Subject: Re: Female Genital Mutilation
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 00:43:52 GMT

Rich Thompson (thomprr@ego.psych.mcgill.ca) wrote:
: On Sun, 22 Feb 1998, ray wood wrote:

: > Female genital mutilation is no more culturally relevant to
: > African culture than slavery was to American culture.

: See, you know that, and I know that, and Wayne knows that, and pretty much
: every other participant on this thread with one glaring exception knows
: that.
: But it's being argued here that any criticism of the practice, in any of
                                  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
: its forms, is prima facie evidence for European values attempting to
: destroy the African family.

Just so it's clear, I do not object to "any criticism" of the
practice, I object to *false* and *deceitful* criticisms of the
practice.  As I have already enumerated these false and 
deceitful criticisms, I will say no more about them here.
I have also objected to the meddling inspired by the
false and deceitful criticisms.  If you believe that children
are being molested, "mutilated", or abused, you would be right
to meddle.  If you think that children are being circumcised
for religious or cultural reasons, by family members, or
at the behest of family members, who certainly love them more
than any meddlesome outsiders do, in accordance with an ancient
tradition, my common sense tells me "none of my business",
and certainly none of the Government's business.  And yes,
to meddle would be a Euro-asilic imposition, by those whose
values *have* brought family breakdown and prostitution where
none existed before.

: Richard Thompson

In Maat,

	 

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