The Line Between Government Interference and Parental Rights

In January of 2007, federal and state lawmakers of California began to receive a proposed legislation via email, fax and postal mail. Demanding that a male be of the age of 18 before circumcision could be preformed. They claim that circumcision is a violation of the child's personal rights.

While I am not denying that circumcision is surgery and can be painful. As a mother I begin to wonder where the line is crossed between protecting children and taking away parental rights. Before this proposed bill, circumcision was on the decline, many parents choosing not to have their sons foreskins removed. And now this bill causes outrage and frustration among families who wonder, what happened to personal decisions.

My first son was circumcised. It took less then 15 minutes and he was accompanied by my husband. Our child never cried through the procedure, and he had pain medication before it started. He never cried, never acted hurt, and there were no complications. My second son is due to arrive in early summer and he will not be circumcised. Not because a bill says its child abuse. But because my husband and I decided it is an unnecessary procedure to put a baby through without due cause.

When did the government become more concerned with a child's foreskin then the growing threats such as war and terrorism, or public health. Seance when is it the government's decision as to a parents decision of what they feel is right for their child. This goes along the lines of the American lawmakers proposing an anti spanking law.

Spanking is not child abuse, it is a form of discipline that can be highly effective. Yet proposing to make it illegal takes the rights out of the parents, and puts the child in control. A child can call 911 and say his parent has hit him, even if he hasn't, and there is a good possibility that that child will be removed from the house. Taking away our rights as parents to make the decisions on how to raise our children isn't going to solve the problem of child abuse.

As a parent, it is my job to teach and guide my child. To make decisions for him until he is mature enough to make them on his own. To tell me that I shouldn't have the right to decide things for him, or to punish him to a violation of my rights as a parent. Perhaps the government should consider, instead of laws that take away our parental rights. Laws that have harsher punishments for true abusers and more protection for children who are abused.