posted October 28, 2005 04:27 PM         

One day, you can talk about it with him.

But I have to agree that I would sue the @ss off that hospital. Unless your husband signed papers allowing it, I don't know how they could do it.

posted October 28, 2005 05:38 PM         

But Trillian, really now. Are you seriously saying that you believe that all the millions of helpless little boys (and girls, in some parts of the world) that are having their genitals mutilated when they are too young to defend themselves is a result *karma*?? Just what could possibly have been the heinous crime that so many people have committed to deserve that?? I wouldn't wish circumcision on my worst enemy... For someone who struck me as so enlightened, that seems a very, very silly thing to say. Or do you just attribute *everything* that happens to karma?

Of course, you are entitled to think what you like, but I know that *my* soul did not come to this world to have part of my penis cut off.

posted October 29, 2005 09:55 PM         

Just to clarify... I did sign the papers, but I thought I would know when they were doing it... I could at least have sent my thoughts with him, demanded he be brought back immediately, or... for pete's sake, requested anesthetic!

I was at the doctor's office a while back and I got bored, so I started reading through my file... I came across a play-by-play of my son's circumcision. Everything from strapping him to the board to his reaction afterward. Floored me... felt like I was right there.

It was a horrible thing to read, but it made me feel in some small way like I was present.

*Johnny, my guess is that Trillian's response came from a place of believing that before coming into this world we choose our circumstances. I can see how this could be karmic... for him, for me, or for both of us.

BTW, it's nice to meet a male who feels so strongly about this. It surprises me how many men are so pro-circumcision. More hugs to you!

Thanks again, everyone, for your concern.

posted October 29, 2005 11:25 PM         

The only reason you meet more men who are pro-circumcision is because they themselves are circumcised, and they don't want to believe that anything is wrong with them, sexually. I was the same way for a loong time.

posted October 31, 2005 03:53 PM         

And as Tom Robbins once wrote, you can't achieve the ultimate state of being/understanding until you are not only enlightened, but also endarkened, which I imagine doesn't sit well with the enlightened club members. They're afraid of the dark.

We are One, but we're not the same. -Bono

As I said in my earlier post, I do not believe that karma is punishment; rather, I believe it is choice. This would negate the idea that babies are helpless, in the way you imply. Of course they need us for food, love, clean diapers, etc. But their souls are just as powerful and beautiful as anyone else's. So yes, on a soul level, I believe we generally choose the circumstances into which we are born.

This is not easy to swallow, because we don't like to take responsibility for some things in our lives, especially when they seem to be out of our control, like circumcision. You have misinterpreted what I said to indicate that I think circumcision is past-life punishment. I do not. But I do think it's abhorrent.

By the way, I feel I must also say that in my vernacular, karma doesn't necessarily have anything to do with "past lives."

I would submit that everything that exists, exists for its own perfect reason; ergo, your soul did come into this world to have part of its penis cut off. By the very existance of this circumstance, it is sanctioned by you and your soul.

However, I may be full of sh!t.

FU, best wishes for you and your son.

posted October 31, 2005 05:34 PM         

But if the whole enlightenment thing has devolved, like you say, then just cross out "enlightened" in my other post and read it as "smart and open-minded" (is 'minded' a word?)

posted November 01, 2005 08:50 AM         

One of the beautiful things in this life is that we always have the ability to change our minds. If you have not read it yet, I would really recommend that you pick up a copy of Illusions by Richard Bach. I think it's something you would enjoy, Johnny.

I've changed my mind about so many things, and I hope to continue to do so. I might change my mind about the definition of karma some day. I'm not sure exactly how the Universe works, and sometimes the rules seem to change. But I have ideas, and sometimes I share them here.

So what I'm taking a long time to get to is that you may be right; that we are victims of karma or some past life or the whim of God/dess. Personally, I don't like that scenario and it doesn't ring true to me. But as time goes by I'll let you know if I change my mind.

Please don't hate your soul too much; it's a part of you. Perhaps you think it made a poor decision. How about the soul who chooses a life of mental retardation? Would you hate that person's soul too?

Then again, if everything is Love/God/dess, then even hate is love. So enjoy.

Life is such a spiral, isn't it?