The Sorcerer's Apprentice Robert Darby Analysis

Reaction Paper #2
Why are more infant boys circumcised in the United States than in other English speaking countries? The author, Robert Darby, poses this question in his article “the sorcerer’s apprentice: why can’t we stop circumcising boys?” He claims that circumcision is an unnecessary and irrational behavior. He concludes that economics, cultural norms and ignorance play a part in why this practice is more in the United States than other countries. Statistics shows although many other countries practice of male circumcision has diminished, the United States population still maintains the tradition.
The author claims that circumcision serves as an economic aspect in our society. Through survey’s, the author found that circumcision
The tradition diminished through medical advances and no fear of masturbation. In America it became common because many fathers wanted their sons to look like them, so insisted on circumcision even though doctors don’t recommend it. It began after World War II, when many families took advantage of medical insurance policies. The author concluded that eventually many were not familiar with the normal penis. The fundamental reason for the circumcisions of boys is a population of circumcised men. It is the right of the parent to choose whether or not to have their son circumcised. They only choose this because they do not wish for their son to be teased in the locker room because he has an uncircumcised penis. This shows that parents do not want to have their sons circumcised for health benefits but because most people feel the uncircumcised penis is not normal. The author only assumes this fact and never backs up his statements with surveys from fathers. This shows that the author is only making an assumption on the opinions parents. Darby cannot know for sure if circumcision is the social norm unless he proves it. His statements are inadequate because they are not backed up by any other