In news that is currently breaking the Internet (Ukraine? What?), American Pie actor Jason Biggs and his wife Jenny Mollen have posted photographs of their brand new baby son Sid on the day of his circumcision.
Jenny, who gave birth to Sid on 15th February, put the pics on Instagram with the caption: “Today was not a good day to be Sid’s penis. #babybiggs #circumcision.”
And she followed up with this amusing tweet about the family dog, Teets and his, ah, appetite.
“Right after we decided not to bury the foreskin in our backyard for fear that Teets might find it and bring it into the bed to sleep with us. That’s so Teets! #babybiggs #circumcision #teets.”
She was joking, you guys. Joking. Probably.
Predictably, the photographic evidence of a celebrity couple circumcising their child has incited some pretty heated debate.
Judging by the comments on Jenny’s Instagram, the #babybiggs had made quite a stir among those vehemently opposed to the practice, even for religious reasons. Sid’s mother is Jewish and it’s customary for Jewish baby boys to be circumcised on the 8th day after they’re born.
“He has to live with a mutilated penis because his parents are ignorant. #humanrightsviolation,” One commenter wrote. “Someone needs to educate this mama! There is absolutely no good reason to circumcise a baby, not even for religious reasons,” another commented.
Meanwhile, others offered their congratulations.
“Congrats and welcome to parenthood where everyone is right except for you! Where everyone judges what you do with YOUR baby! The comments, critiques and constant corrections are never ending! Mazel tov!”
If you’re not Jewish, it’s hard to appreciate or understand the cultural significance of a bris (pronounced “briss”) so let me try and explain. It’s a bit like a naming ceremony or christening. Admittedly, neither of those things include blood or sharp implements but circumcision has been a Jewish tradition for thousands of years. Even Jewish people who aren’t particularly religious tend to do it because it’s such a cultural thing.
I have been to many brises and all three of my sons had one. I won’t lie. For the mother in particular, they can be difficult and upsetting. It goes against your instincts to hand over your child to experience pain, no matter how fleeting. Think about how you feel when your newborn gets vaccinated and you have a sense of what it’s like.
Top Comments
I know this is almost a year old but the "science" you speak of lowering the risk of STD's has been debunked. It wasn't really scientific at all. To do this study with the real scientific method you would be purposely infecting people with HIV, which is obviously unethical and illegal. These were randomized observational studies, and the participants were educated and given free condoms. Not a single unbiased educated person in the world would give credit to these findings; which have different outcomes depending on the different randomized groups you choose. In fact the same types of studies were conducted with OPPOSITE outcomes. Bottom line is you can't use observational Science from tests conducted in Africa to make a decision on your son in the U.S.
@Rob, it doesn't prevent disease, or infection (all this has been scientifically debunked by unbiased medical doctors without an agenda), and you don't chop of a body part just so you don't have to clean under it...
all mammals have a prepuce it is a bio mechanically necessary part of the body. Woman aren't suppose to provide all of the gliding action... unless you work for some adult lube company...
muslims understand this fine and dandy. you don't have to be jewish to follow this commandment. good for them for keeping their covenant with God according to their religious beliefs :)