Some parents let their kids climb trees, risking injury but gaining intangible benefits. Others won't allow it. We probably agree with one or other position, but the relevant question is whether we support external intervention to impose our judgment on whichever set of parents we don't agree with.
Parents who allow a Rabbi to cut their baby's genitals up do honestly believe they are doing that baby a huge favour, and at least one of them has probably got experience of this first hand, which adds credibility to their case. I am skeptical about the ability of a forum full of atheist gentiles to really evaluate the benefits of participation in this ritual that means so little to any of us, and we are weighing them against what seem to be very slight risks.
There are all sorts of areas in which we demand such judgments of parents, and in which the opinion of the baby counts for absolutely nothing. Babies don't want to be vaccinated, potty trained or taught to share. Infant care and nutrition seem to be areas of constant controversy, and every parent is always negotiating a moral minefield. We ought in this instance to let them make their choice without condemnation.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
