no right to wage war against any people. It doesn’t matter
how badly they treat themselves, their women, their children, or their
neighbors. The spilling of blood only leads to further spilling of
blood, and there is no way to be sure that only guilty blood is
spilled.
There is a better way, of course. We can show the world the way of
peace. The American people have lead the world in many things whether
it be science and technology or ideas of freedom and justice. Let us
shine the light of freedom and love to all and lead mankind into the
future we desire.
Seriously?
You are comparing circumcision to car bombs, airplanes into buildings and beheadings? I must have misheard you.
Saying the circumcisions cause belligerence is completely unfounded. Or am I mistaken? Can you point to any studies?
Also, you are taking an ethical position that is very controversial:
Is it really ALWAYS “immoral” to lie?
You know the controversy, so I won’t waste blog space.
I harm and cause pain to people all day long for a living — and they pay me for it. Because it is not always wrong to harm or hurt people.
Sorry to be contrary but it looks like no one is following this post — it is just you and me here at the coffee shop! 🙂
What I am saying is that sexual trauma that is forced on a child is a terrible thing that tends to remanifest as further abuse and trauma in later life. One traumatic event won’t necessarily cause a car bombing, etc, but there is evidence that it does have serious consequences later in life. I’ll include a few links on the tail.
The way we raise our children is of utmost importance. I call myself an anarchist and atheist, but ultimately I realise that the big problems of god and government are symptoms of millennia of poor child rearing. Things do seem to be improving in the western world (though not as fast as many would like).
I used to spank children. I can’t bring myself to do that anymore, despite how I feel. It is still difficult to not raise my voice, but I tend not to do so. It is a long and difficult road.
Lying is a difficult area. There are scenarios where I could, and would lie. I’m not sure, now, why I included that in the list. Sometimes I just let the words flow. Once, I did think of a situation where I would likely lie for sure, though, it would never happen. If I were on a manned mission to Alpha Centauri, I would want my species to believe that life was already elsewhere, even if it made me a pariah on returning. The changes in civilisation based on that lie (even for a time) would more than outweigh any consequences to myself.
It would seem to me that perhaps you are in the medical field?
Zane
The evidence for this stuff abounds… just a precursory look.. feel free to still disagree.. I wouldn’t hold it against you. 😉
Psychological effects of circumcision:
http://www.cirp.org/library/psych/goldman1/
Childhood trauma and adult disease risk:
http://naturalsociety.com/childhood-trauma-influences-adult-disease-risk/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbiq2-ukfhM (first of an excellent multipart video)
That CIRP article is a joke.
Goldman is the “Executive Director of “Circumcision Resource Center” with a PO BOx address — seriously?
You’ve got to watch your sources.
You’ve gone to horrible sources for your info.
Circumcisions do not make boys violent — that is totally bizarre thinking !
Yes, I am in medicine. You can read my bio on my site.