Bush circumcision goes wrong

[fuelair]

as did I.



my first reaction was going to be "there is something there to snip???".

good point!!!

 

[Whiplash]

nevermind

 

[Madalch]

Reminds me about the old joke about [former Canadian Prime Minister] Mulroney, who was said to be such a d***head that he got circumcised every time he went to the barber.

 

[The Fool]

sigh, never have been able to understand genital mutilation rituals. Why don't the supernatural entities just require us to wash behind thier ears instead?

 

[Madalch]

Why don't the supernatural entities just require us to wash behind thier ears instead?

Because supernatural entities are capable of washing behind their own ears?

 

[Wildy]

Why is it a problem at age 14-16, but it's perfectly okay at 1-2 days old?

Infant circumcision isn't as prevalent in Australia to the extent that it is in the US these days.

As far as I'm aware there isn't any law stopping someone from getting circumcised at a later age. The issue is more that drunk elders are circumcising Aboriginal youth with what appears to be no regard for medical or hygiene standards.

 

[ponderingturtle]

What responsible elders. Undertaking such a ceremony while allegedly drunk. In my opinion they shouldn't be elders.

Wait, are you now claiming that they are younger than they represented themselves?

 

[lionking]

What is the legal status of performing such rituals in Australia?

The whole issue of recognition of aboriginal cultural practices is fraught. "Pay back" spearing is often practiced in aboriginal communities outside capital cities. This is where an elder will decide if a wrongdoer should be speared (usually in the leg) regardless of the punishment that wrongdoer received through the legal system.

The Law Reform Commission looked at this in some detail:

http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lrc.nsf/pages/r96chp3#8

One of it's conclusions:

The Commission finds that the arguments in support of recognition of Aboriginal customary law are powerful, and outweigh the arguments against statutory recognition. A basic tenet of the Australian criminal justice system is that justice must be done, and be seen to be done. Failing to recognise the role played by Aboriginal customary law in a particular case could well lead to injustice. This reason alone may well justify legislative endorsement of the common law discretion. However, the totality of reasons for recognising Aboriginal customary law are too important to allow recognition to remain dependent upon the approaches and attitudes of individual judges and magistrates. The results of the Commission’s survey of judges and magistrates show that a number of those surveyed do not believe that Aboriginal customary law should be recognised in sentencing in New South Wales. A legislative requirement of recognition, where relevant, would ensure that, where appropriate, Aboriginal customary law is always considered; and would thus promote consistency and clarity in the law and its application to Aboriginal people

And it's recommendation:

Where a person, who is, or was at a relevant time, a member of an Aboriginal community, is convicted of an offence, in determining the sentence, the court shall have regard to any evidence concerning the customary laws of that Aboriginal community, and the customary laws of any other Aboriginal community of which the victim was a member at a relevant time.

When Stone Age customs are given official sanction, I am filled with despair.

 

[Wildy]

Wait, are you now claiming that they are younger than they represented themselves?

No.

I meant that they shouldn't be in a position of authority.