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[Odler]

Dear Odler

I don't know where you get this information about genital mutilation,but, n my opinion, it is a complete western distorted view of the facts. (cf: "litoris: no Good" rticle)

From my readings it is a long embedded religious practice with the

same value as circumcision. It has nothing to do with inhibiting

sexual pleasure and so forth.

Do I agree with it? Probably not. At the same time one can question the usefulness of circumcision. There are data about circumcision diminishing sexual pleasure too.

Yvon Damour

Long Island, NY

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Dear Yvon,

Thank you for contributing.

I have developed a keen interest in female genital mutilation (FMG) since my last trip to sub-Sahara Africa two years ago.

I have discussed the topic with friends, colleagues, and pen pals

from Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria, who have had a close brush with it. I have read countless newspaper articles, magazine reports on the matter. I think of it as an outcry, an abuse against women that is to be wiped out from the surface of the globe as fast it can be extirpated.

I have found out that FMG is widely practice by people of different

religions. I have searched the Muslim, Christian, and Buddhist

literatures for any justification of its practice; to no avail.

In one passage of the Koran, Muhammad did discuss what sounded like cliteridectomy; but it was in no way a prescription.

I agree with your assessment that male circumcision is probably

useless and, in some cases, reported as a factor of sexual

dysfunction. However I doubt that the surgico-medical complications of female circumcision (infections, keloids, abscesses, adhesions, chronic genitalia pain) are a match to any consequence caused by the resection of the penis ugly, beaky foreskin.

Of course, I will share any information you may have about the religious origin of FMG, which indeed is missing to the original report...

(OdlerRobert Jeanlouie, Saturday, May 04, 2002)