> Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2011, 7:58 PM
> Deat Lactnetters,
> 
> I feel some clarification is in order, since things get
> written that are taken as fact by those who don't know
> better.  Female genital mutilation is NOT an Islamic
> practice.  It is unlawful in Islam to harm someone in
> this fashion.  Orgasm and sexual pleasure are a woman's
> right in Islam.  Unfortunately, just as Christianity
> has failed to completely eliminate unChristian practices
> such as adultery, prostitution, child molestation, domestic
> violence, Islam has thus far failed to completely eliminate
> FMG in part of the world in which it was and is ingrained in
> local culture.  In geographical areas in which FMG is
> performed, it is practiced by Muslims and nonMuslims. I have
> read opinions of experts in Islamic law that say that if
> people wish to perform female circumcision, they should make
> a tiny, symbolic cut and not damage the genitalia. 
> This also does not have to be performed at any specific
> age.  Indeed, education in Islamic law should be
> increased in
>  these areas such that the people realize that FGM is not
> lawful, let alone required. There are many reasons, why this
> is so, one of which is that there is a whole profession of
> doing this act, which is passed down in generations, and
> people are very resistant to giving up their
> livelihoods.  The topic is too broad to adueqately
> address here.
> 
> Ritual cicumcision of males is sunnah in Islam, the
> confirmed practice of the prophets since Prophet Abraham,
> Peace Be Upon him, and is the norm for all males.  The
> age and manner with which it is carried out varies from
> country to country across the world.  There are over
> 1.7 billion Muslims and millions of Jews in the world, and
> to categorize them all as barbarians because they practice
> ritual circumcision is well, think about it.  Labeling
> a group as barbarian, "less than" human, THE DREADED OTHER,
> is how the Holocaust and other genocides happen.  
> 
> Anesthesia and analgesia during and after male circumcision
> is acceptable in Islam.  It would also be acceptable
> for circumcision to be performed when the Muslim male
> becomes an adult capable of making reasoned consent,
> however, it would be much more challenging to for the young
> man to achieve and maintain ritual purity for prayer. Prayer
> is the center of a practicing Muslim's life.
> 
> Hate-mongering against Muslims is increasing in the US and
> Europe, as are hate crimes against Muslims. Most of these incidents don't make the local and national news. It is very easy
> to spread misinformation and lies against a group like Jews,
> African Americans, Japanese, and Muslims until the majority
> poplulation feel very comfortable oppressing, persecuting,
> and murdering them.  Don't fall for it!
> 
> And BTW, Africa is not a country, but a continent of dozens
> of countries with hundreds of languages, thousands of
> tribes, cultures and subcultures.  It is extremely
> offensive and ignorant to talk about Africa as if it is a
> homogenous society.  Many African countires have a
> lower rate of HIV infection that the US and Europe, while
> others suffer endemic HIV, for example.
> 
> This is not OT.  When someone spreads misinformation
> about over 1/5 of the population of the world, with the
> effect of dehumanizing them, intended or not, someone has to
> say something.  Never again, right? Right?
> 
> And God Almight knows better than we do
> Salam (Peace), Maia Birchmoon-Gordon, BSN, RNC, IBCLC
> 
> 
>       
> 


      

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