The issue of circumcision is one of human rights. Not a left-wing or right-wing tool to leverage against others. Are you issue orientated, or ideology orientated?
The blurred lines between human rights and domestic policy inevitably gets political, but what happens when we mix a human rights issue with political ideology? During the protests, rioting and occupation of the US Capitol last week, there were some prominent factions of far-right and neo-nazi groups were photographed participating.
As part of this protest, an “Intactivist” (Intact Activist) was photographed wielding multiple signs. The slogans were:
“MAKE AMERICA’S PENIS GREAT AGAIN, WITH A FORESKIN! OUTLAW BLOODY TRAUMA CIRCUMCISION!”
“TAKE AMERICA BACK FROM THE ANGLO-RACIST FORESKINLESS SMALL D*CK ENERGY WHITE-TRASH!”
“REPARATIONS FOR THE BLACK SLAVERY – HOLOCAUST BY THE ARABS AND EUROPEANS!!”
“NO BLOODY CIRCUMCISERS – PERVERTS – IN U.S COURTS, US SENATE OR US PRESIDENT. NO FORESKIN, NO PEACE!!!”
Anti-circumcision activist is not synonymous with right wing radicalism, but it’s easy to see why we are often ignored by the mainstream. This is the worst type of public relations causing more damage to our cause than good.
Apart from this being the worst possible PR for a serious and genuine human rights issue, the charged rhetoric is laden with strange and erroneous political slurs. This is dangerous for a human rights movement, as it can polarize people against the issue because of the radical factionalism that is being associated with anti-circumcision movements.
People who would be on our side are turned against us when their only reference is radical agents, especially when they are featured in articles alongside actual neo nazi’s.
“THE CAMPAIGNING HAS BECOME A BREEDING GROUND FOR EXTREME THINKING AND MISINFORMATION, OBSCURING VALID QUESTIONS AROUND MALE CIRCUMCISION”
As human rights activists, we can do better than this. Keep politics and other issues OUT of the circumcision debate. It is just an extra topic that people can find to disagree with, and they will. 15 Square focusses on the issue of circumcision, and not to an ideology. It is easier to open people’s minds on an issue than it is to convert them to an ideology.
ISSUE > IDEOLOGY
“SOME OF THE PUSHBACK I EXPERIENCE STEMS FROM SPEAKING AGAINST CIRCUMCISION, BUT SOME IS CERTAINLY DUE TO THE REPUTATION FRINGE INTACTIVISTS HAVE EARNED, AND IT ADDS TO THE DIFFICULTY OF WHAT WE’RE ALL FIGHTING FOR.”
- Jay Jackson, author of Circumcision Scar
Anti-semitism, Islamaphobia, or hate speech is thankfully quite rare in the organisations that comprise our movement, but it does exist. It is also blatant that there exist people on the edge of the movement who are prolifically intolerant. This often gets unchecked or accepted by the community, or worse, those who notice the bigotry are in turn attacked by the community. This can create an environment where hate speech can be defended.
Only a few of the people in the movement are belligerently bigoted or use circumcision as a weapon against their opponents (sometimes feminism, sometimes religion, sometimes society, sometimes political institutions).
On the other hand, some of the intolerance comes from people feeling targeted by these communities, or because they see these groups as opponents. This outlook is understandable to a degree, especially those who reject their own culture due to the idiosyncrasies. Outsiders to our community should recognise the serious harm and stress these people experience also. To change the practice of unnecessary circumcision requires dialogue, integrity, and tact. Fundamentally, a base level of respect is required to make this conversation mainstream. This will always convince more people than blind vitriol. If you are using your platform to express your anger and outrage, just be aware that you are slamming shut the doors of opportunity. And the rest of us lose progress because of your behaviour.
I joined this movement because of the amazing, positive, rational people who dedicate their lives to this issue. They lead by example and manage to turn lead into gold. I only hope that the public will one day see that side of our movement.
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