In 1791 freedom of religion came into effect as part of the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The First Amendment promises freedom of speech, religion and the press. In San Francisco a proposed piece of legislation is due to appear on the November ballot banning a 5000 year-old religious practice protected under this very Constitutional right.
“For a city that’s renowned for being progressive and open-minded, to even have to consider such an intolerant proposition, it sets a dangerous precedent for all cities and states,” said Rabbi Gil Yosef Leeds of Berkeley. Rabbi Leeds is also a certified “mohel”.
Circumcision is the most ancient of Jewish practices. Circumcision, bris, means “ a covenant”. The ceremony takes place on the eighth day of a baby boy’s life. The covenant is involved with the perfection of creation. It is a pact with god that opens the door to get in touch with the higher self. The foreskin is symbolic of barriers that would prevent this contract with god. Circumcision is ordained in the Bible in Genesis 17:1-14. The bris is performed on the eighth day because it transcends the physical world that was created in seven days. The eighth day represents the spiritual and metaphysical realm. The baby boy is given his Hebrew name during the ceremony and is named in the pact with god as a Jewish child born into a Jewish family. The bris is performed by a mohel, who is certified in the medical procedure and the religious practice of circumcision.
“The practice of circumcision has been done for thousands of years and is an integral part of the Jewish religion. They can’t be allowed to stop such an ancient tradition. They’re legislating what we can do and it doesn’t even affect them. They don’t have to do it,” said Sam Goldberger, M.D., a prominent Beverly Hills Ophthalmic Facial Plastic Surgeon and Orthodox Jew.
Circumcision has been practiced in the Muslim religion from before the birth of the Prophet Mohammed. It denotes peace and blessings of Allaah upon the child and is performed in the very early years of the boy’s life. Circumcision is considered Sunnah in Islam which means habits, customs, and practices of Mohammed.
These ancient and personal religious practices are now being challenged and, if passed, become a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine of up to $1000 or up to one year in jail. Supporters of the ban call it genital mutilation that is painful, dangerous, and unnecessary.
A Notice of Intent has been filed in the city of Santa Monica to circulate a petition that proposes an initiative banning circumcision to minors, saying religion is not an excuse. Similar to the San Francisco petition, circumcision will be a misdemeanor, punishable with a fine of up to $1000 and/or up to one year in county jail.
The opinion of this writer is if we reverse course and begin to ban religious practices our system of democracy and the strength of the Constitution will be weakened. Our country sets an example for the world and fights overseas to open the doors for freedom. A ripple down effect could undermine our standing in the eyes of the world, and with Jewish and Muslim families in particular.
The word is discrimination. A segment of the population is being singled out, just as African Americans were for hundreds of years. The Revolutionary War symbolized our right to be free of oppression. If these initiatives pass where do we go from here? Will families be forced to practice their religion from cellars and darkened rooms? What other pieces of legislation will push us back to the Dark Ages of political ideology and forward to 1984?
http://www.missionislam.com/health/circumcisionislam.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk6sypntBTg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad
http://www.answering-christianity.com/sami_zaatri/circumcision.htm
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/28/BAIP1JKURA.DTL
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