My son HAD to have a circumcision at the age of 4. He had a foreskin that would not retract and they had tried to stretch it and it would not go.... ANYWAY.... he had it done and it was all OK... the surgeon who came to look at him after the "event" was obviously from somewhere in Africa and had tribal markings on his face. he was a really very very handsome man and extremely tall and with the most wonderful English accent. May I just explain that the town we live in has very few people who could be termed "black"...and I do apologise if this term upsets anyone but he had the most amazing blue black skin and Sam had never seen anyone that colour before. We were in a military hospital and this guy was from an overseas navy on secondment to the UK...
Sam was sitting on the bed when the surgeon came in. He said hello to Sam who was wide eyed with wonder at this absolute vision in front of him. Now I was a little concerned as Sam could be rather precocious and had made some "interesting observations about people" in the past.For example a woman who was extremely well padded got asked "excuse me but why do you wear such fat trousers?" He was 4 and was just learning about what you could and could not say when people were in earshot and whether what you said was Ok to say or no.... I found myself feeling very very nervous. The surgeon asked Sam if he could have a look at the stiches and Sam duly presented his willy for inspection. All the time Sam was gazing wider and wider eyed at this man and was staring harder and harder.... My plams were starting to get clammy as I could sense a question coming. "Now Samuel", said the surgeon. "you must be very careful with your new willy and take care of it" "Oh I will," said Sam.."may i ask you a question?" "You may" said the surgeon obviously expecting something about his colour.... "Are you the King of England?" At this the surgeon laughed alsmost fit to burst.. he rocked back and forward and tears were streaming down his face "No, I am not, why do you ask?" "Oh its just you sound like Prince Charles' dad" The whole ward errupted in fits of laughter and Sam sat there very very solemn and a little confused.... For a long time Sam told people that "King Phillip (the queens husband as far as Sam was concerned has to be a king) cut the bits off my willy... he is really nice and is very tall" So that is my two pence on circumcision.... He lives with his lack of foreskin and I am sure eventually he may or may not discover over sensitivity or lack of it.To have left it as it was would have been to condemn him to continued infections, courses of antibiotics and pain, so it was done out of necessity... SOmehow I feel my mail should be about something noteworthy and thoughtful on the eve of some hefty summitting and sabre rattling. But no words on that score will come. I just hope that words of wisdom and peace will prevail so that we continue to have a world in which to continue our association as friends of Joni. Lucy
