This is *some* of what I had on Facebook under My page's "Notes" - and Facebook made it disappear. So here it is reprinted.
The Foreskin is an important Organ of the body, and a vital part of the Immune system. Just as the eyelid protects the eye, the foreskin protects the glans. The foreskin also maintains optimal warmth, pH balance, and cleanliness. The glans itself contains no sebaceous glands – glands that produce the moisturizing oil that our skin needs to stay healthy.The foreskin produces the oil that keeps the surface of the glans soft and healthy.
Circumcision is not simply the cutting off of useless skin. Author Gary L. Harryman ennumerates what circumcision destroys:
***Its connective synechia, which fuses the foreskin to the glans during development.
***Approximately half of the smooth muscle sheath called the dartos fascia.
***Most of the erotogenic nerve endings
***Specialized epithelial Langerhans cells, a component of the immune system.
***Thousands of coiled fine-touch receptors, including the Meissner's corpuscles.
***Estrogen receptors--the purpose and value of which are not yet fully understood.
***Ectopic sebaceous glands, which lubricate and moisturize.
***The protective covering of the glans, normally an internal structure. The foreskin shields from abrasion, drying, and callusing, and protects from dirt and other contaminants.
***The entire immunological defense system of the soft mucosa, which may produce antibacterial and antiviral proteins such as lysozyme, also found in mother's milk, and plasma cells, which secrete immunoglobulin antibodies.
***Lymphatic vessels, the loss of which interrupts the lymph flow within a part of the body's immune system.
***The frenulum, the sensitive "V" shaped tethering structure on the underside of the glans is also usually amputated, severed, or destroyed.
***The apocrine glands, which produce pheromones, nature's powerful, silent, invisible signals to potential partners.
***As much as 50% or more of the total penile skin, radically immobilizing and desensitizing whatever skin remains.
***The "gliding" mechanism. If unfolded and spread out flat, the average adult foreskin would measure 15-20 square inches, the size of a postcard. This abundance of specialized, self-lubricating skin allows the ability to smoothly "glide" back and forth within itself, permitting non-abrasive intercourse, without drying out the vagina.
***The pink to red to dark purple natural coloration of the glans.
***10% to 20% of its circumference because its double-layered wrapping of loose foreskin is now missing.
*** As much as one inch of erection length due to scarring and shrinkage from loss of the foreskin.
***Several feet of blood vessels, including the frenular artery and branches of the dorsal artery, the loss of which interrupts normal blood flow to the shaft and glan, damaging its natural function and possibly stunting its growth.
*** An estimated 240 feet of microscopic nerves, including branches of the dorsal nerve.
*** Perhaps most importantly, between at least 10,000 to 20,000 specialized erotogenic nerve endings of various types, which can discern slight motion, subtle changes in temperature, and fine gradations in texture.
*** And occasionally a boy will lose his life from this needless operation. It has been estimated that as many as between 100-150 babies die EVERY year from circumcision and related complications.
Please share this list with others, especially anyone who says the foreskin is a useless piece of skin or that circumcision is no big deal. The Foreskin is a vital ORGAN and an important part of immune system. Many men, after reading this list and researching, are greatly saddened by the realization of what they have lost. Many are suing their doctors for doing harm and taking away this vital part of their anatomy.Here is a list of websites specifically on the functions and purposes of the important foreskin organ.
To read more about the functions of the foreskin, see:
http://www.drmomma.org/.../functions-of-foreskin-purposes...
http://www.circumstitions.com/Functions.htmlhttp://www.cirp.org/library/sex_function/
http://www.circumcision.org/foreskin.htm
http://www.norm-uk.org/function.html
http://www.noharmm.org/anatomy.htm
http://www.nocirc.org/symposia/second/denniston2.html
http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/intact/foreskin.html
If it is because of a belief system (religious) check out the MANY links on these two pages:
http://www.drmomma.org/.../information-on-circumcision...
and
http://www.drmomma.org/.../circumcision-jewish-fathers...
"Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you be circumcised, Christ will be of no advantage to you." – Gal 5:2
"Watch out for those wicked men – dangerous dogs, I call them – who say you must be circumcised. Beware of the evil doers. Beware of the mutilation. For it isn’t the cutting of our bodies that makes us children of God; it is worshiping him with our spirits." – Phil 3:2-3
"And I testify again to every male who receives circumcision, that he is in debt to keep the whole Law. You who do so have been severed from Christ...you have fallen from grace." - Gal 5:3
"But if I still proclaim circumcision. . . then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished." - Gal 5:11
"I wish that those who are pushing you to do so would mutilate themselves!" - Gal 5:12
THE FUNCTIONS OF FORESKIN
http://www.circumstitions.com/Functions.html
http://www.circumstitions.com/Works.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_dzeDvx2QA
http://www.drmomma.org/.../functions-of-foreskin-purposes...
http://www.drmomma.org/.../intact-or-circumcised...
http://www.nocirc.org/symposia/second/denniston2.html
http://www.circumcision.org/foreskin.htm
http://www.noharmm.org/anatomy.htm
http://www.drmomma.org/.../how-foreskin-protects-against...
http://www.drmomma.org/.../change-in-how-intercourse...
WHAT IS LOST TO CIRCUMCISION:
http://www.noharmm.org/anatomy.htm
http://www.norm.org/lost.html
http://www.circumstitions.com/Notjustaflap.html
http://www.circumstitions.com/Lost.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23374102/
REPORTED DEATHS/COMPLICATIONS:
http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com/health-home/infant-circumcision-vs-adult-circumcision-why-waiting-is-best/
http://www.circinfo.org/USA_deaths.html
http://www.circumstitions.com/death.html
http://www.circumstitions.com/Botched1.html
http://www.circumstitions.com/Complic.html
Graphic: http://ripetomato2uk.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/glans-amputation-circumcision-complication.pdf
http://www.savingsons.org/.../healthy-newborn-dies-post...
http://newborns.stanford.edu/CircComplications.html
http://www.drmomma.org/2010/05/death-from-circumcision.html
http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/DOC/statement0.html
http://community.babycenter.com/post/a10051525/re-circumcision_and_penile_adhesion_surgery
INTACT CARE
http://www.drmomma.org/.../basic-care-of-intact-child.html
http://www.circumstitions.com/Care.html
http://www.thewholenetwork.org/.../proper-care-of-the...
http://www.intactamerica.org/resources/careforintact
SOMETHING FOR DADDY
http://www.savingsons.org/.../to-happily-circumcised...
http://www.savingsons.org/.../happy-birthday-penn...
http://vimeo.com/26130057
http://www.drmomma.org/2007/11/the-vulnerability-of-men.html
THE HISTORY OF CIRCUMCISION
http://www.savingsons.org/.../circumcision-to-reduce-mens...
http://www.stopthecut.org/history_of_circumcision.php
http://www.cirp.org/library/history/
http://churchandstate.org.uk/.../the-foreskin-and-the.../
http://www.drmomma.org/2008/01/circumcision-in-america.html
http://www.drmomma.org/.../history-of-female-circumcision...
VIDEOS
http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/video/video.html
http://rubyslippersx3.blogspot.com/2013/09/best-links-for-circumcision-information.html
http://thebirthingsite.com/newborn-health/item/39-video-of-male-circumcision-graphic.html
http://www.circumcisionvideos.com/onlinewbwr.htm
A PSYCHOLOGY TODAY SERIES
http://www.psychologytoday.com/.../myths-about...
REGRETFUL MOMS - KNOW BETTER, DO BETTER.
http://www.drmomma.org/.../i-circumcised-my-son-healing...
https://m.facebook.com/CircRegret?id=398546936877041&_rdr
http://circregret.blogspot.com
http://www.drmomma.org/.../circumcision-what-i-wish-id...
http://www.drmomma.org/.../mother-of-2-circumcised-sons...
http://www.drmomma.org/.../ask-experts-circumcision...
http://motherwiselife.org/.../my-journey-to.../
http://evolutionaryparenting.com/why-you-should-care.../
http://legosonthestairs.blogspot.com/2012/10/circumcision-question-that-should-never.html
MEN DO COMPLAIN
http://www.savingsons.org/.../realization-of-circumcision...
http://www.savingsons.org/.../birth-of-activist...
https://www.facebook.com/MenDoComplain
http://www.drmomma.org/.../men-ask-why-was-i-circumcised...
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...
www.mendocomplain.com
THE RATES IN CALIFORNIA AND ELSEWHERE
http://www.savingsons.org/.../us-hospital-circumcision...
http://www.mgmbill.org/statistics.htm
http://www.bayareaintactivists.org/about
GENERAL RESOURCES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbTdkWV89Ak
http://www.intactamerica.org/learnmore
http://9davids.blogspot.com/2010/11/50-reasons-to-leave-it-alone.html
http://astore.amazon.com/savingsons.org-20
http://www.drmomma.org/.../the-medical-benefits-of-infant...
http://www.savingsons.org/2007/01/circumcision-studies.html
http://www.savingsons.org/2007/01/circumcision-websites.html
http://www.drmomma.org/.../male-and-female-circumcision.html
http://www.drmomma.org/2010/01/are-you-fully-informed.html
http://chanceforchange.wordpress.com/.../fact-checking.../
http://motherwiselife.org/.../routine-infant.../
www.pinterest.com/intactri/know-better-do-better/
http://www.drmomma.org/.../plastibell-infant-circumcision...
http://www.drmomma.org/.../mri-studies-brain-permanently...
http://www.drmomma.org/.../circumcision-how-much-does-it...
http://www.drmomma.org/.../06/take-your-whole-baby-home.html
http://www.thewholenetwork.org/consequences-of-circumcision.html
http://birthbootcamp.com/circumcision-basic-facts-guest-post-by-rachael-heiner/
Selling Foreskins - A Billion Dollar industry - Is it Ethical?
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-cut-above-the-rest-wrin/
http://www.sdcitybeat.com/sandiego/article-7356-the-$140-million-foreskin.html
http://www.norm-uk.org/where_do_foreskins_go.html
http://www.foreskin.org/f4sale.htm
https://sites.google.com/site/completebaby/cosmetics
http://www.timeslive.co.za/ilive/2011/08/10/interest-in-circumcision-more-than-foreskin-deep
http://saving-babies.blogspot.com/2011/08/dollars-sense-business-of-circumcision.html
http://ccr.coriell.org/Sections/Search/Sample_Detail.aspx?Ref=GM21808&PgId=166
http://www.lifetechnologies.com/order/catalog/product/C0045C
~ Entire List Found on @OnThisJourney
https://www.facebook.com/notes/on-this-journey/circ-info/721116797922013
Milah: Symbolic Circumcision of CovenantThe original Biblical circumcision of Abraham's time was a relatively minor ritual circumcision procedure in which only the redundant end of the foreskin extending beyond the tip of the glans was removed. This was called "Milah". It is from this term that the Jewish Religious Covenant circumcision ritual Bris Milah or Brith Milah got its name.
Following "Milah", a penis so circumcised would still contain a considerable portion of the foreskin and the penis would have continued to go through its natural development since most of the foreskin would have remained intact. Protection of the glans would still have occurred. The foreskin would not be stripped back off the glans and would naturally separate from the glans gradually as the child matures, much as it would had the child not been circumcised. The sensitive frenulum would not have been disturbed or moved, and the foreskin remaining would continue to cover and protect a substantial portion of the glans, especially when flaccid, and the glans would appear as uncircumcised. There would be minimal loss of sensitivity or intended protection.
This type circumcision continued throughout the ages and during the time of Christ. The circumcision of Christ would have been this type circumcision as referred to in the bible. Indeed, biblical reference to circumcision is strictly this form of circumcision. It continued into the New Testament. It has been argued that Michelangelo's David should show David as Circumcised. Interestingly, Michelangelo presented David precisely as he should have appeared following an infant "Milah" circumcision. His glans is essentially covered with only the tip of the glans showing.
Changes to the Ritual Circumcision Procedure:No other feature was added to the religious ritual until about 140 AD when a second step to the ritual circumcision procedure was introduced.
Periah: The laying bare of the glansAfter performing "milah", the cutting back of the end of the infant's foreskin, a second step, periah was then performed. Periah consists of tearing and stripping back the remaining inner mucosal lining of the foreskin from the glans and then, by use of a sharp finger nail or implement, removing all of the inner mucosal tissue, including the excising and removal of the frenulum from the underside of the glans. The objective was to insure that no part of the remaining penile skin would rest against the glans corona. If any shreds of the mucosal foreskin tissue remained, or rejoined to the underside of the glans, the child was to be re-circumcised.
This is a much more radical form of circumcision. It was dictated by man, and is not the biblical commanded circumcision rite. Its introduction has a bizarre history. The rabbinate sought to put an end to the practice of youths desiring to appear uncircumcised by stretching the remainding foreskin for social economic benefits and for sports competitions. By introducing the painful and debilitating "Periah" they would obliterate the foreskin completely such that proper circumcised Jew could not disguise "the seal of the covenant". From this point in Jewish history, the male's glans is directly affected by the circumcision procedure, and the denuded glans and traumatized infant will heal with considerable nerve damage and loss of sensitivity. Again, it is important to note that this is not the Covenant circumcision of Abraham defined in the Bible. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Another psychology question for holistic-minded mothers would also be as that the foreskin is an important part of the immune system, and as we are constantly looking for natural ways to improve the immune system, why would some holistic mothers choose to take away a very natural part of the immune system? ----------------------------------------------------Here is all the info in one place: https://www.facebook.com/notes/on-this-journey/circ-info/721116797922013 and Here are some of my articles:
http://melissaneece.blogspot.com/2013/03/genital-integrity-week-facebook-postings.htmland http://melissaneece.blogspot.com/2010/06/circumcision-and-fathers.html andhttp://melissaneece.blogspot.com/2010/06/circumcision-and-mothers.html andhttp://melissaneece.blogspot.com/2010/02/circumcision-is-anti-christian.html andhttp://melissaneece.blogspot.com/2010/02/circumcision-is-human-rights-violation.html