Proponents of non-therapeutic infant circumcision are a curious group to me. Almost universally, I find them to be sincere in their belief that circumcision is beneficial, even though they are misguided for reasons based in objective facts. But I assume they’re well-intentioned rather than malicious. They don’t think circumcision harms. Even if I’m wrong about an individual’s approach and justifications, it’s both respectful and responsible to assume they’re well-intentioned rather than malicious. This is my standard.
University of Sydney Professor Brian Morris is a curious case within the curious group. I still think the above applies to him. I’m not quite sure why he makes the mistakes he does, though. He is prone to assign any criticism of non-therapeutic infant circumcision as fanatical lies. I believe he should’ve been educated in the course of his PhD work against making such disprovable declarations. Perhaps he was and missed its importance. I do not know.
That brings me to this otherwise irrelevant article on the question of whether or not Britain’s Prince George will be circumcised based on royal tradition. In the comments to the article, someone who appears to be Professor Morris commented on the article. To be fair, I can’t prove it’s Morris. The commenter logged in from a Facebook account, which includes what appear to be personal pictures of Professor Morris. The commenter’s writing appears similar to Professor Morris’ style. The evidence suggests a conclusion that the commenter is Professor Morris. But I work to avoid declaring what I can’t prove. I understand how declarative statements work and what they’re intended to do. Despite its clunkiness, I will attribute the comments to “the person claiming to be Professor Morris” rather than to “Professor Morris”.
Here’s the first comment on the story from the person claiming to be Professor Morris. It is why I link to the story.
Despite Dianna’s initial reluctance after her first baby was born, William and Harry were circumcised, in accordance with Royal tradition which Dianna acceded to.
I’ve seen no evidence supporting that claim. The article states that Princess Diana “reportedly would not allow her sons, William and Harry, to be circumcised.” I am, at best, marginally informed about royal gossip, so maybe there is evidence to support a claim that the consensus opinion is wrong. I don’t know. My point is that the “Princes William and Harry were circumcised” claim should have some support if the person claiming to be Professor Morris is willing to make it so definitive. When challenged, the person claiming to be Professor Morris responded:
William and Harry are almost certainly circumcised as is traditional in the British Royal family and upper classes. It is likely that Prince George is already as well, or soon will be. If there is genuine (‘undoctored’) photographic evidence to the contrary re William and Harry then please produce it. Otherwise what you say can be regarded as just another typical propaganda-based lie of circumcision opponents.
Now the person claiming to be Professor Morris says the princes were “almost certainly circumcised” rather than they “were circumcised”. Why make the original declarative statement? Or, why back off now? And notice how the person claiming to be Professor Morris demands photographic evidence that disproves his unsupported claim to demonstrate that the challenge isn’t “just another typical propaganda-based lie of circumcision opponents”.¹ The standard of fact employed here is only a one way requirement.
In response to a follow-up comment linking to ambiguous tabloid evidence, the person claiming to be Professor Morris responded (NSFW link at the original comment):
You have just proven to the world that Prince William IS circumcised.
Notice the return to a declarative statement. You may decide for yourself if the pictures are clear enough to warrant a declarative statement. You don’t have to bother. It isn’t important to my point because I’m interested in the “everything is pro-circumcision” argument offered in those comments by the person claiming to be Professor Morris.
The person claiming to be Professor Morris continued:
You haven’t examined the photographs adequately. The link of the fence gives the ILLUSION that it is the end of a foreskin, but a close look shows it isn’t, and you seem to be able to see the ridge of the glans.
The fence is an impediment, as is the distance of the photo. It’s a tabloid photo, not a documentary. Either theory could be defended on something in the photos. Just after saying it proves his point, the person claiming to be Professor Morris states that “you seem to be able to see the ridge of the glans”. Seeing the ridge of the glans proves nothing, especially in these unclear photos. A normal foreskin can be rolled back to expose the glans and possibly would be for urination. But to the person claiming to be Professor Morris, what you “seem to be able to see” is enough to justify a declarative statement. According to that approach, anything that supports circumcision is true, while anything that opposes circumcision is false. Contrary to the person claiming to be Professor Morris’ understanding, that is an actual example of propaganda, in the pejorative sense the comment quoted above intended.
¹ I am not a circumcision opponent. I oppose non-therapeutic genital-cutting (e.g. circumcision) on non-consenting patients, whatever their age or gender.