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- Lawhorn's Lawrence: A night of partying in Oread May 19, 2013 · 41 comments
- Affordable Care Act bringing jobs to Lawrence May 16, 2013 · 74 comments
- Legislative negotiations break down amid Republican in-fighting May 17, 2013 · 14 comments
- Opinion: Scandals undermine trust in Obama May 19, 2013 · 31 comments
- Gas prices approach record highs May 18, 2013 · 34 comments
- Opinion: Benghazi triggers a major credibility crisis May 18, 2013 · 47 comments
- Missouri man dies of injuries after Saturday motorcycle accident May 18, 2013 · 16 comments
- Opinion: Benghazi, IRS: Son of Watergate? May 15, 2013 · 112 comments
- Faith Forum: Who is your favorite lesser-known Bible character and why? May 18, 2013 · 9 comments
- Senate approves bill banning use of tax dollars to advocate for gun control May 17, 2013 · 60 comments
- Utah walks off with 1-0 baseball win over KU May 18, 2013
- Two Topeka men shot in Lawrence early Sunday morning; police seeking persons of interest May 19, 2013
- Opinion: K-State's Snyder coaches life, then football May 12, 2013
- Gas prices approach record highs May 18, 2013
- Sun shines on KU graduates' smiles as they celebrate commencement May 19, 2013
- Kansas Forestry Service, USDA study finds the value of Douglas County trees May 10, 2013
- Mother, son to graduate from KU together Sunday May 18, 2013
- Lawhorn's Lawrence: A night of partying in Oread May 19, 2013
- Behind the Lens: Website helps teach photography basics May 19, 2013
- Editorial: Poor process May 19, 2013
Dispute erupts at Wal-Mart over ear-piercing of young girl
oh, my. back in kansas again. the place where i was circumcised as a little girl... i went to school in lawrence & was raised in KCKS. i didn't get my ears pierced until i was 21 - in CA - it was my decision & it didn't hurt because they used ICE to numb the ear before they did it... does walmart not have ice?
at any rate, i sure didn't ask to be circumcised and i wish that it had not been done. after discovering my loss, working on healing the trauma, and writing a book about it, i have come to the conclusion that power--over is the worst thing we can do to anyone. it is in making someone feel powerless that there is trauma. I lived decades furious with my mother and angry with doctors - without understanding why until i found out the story - then i could finally let it go and live in peace. all those years. what a waste. i wish it had never been done.
the quality of life issue is, to me, the danger of forcing children, especially infants, to endure pain that we as adults would not choose for ourselves. i know few adults who would elect genital cutting for themselves. yes, it would be called 'assault & battery' if done to an adult & - heck! - it would be a crime if done to a dog or cat.
i see there are still people in kansas who do not see the logic of allowing children autonomy, but i would urge them to explore the possibility of doing whatever they do with love, rather than using force. love is a very very old idea.... and a very very new idea... and it seems like a huge improvement over forcing things, ever. power-over is the error. love is what we have been advised. power-over begets fear and fear is the root of all mental and physical stress, distress, and dis-ease.
someday we will look back at all the things we do to children and weep. we will not be able to imagine we didn't listen to them. we will be so sorry we ignored them. as the good doctor karl menninger said, "What society does to children, children will do to society."
be kind to your children and love them well and they will love you forever.
July 16, 2010 at 9 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )