Jewish Scene
Anti-circumcision comic hero anti-Semitic?
Associated Press
Published: 09.07.11, 08:29
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34 Talkbacks for this article
1. 'Foreskin Man'
MFS ,   Canada   (07.09.11)
The artist drawing the 'cartoon' is a member of :#GetWatchers http://getwatchers.deviantart.com/ Acceptance criteria and submission rules: NO pornographic content NO extreme violence and/or gore/horror NO racism I wonder what they call 'racism'?
2. yawn
(07.09.11)
3. Hess is obessional about penis. He should consult
(07.09.11)
4. I agree, he's obsessed about penis.
USA   (07.09.11)
He must protect penises everywhere. We are going from legalizing gay marriages to banning Jewish commandments. If they don't pass such law in this century, they will pass in the next one.
5. "He said his sexual sensation declined....
Aaron ,   Israel/America   (07.09.11)
...as a result of his circumcision as a baby." How would he know this? Was he having sex as a baby? And if so, I think he has better things to worry about the a little snip snip of a boys penis. Even if this outrageous bill does pass, it won't bring back his "mutilated" penis.
6. Honestly it reminds me a bit of Ace and Gary
Jacob Erickson ,   Holon, Israel   (07.09.11)
Does anyone else remember Ace and Gary from SNL? Seriously, this foreskin man dresses in the same colors with a big penis head (with foreskin) as the symbol on his chest. And then he has his fellow heroine "Vulva Girl" whose symbol is a Vagina on her chest. Seriously... how ridiculous can it get? I wonder what this guy's origin story is? it must be incredibly ridiculous. One night he was enjoying a delicious salad and he eats a radioactive foreskin that some villian put in his meal to poison him... but instead he gained super powers and now is known as foreskin man! And instead of using his powers to fight real crime, he does this.
7. a hypothetical: Ozen-El
Ben ,   USA   (07.09.11)
A hypothetical situation: A few hundred years ago, a man claimed to have a vision from El, wherein El told him to snip 0.25 inch from the bottom of the lobe of his right ear. El also told him that 8 days after a son is born to him, the child's right earlobes should similarly be snipped. El told this man that this "ear-circumcision" shall be a sign of his tribe for ages to come, and his tribe shall be known as Ozen-El. How would you, as an outsider of the tribe Ozen-El, feel about ear-circumcision? Let's say you happened to be around an infant being ear-circumcised because your colleague, an Ozeneli, is the proud father, and he invites you to his son's Ear-bris. When the patriarch of the tribe Ozen-El had his vision a few hundred years ago, there was no such thing as anesthetics, so the practice of ear-circumcision continues today without numbing the pain of the procedure (let's say these Ozenelis are traditionalists!). You hear the newborn screeching in pain afterwards, and you know the procedure is not proven to have any medical benefits; in fact, studies suggest people who were not ear-circumcised as infants are just as healthy as those who were. Would you marvel at El's commandment being carried out, or would your conscience pain you at having to observe such a barbaric practice? Wouldn't you be sympathetic to the activists who would try to stop such an unnecessary and painful practice on infants and children? Wouldn't you think the Ozenelis to be religious fanatics, too willing to bring pain on others in order to satisfy what they thought were the dictates of their god? Wouldn't you think an ear-circumcision should at least be delayed until the child is old enough (let's say 18) to decide for him- or her-self? Let's say further that this hypothetical scenario takes place in a country that is not a theocracy, where you won't hear large mobs crying "Sanhedrin Now!" or "Long live the Ayatollah!", where the country has a separation of religion and state, and where it has an interest in preserving the rights and freedoms of all its citizens, regardless of age. Would you care about any of this, or does your vaunted concern for ethics and human rights end with the concerns of your own tribe?
8. A barbaric, unhealthy custom.
Michael ,   California, USA   (07.09.11)
Orthodox Jews are in a world of their own. No reasonable argument applies to them and they will scream antisemitism on anything. Many learned people have spoken up against circumcision, many doctors among them. The argument in favor of freedom of choice is the one that appeals to me the most. Jews and everyone else should be able to choose for themselves as mature individuals, which cannot happen when the child is 8 days old. Circumcision after the age of sixteen, after the "patient" signs a consensus form, should be allowed at a hospital. Otherwise it is coercion, a barbaric unhealthy custom. At its best, it is an extreme custom that is still tolerated by primitive people through coercion, with minimum impact because modern medicine can hack it. There is no need for it, never was.
9. Soon Muslims will do him in, a secret Fatwa has been issued
Marco ,   Spain   (07.09.11)
This stupid guy doesn't know that this will affect Muslims too and they are not as tolerant of such idiocies as Jews are.
10. to him the penis is sacred. to be fondled,
Barney ,   USA   (07.09.11)
suckled, and worshipped day and night. let him keep his fetishes to himself. Jewish ritual based on spirituality. His ritual based on sexuality. can anyone see a difference?
11. #7 Ben, written very well, good points, thought provoking.
Michael ,   California, USA   (07.10.11)
12. #7 ben ill say it with all my heart and jewish soul
Ester   (07.10.11)
u need a good doctor... if u want i can give u many contacts of nice doctors :) please let me know ^_^
13. ah and just wanted to say that
Ester   (07.10.11)
Hashem said that whos not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people cause he has broken my covenant and stop complaining people avraham tateinu got circumcised at 99 yrs old!!!!
14. #8 Michael: Youre the voice of the multikultist Left
Tom ,   USA   (07.10.11)
Tell us more about your Leftist "multikulti", "Diversity" and other assorted sex related rules you're strongly advocating. Multikulti only for the Islamist, unusual sexual practices - as a new form of "diversity" - for special, protected groups only.... Right? When Jews enter the scene multiculturalism is suspended and "diversity" is not applicable because of Bush and the Palestine suffering... Right? Diversity and multicultism is the privilege of - as Eric Holder said - MY PEOPLE... Right? Unless Obamao approves nothing is permitted to the Jews... Right? Genital mutilation of Muslim women is "multicultural" and part of the "diversity" training... Right?
15. is he related to rudolph hess or something
(07.10.11)
16. Michael, California
Kyle ,   Southpark, CO, USA   (07.10.11)
For someone who claims to have such contempt for Jews, Judaism, Israel and Zionism, you sure do spend an awful lot of time at this site. Trying to get a date with Salma?
17. What relative is he to Rudolf Hess?
observer   (07.10.11)
Hess said the character's blond, Germanic features reflect his own heritage
18. freud would have a field day
Ash ,   Israel   (07.10.11)
Frued would have a field day with this man This guy has some serious isues with women too, it's not just himself and the gost of his long-departed foreskin that are living rent free in this guy's mind. Notice how his hero is called Foreskin-MAN, while the heroine in the 3rd addition is relegated to being just a GIRL. Not just that, but a Vulva-girl vanquishes her enemies using smell. she gives off a purple gas that knocks the baddies out. Come on, you could do a doctoral thoesys just based on that one comic book
19. #8 you don't know what your talking about
Moshe ,   Jerusalem   (07.10.11)
Its not just Orthodox Jews it’s the practice of the Jewish religion to circumcise our Jewish boys at the age of eight days old. I don’t see anything barbaric about it, I don’t remember mine 53 years ago and no other person who had one remembers theirs either. In fact it was the practice of all male children in the British Royal Family until Princes Diana decided not to have her children circumcised. Its been proven that circumcision is more healthy, no germs get caught and there are less cases of AIDS with circumcised males. Also its been reported that women prefer to have sex with a circumcised penis.
20. The hero may be Foreskin Man, but the artist is a...
(07.10.11)
Shmuck.
21. I agree because 100% of Semitic Arab Muslims circumcised
observer ,   Egypt   (07.10.11)
22. Facts
Me ,   Here   (07.10.11)
I underwent circumcision at the age of 24 after conversion to Judaism. I can tell you for a fact that a circumcised penis is FAR SUPERIOR to an uncircumcised one, from pure health and physical perspectives. How? - It is cleaner - It looks much nicer - Erections are stronger - YES THEY ARE! - It is much more sensitive in sexual contact - It is less prone to infection because of horrible accumulation of dirt under the foreskin So stick that lot in your foreskins chaps! Get rid of them immediately!
23. This changes the issue
John ,   Alaska   (07.10.11)
The controversy over religious freedom versus the nanny state is no more. Now it's anti-Semitic face has been exposed. Episode 2 of the comic pits Foreskin Man, the Aryan Ubermensch against a trio led by a tallit-wearing mohel and including a henchman with long earlocks and a skullcap, and who wields an uzi. The day is saved when Foreskin Man takes the child from is father who want's him to be raised in the Jewish faith, and gives the child to people who belong to an activist group against circumcision, to be raised by them. So episode 2 of this anti-Jewish incitement teaches that the problem is a Jew who wants to circumcize his child and raise him as a Jew. The solution is to take his kid away and force the child's assimilation. Herr Hess, the author of the work, has written a textbook example of Anti-Jew propaganda. His work has redefined this crusade against circumcision as a crusade against Jews.
24. Ben, you are defending an antisemite
ak   (07.10.11)
Most American males, unlike European, are circumcised. Since most American males are Christians and not Jews, it has nothing to do with, as you put it: 'concerns of your tribe' , but a free choice of American parents to choose what they believe to be in the best interest of their children. Now you and this Hess character have annointed yourselves 'defenders of the newborn babes'. Millions of circumcised men, including my two sons have no complains, so get other yourself. As to the issue of separation of religion and state, the US government does not impose obligation to circumcise male babies, it is a free choice. Antisemitic comic books represent Hess's true agenda and motivation and those who defend him are birds of the feather. Of cause, given our freedom of religion and separation of religion and state you are perfectly free to decide to not circumcise your son, but stay the hell away from my rights. Now, if your complaint is related to your lack of sexual deficiencies, like Hess, perhaps you ought to look to other causes than the lack of foreskin.
25. #22...So why mutilate a baby??
Mikesailor ,   Miami, FL   (07.10.11)
You had it done when you could consent. Should all human beings have that same right? Or should they be forced to endure such an act in the name of 'tradition'. I always think this argument, from a religious standpoint, is ridiculous. In Genesis, God made man in his own image. And said it was good. Only later did the idea that God made a mistake come to the fore. It should have been God admitting his mistake of adding a foreskin to a penis, right? An amendment to Genesis? I have no problem with adults making such decisions for themselves. They can get circumcised, get tattoos or jewelry piercings. The issue, however, is with those too young to consent. Should an infant, say a female child, get a female circumcision merely because her parent's faith requires it? Should she be ritually scarred if that is the parent's tradition? Or should such practices be barred until the child reaches the age to determine for he/herself? This is not a religious question but rather a question involving human ethics. And if your only answer is 'tradition' or your pewersonal experience, your opinion is less than worthless.
26. #25 advocates acute mental torture for 18 years
Kyle ,   Southpark, CO, USA   (07.11.11)
What you are advocating amounts to acute mental torture for a period of decades, not mere seconds. I am very glad that my parents gave me a bris at 8 days. I don't remember any of it, and I am glad that I was raised as a Jew. To deny a Jewish child his heritage for almost two decades, not to mention the mental anguish and torture of "anticipation" until the procedure can be performed and it's over with, is far more excruciating than a few seconds in infancy. You can say "Well they should have a choice if they want to be Jews or not" which of course the entire point is to make it all that much more difficult to choose to be a Jew. Your opinion, which is to impose decades of mental torture on Jewish boys just because you don't care for religion, is not only less than worthless, it's evil.
27. Circumcision and Evolution
Michael ,   California, USA   (07.11.11)
After 3,500 years of Judaism's existence and of performing circumcision, there should emerge a fit (or fittest?) human who would be born without the need of circumcision. Notice: a human being who would be born and successfully multiplied without a foreskin. But it hasn't happened. Thus, it is evident Nature (explained by Charles Darwin's theory) does not support a circumcised creature as fittest to survive. Case closed.
28. 27 Michael "But it hasn t happened?
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (07.11.11)
My eldest son is born circumcised.
29. 27 Michael Read TBS 22 and 28
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (07.11.11)
I wouldn t bother to answer to your Tbs [some really irritate me] if i had not the feeling that something great hides VERY DEEP inside you. You sound like Einstein,who wanted to believe that there is no G-D.He invented a very sofisticated theory for proof.After having failed,he had to admit that this marvellous world has a Creator
30. #28 ORA, My cat was born with eight lives.
Michael ,   California, USA   (07.11.11)
Actually many cats were born with eight lives each. And they reproduced successfully, so now there are billions of cat lives. When your grandsons are born and you go to see them naked, please wear your glasses. Take a picture and post it, to prove they are born circumcised. You'll get the Pras Israel and the big stipend that comes with it. You'll be declared a national hero.
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