This is a timely topic as my step daughter asked a question just last night. She is due to give birth to a baby boy later this year and she asked my opinion on whether to have him circumcised or not..
I tried to suggest that she should conduct some research into the reasons for it and to discus with her doctor; not necessarily her friends or family. Their OPINION will just be in support of the decision they themselves made.
She seems pretty keen to go ahead, as it is the regular practice in her country of birth. She says that although it might be painful, he won't remember when he gets older. This may be true, as far as it goes, but I am not sure that it justifies anything.
From what I can tell, there is only a very small number of circumcisions performed on adults or young men/boys and the great majority are performed on babies. Is this because they are helpless and cannot complain or object? Does that then constitute abuse?
I asked her if she would choose to have a daughter circumcised. Of course she said "no" (Duh!) and she came up with the hygiene argument, to which I replied with the "teach good hygiene" counter argument.
It went around in circles for a while.
I think I will suggest that she should be made to watch the procedure as it is being performed. Then let's see if she goes ahead.
From my point of view and experience: I was cut as a baby and remember nothing. I don't believe it affects my life or performance, or sensitivity, but then how would I know?
When my son was born, the question of circumcision came up only once. I asked "why"? The answer wasn't convincing enough for me to agree, so my son is whole; as God designed.
As far as hygiene is concerned, teach boys when they are young and they will never know that it is not normal to be hygienic.
As far as aesthetics is concerned, it is true that circumcised dongles are easier to detect when wearing budgie smugglers.
As far as where sex is concerned, I can understand that ladies may prefer to suck on a circumcised dongle, but assuming that it is cleaner is a bit insulting to the guy who is careful (normal) with his hygiene.
The foreskin is there to protect the glans. My experience shows that this is no longer necessarily necessary. We no longer run around the bush without clothes with the potential to injure our member. However is this enough justification to submit baby boys to what amounts to torture because mum thinks it MIGHT be more hygienic when he is grown up and can think for himself?