Holy Foreskin, Batman!

By | Jun 14, 2011
Uncategorized

By Adina Rosenthal

There is a new superhero on the block. In true Superman fashion, he spends his days as regular citizen Miles Hastwick, but when trouble is afoot, he transforms into a superhero ready to rescue the public from a pernicious danger that has afflicted society for thousands of years and must be stopped: circumcision. Yes, folks, he’s Foreskin Man. “Aided by his advanced plasma boots,” as his trading card states, Foreskin Man flies above San Diego “to hunt down criminals who cut the genitals of innocent boys.” Along with the trading cards, you can purchase two issues of Foreskin Man, where he protects the foreskins of baby boys from the likes of Dr. Mutilator and Monster Mohel. T-Shirts are also available for both adults and children, so you too can wear the symbol of Foreskin Man, which is similar to a phallic version of The Green Lantern’s logo.

The comic series creator, Matthew Hess, is president of MGMBill, a national organization promoting legislation to criminalize circumcision of boys under 18, such as the controversial anti-circumcision initiative that will appear on the San Francisco ballot this November. Proponents of the bill assert that this is a human rights issue, referring to circumcision as unnecessary mutilation. Those opposed argue that circumcision is not harmful and call the measure unconstitutional, interfering with their First Amendment rights. The law would slap a fine of $1000 or a year in jail to anyone who performs the ritual on boys under 18.  While Jews and Muslims are well-known for circumcising their sons, most families who choose circumcision in the United States do so apart from religious reasons. Though a recent study shows that fewer Americans are circumcising their baby boys than in the past, as of 2010, 80 percent of the American male population is circumcised, and Jews make up no more than 3 percent of the population.

Foreskin Man was created as part of the campaign to ban circumcision through legislation, and has taken the rhetoric to a whole new level and seems to have singled out Jews as the major culprits. Many are calling the comic series overtly anti-Semitic. While the first issue of Foreskin Man raises eyebrows about what the blond-haired, blue-eyed hero meant when he said the pro-circumcision lobby has “all the well connected doctors and lawyers,” the second issue, with its hooked nose, tallis-adorned villain, Monster Mohel, and his henchman, sporting peyos, black hats, and kippot, leave less to the imagination.

In a press release, Nancy J. Appel, the Anti-Defamation League’s Associate Regional Director, blasted the comic for going too far. Appel vilified Foreskin Man for portraying mohels as “rapacious, bloodthirsty, and bent on harming children” and noted similarities with the blood libel, the accusation that Jews ritually murder Christian children for their blood (which apparently gives matzah its flavor).  Appel also makes the final point that “No matter what one’s personal opinions of male circumcision, it is irresponsible to use stereotypical caricatures of religious Jews to promote the anti-circumcision agenda.”
This charge of anti-Semitism led Jena Troutman of Santa Monica to drop an anti-circumcision proposal for her city. She claims that the initiative has nothing to do with religion, but about “protecting babies from their parents not knowing that circumcision was started in America to end masturbation…You shouldn’t go around cutting up your little babies. Why don’t people [insert expletive here] get that?”

Obviously, the anti-Semitic label is a loaded, hot potato, not to be taken lightly. But is Foreskin Man hate speech, free speech at its ugliest, or simply a humorous social commentary? Where do we draw the line?

When asked if Foreskin Man is anti-Semitic, creator Matthew Hess responded, “A lot of people have said that, but we’re not trying to be anti-Semitic. We’re trying to be pro-human rights.” But some historical comparisons may show that Foreskin Man’s kryptonite is similarities with anti-Semitic stereotypes.
Nazi Germany used comics as propaganda to paint Jews as dishonest, money-grubbing untermenschen (subhumans). For example, the 1940 Nazi film, Der Ewige Jude (The Eternal Jew) likened Jews to dirty rats that spread disease throughout the world.  Law enforcement like police and SS-units were required to watch the film in order to desensitize them to the maltreatment of Jews in concentration and extermination camps. The Jews depicted in this movie, as well as other examples of Nazi propaganda against the Jews, looks eerily similar to Monster Mohel.

At the end of the day, Foreskin Man is a strong, Aryan-looking hero who rescues the innocent baby boy from the clutches of the dark, sinister Jew, whose diabolical aim is to “carry out the holy covenant” through circumcision. This comic highlights the classic good versus evil trajectory, leaving little question as to which role the Jew plays.

It’s just not kosher.

11 thoughts on “Holy Foreskin, Batman!

  1. Dan says:

    First Amendment violation or not, it is no business of government’s how parents want to raise their children. The children are not being substantively harmed or disabled in any way, and circumcision is widely recognized as a legitimate medical procedure. The busybodies in San Francisco should mind their own business.

  2. Joe says:

    Seems to me that an exception for a sincerely held religious belief would go a long way towards resolving the issues with this law. As far as this comic, it appears to me to be hateful and anti-Semitic.

  3. Mindy says:

    Very good article. This is our tradition and San Franscisco should find a new hobby.

  4. Ollie says:

    Insightful writing. NOTHING FUNNY about this Failed attempt at Humor by a certain tallis-adorned self-righteous non-satirist. Find a new agenda Mr. Hess.

  5. GDigs says:

    Out of all the agendas including ending hunger or stopping genocide, this guy’s agenda is preventing circumcision? I’d like to see studies this guy actually has about the downside of circumcision, instead of a comic book who is obviously geared to teenagers who are going to choose this garbage over X-Men?

  6. Deborah says:

    Very informative article. The cartoon is blatantly anti-semitic and for Matthey Hess to deny this is a joke. Hopefully the efforts of San Francisco residents who wish to protect religious freedoms and parental rights will keep this ballot initiative from being passed.

  7. Alan Greene says:

    So finally, there is an issue that American Jews and Muslims can agree upon! Who knew?

  8. reyjacobs says:

    In a scientific age when it has come out that circumcised men are less likely to contract AIDS, they want to ban circumcision. And of all places, AIDS overrun California is the one wanting to ban it. Its like something from the Twilight Zone. Logic would dictate, rather, that they ought to pass a law REQUIRING all newborn males to be circumcised, to help cutdown on the spread of AIDS.

  9. *
    There is a movement of Jews who are questioning circumcision, and working to end this abuse of children. The movement ranges from the Orthodox to the secular, and includes mothers, fathers, scholars, historians, medical professionals, activists, and intellectuals.

    * Jews Against Circumcision http://www.jewsagainstcircumcision.org/
    * The Current Judaic Movement to End Circumcision: Part 1
    http://intactnews.org/node/105/1311886372/jewish-voices-current-judaic-movement-end-circumcision-part-1

    * The Current Judaic Movement to End Circumcision: Part 2
    http://intactnews.org/node/105/1311886372/jewish-voices-current-judaic-movement-end-circumcision-part-2

    * Jews Speak Out in Favor of Banning Circumcision on Minors
    http://intactnews.org/node/103/1311885181/jews-speak-out-favor-banning-circumcision-minors

    * Brit Shalom Celebrants by Mark D. Reiss, M.D. http://www.circumstitions.com/Jewish-shalom.html
    *

  10. Michael says:

    I appreciate the argument against racism. Racism is awful, but no one here seems to know what they’re talking about w/r/t male circumcision. The AIDS argument is not as good as some biased researchers would have us believe, because it is an undeniable fact that circumcised men dislike using condoms and MUCH more so than intact men. This is no doubt a result of removing the bulk of the nerve endings of the penis (60-80%). There may be some evidence that cutting men lowers HIV transmission TO cut men SOMEWHAT (60% is gross overestimation), but it actually increases transmission FROM cut men (for increasing vaginal tearing). So epidemiologically, it’s very likely to do MUCH more harm than good. It’s much, much more harmful to circumcise if it then precludes regular condom use. Also, the reason people are so passionate about this is because foreskin makes sex feel MUCH better for both partners. Men without foreskin seldom find out they’re at a sexual disadvantage competing with the intact, but they are.

  11. I’ll right away grab your rss feed as I can’t in

    finding your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service.

    Do you have any? Kindly let me recognize in order that I may just subscribe.

    Thanks.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.