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Acorn's Newsletter has been published every year since 1988.
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Below we reprint the contents list and a sample article from each edition.

Acorn No.1 2004

Editorial Ivan
Editor’s Column:
Who Are We? Ivan
My Muslim Son; Part II HF
Important Reminder
Acorn Spring Meeting Douglas
More About That Statue Vernon
That Statue; A Postscript DB
The Story Of Dave’s Dick
Part 3; Life as a Cut Guy Dave
Wilfred Thesiger RIP Ivan
No Regrets JF
Deadlier Than The Male -
Again GD
But What’s Best
For His Brother? Ivan
Boohbahs KG

But What’s Best For His Brother? On an internet discussion list recently, a mother told how, after some difficulty, she had arranged for her four year old son to be circumcised. She was delighted to report that the operation had been carried out successfully and without trauma to the boy. However, she had decided against circumcising her elder son, who had just turned 7. She felt that he was now old enough to remember the event well into adulthood, so it would be best for him to make the choice himself after he turned 18.

Some members of the discussion list questioned this decision. One said that, from experience, he knew that, when one brother was circumcised, it was highly advisable to get the other brother done as well, irrespective of age. Circumcision was one thing that could unite their brotherhood whereas one being different from the other could and had caused friction among some siblings. Another member listed what he perceived to be the benefits of circumcision before the age of puberty:

* At this age, the boy’s interest in his sexual development increases, and the advantages of circumcision can be explained convincingly.

* His penis and foreskin are larger than an infant’s, allowing greater surgical accuracy.

* The glans is free to develop fully during the adolescent growth spurt, unrestricted by foreskin, allowing a more bulbous glans to form.

* The adolescent growth spurt may tighten the shaft-skin.

* He already has experience of the advantages and disadvantages of a foreskin.

* He can be told that circumcision is a preparation for the bodily changes of adolescence, including the greater need for cleanliness.

Healing is likely to proceed rapidly, less impeded by the powerful erections of puberty.

* Circumcision can be promoted as a ‘rite of passage’ from ‘boy’ to ‘man’, bringing entitlement to respect.

* The decision is covered by parental authority to give consent.

* The matter is already up for discussion in the family, as a consequence of his younger brother’s circumcision, and the elder boy can see that it is ‘no big deal’.

A third member pleaded that the mother should not insist on waiting until the older boy reached 18. Now that his brother had been circumcised with little fuss, he might ask about it for himself. Furthermore, it was much easier and less of a disturbance to his life if he could be done before puberty. The mother should make sure that he knew that he could get circumcised at any time. A slightly more forceful reminder a short while before he changed schools at around 11-12 years old would be in order as this was probably the next best time to perform the operation.

It would be interesting to hear Acorn members’ views on this subject. Leaving aside the question of circumcision at or soon after birth, if one son has to be circumcised in childhood, should any other sons be circumcised at the same time, or should they be left intact? And what about a step-son or an adopted boy brought into a family where his step brothers are circumcised? In other words, is uniformity or diversity best? Let's hear your opinions.

Ivan Acorn

Acorn No.2 2004

Editorial Ivan
Editor’s Column Ivan
My Story AC
Epilogue To Circumcision Dave
Comment on Dave’s Story RM
The Cavalier Viewpoint FS
Circumcised for Masturbating
Old Joe
Celebrity Circumcision -
Richard Branson
Remembering Thesiger and
T E Lawrence MS
Pearly Penile Papules Ivan
A Thirty Year Wait Californian
Synechotomy ­ An Alternative to Circumcision? IG
More on Jewish Circumcision Andras
A Date For Your Diary

As a new member, I do appreciate your forum on the subject of circumcision, especially as it affects one personally. Here in the USA, as I grew up, almost all my school mates were circumcised. My father thought it was some scheme to enrich the physicians. In the 1930’s, people were out of work and not ordering babies. So my father argued that they were adding $50 circumcision fee to every boy baby to make up for the fewer births. He didn’t think very globally. So while my older brother was circumcised, my younger brother and I were not. To make matters worse, my mother laughed about it a lot, calling this lone red-head her ‘different’ son.

I didn’t have to be at Kindergarten long to have someone tell me my penis was funny looking as I stood at a urinal. Mom’s solution was to hide. I found a way to go to schools that didn’t have but one year of gym class instead of six and I paid my own way for this private education to avoid the embarrassments. I was a very handsome young man and everyone seemed to be looking for that defect in me.

Now, some are issued with foreskins that fit and some get extra, extra large that are unattractive even in Europe and the UK, I’m sure. In America, they are freakish! In the US army, at age 22, I had another soldier totally embarrass me in the shower room in front of about 20 other naked circumcised guys, asking aboutmy ‘stump’. Poor fool apologised profusely when he found out I was the C.O’s clerk. I did find a time later at night to take my shower with fewer people. I remember being checked out of the US army with a large group of black men and in this circle, there was I, the only foreskin. It is not fun to look unusual there. All during this time I wanted to be circumcised but couldn’t figure out how to get it done.

After my first son was born and circumcised, I showed up at a physician’s office and asked about it. He treated me like I was truly weird and actually told me it was an issue that I would never get over. Perhaps he was prophetic. He sent me to a urologist who kept me overnight in hospital and did it under general anaesthetic. He left it with more skin on one side so it could be ‘winking’. He also left a stitch that appeared as a bump for about 20 years before I had it removed by another surgeon. Should have had it all straightened out that day.

One of my swim chums actually called my asymmetry to my attention one day although he still has all of his foreskin. As a daily swimmer, I still see men who have their foreskins who are very careful to dress as privately as possible. I know that they were affected as I was as the odd man in so many situations. It is a selfish parent that does not think of the community that a boy will grow up in. My father supposedly said: ‘Let them wear it off as I did.’

I have two grandsons. Only one is circumcised as the Mom couldn’t bear to see the other done. Of course, she didn’t grow up in a boys’ locker room. In the US, women get a lot of privacy and expect that men get the same. I’m still working on that case lest he feel he’s the odd man somewhere. Of course, in the US, there’s a move to circumcise less, promoted by health insurers and some liability cases such as my daughter-in-law reported about a micro-penis accidentally circumcised causing a big problem for an already big problem. I wish that I had never had to give it a second thought. I do know that I have had 30 years of much better sex after 30 years of tearing of foreskin and pain at every intercourse. Yes, I really was a good candidate for circumcision and you can’t wear it off, dad.

I encourage any man who wants to have this minor operation to go for it. You have nothing to lose but a piece of skin which often causes problems. You’ll look better and feel better about yourself. Find a doctor that does it often!

Californian

Acorn No.3 2004

Editorial Ivan
Editor’s Column;
Second Time Around Ivan
Resignation JH
Ashley ­ A True Story! Smurf A Scottish Story JT
The Meatus DB
Circumcision Is Becoming
Popular In Hungary Andras
Has Beckham Been
Circumcised?

A Scottish Story I was born in Edinburgh in 1953. I would describe myself as bi-sexual but I have never had penetrative sex with a male. I have however enjoyed the company of many young men over the past half century and have enjoyed mutual masturbation with them. I view the male body as a thing of great beauty which can be improved in only one way ­ by circumcision.

I was not circumcised at birth but my interest in the subject began when I was about six. I was staying with my grandmother ­ it must have been about 1960. Her sister, my great-aunt, who lived in Canada, was visiting and many members of the extended family came to visit during her stay. One of them had recently had a son and during her visit to my grandmother’s house his nappy had to be changed. My great-aunt watched and when the soiled nappy was removed, she turned to my grandmother and said: “Don’t you circumcise them here?” My grandmother replied: “No - do you?” “Oh yes,” replied my great-aunt. My interest was aroused.

By coincidence a near neighbour of my grandmother had her fourth child (her second son) a few weeks later. I knew the family well ­ I was friends with her existing family who were of a similar age to me so I was invited in to see the new baby about a week after mother and child got home from hospital. The baby was lying naked in front of the fire while his mother changed his nappy and I immediately noticed that Robert’s penis was different from mine. There was no skin on his and my mind went back to the conversation between my grandmother and my great-aunt. “Was this circumcision?” I asked myself. Indeed it was and I subsequently discovered that Robert’s elder brother was circumcised as well. My first three years of education were spent at a local authority school. There was a gym but no swimming pool or showers, so I never had the opportunity to see other boys naked. I have a dim memory of a medical examination conducted by a nurse. I had to drop my pants but she only looked at my genitals ­ she did not touch them.

When I was eight, my parents sent me to a boys only college in Edinburgh. It was quite a culture shock for me. Pupils were addressed by surname and discipline was severe ­ the tawse was put to good use and teachers were addressed as “Sir”. What struck me most however was the acceptance of communal nudity. I rapidly overcame my initial shyness and seized the opportunity to indulge my interest in the subject of circumcision.

On my second day we had swimming in the school PE department. After our swim we had to remove our trunks and put them through a mangle before returning to the changing area. A member of staff was on hand to ensure this rule was obeyed. Obviously no boy had any secrets when naked and I was amazed at the number of circumcised penises I saw that day. Out of a class of thirty boys, twelve were circumcised. Throughout my schooldays I would estimate that 25% to 30% of boys were circumcised.

Acorn No.4 2004

Editorial Ivan
Editor’s Column - Only foreskins need be worn! Ivan
Save That Foreskin! IN
Smurf - A Response Neville
Liberal Upbringing JO
Acorn Meeting Douglas
Zsolt’s Story Zsolt
Dissimilar Siblings
Celebrity Status
Damien Hurst Ivan
Religious Circumcision and the NHS
Contact Corner
The Marie Stopes Clinic CHA
To Lube Or Not To Lube SM
Penis Pain
The Economics of Circumcision GD

Save That Foreskin! (In issue 6/2003, Daniel told how his fifteen year old son was keen to be circumcised because he had a rather tight foreskin. I.N. offers some advice.)

I very much hope that Daniel does not get his 15 year old son circumcised because of his tight foreskin since I know of a remedy that works in most cases of phimosis. It is very simple and straightforward. First, anyone who has phimosis must take hold of the foreskin on both sides with the index finger and thumb of each hand and then very gently pull the tip of the foreskin out to both sides with both hands about five or six times and then with the same method pull the foreskin forward the same number of times. This must be done every day until the tightness begins to slacken and must be continued until the foreskin can be drawn back behind the corona thus uncovering the glans completely. Needless to say, erections often occur and if an erection is felt coming on then stop until the penis returns to its flaccid state. Masturbation can help but be careful depending on the tightness of the foreskin since paraphimosis can occur.

I passed this advice to a couple that I was friendly with back home in Scotland. One of their sons, 13 at the time in 1975, had reached puberty the same year and developed phimosis. The lad was the youngest of four sons and at the time his older brothers were 20, 18 and 15. It was the 20 year old that told me about his younger brother having a tight foreskin. He discovered it by accident when he had to answer a call of nature and found his younger brother trying to pull back his foreskin in the toilet. He went in there to masturbate thinking that it would help the phimosis but to no avail. Circumcision was mentioned and the 20 year old knew that I was circumcised because we used to go swimming together in the local swimming baths where we shared a changing cubicle. I was 28 so we were close in age. I went to his house with him when his parents were at home and we spoke with them about their youngest son’s phimosis. The father told me that he had discussed circumcision with his wife and they were both in agreement about getting it done as soon as possible. I mentioned about the method that I have just described and both parents were very keen to try it out, the father especially because he had been circumcised due to phimosis in 1945 when he was 15. His circumcision had been very painful with a great deal of discomfort. He didn’t want his youngest son to go through what he had. The 13 year old used the method and, to cut a long story short, after a period of time his phimosis disappeared.

Fortunately none of the other sons had tight foreskins. All four sons are now married and have taught their own sons the method and so far there haven’t been any cases of tight foreskins amongst the couple’s grandsons (seven in number). Over the years sadly I’ve lost contact with the family except for the youngest son who has two sons 16 and 13 and is a widower. His wife died in childbirth in 1990 when their second son was born. We are close because of what I did for him in 1975 when he was 13 and now that he is 41 he takes an interest in his own sons in case they ever get tight foreskins.

So, Daniel, please do think about what I’ve mentioned. At least give it a try and you may change your mind. The method doesn’t work for everyone but it is worth trying. If your 15 year old son has no success then go ahead and get him circumcised. Most likely he will get teased about being done, more so these days as circumcision is a great deal less common than when I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s when it was common to see a circumcised male. Even then I was teased from time to time. Some of the remarks weren’t nice.

Having said all of that, I am still a strong supporter of circumcision, but only on religious grounds.

IN ­ Manchester

Acorn No.5 2004

Editorial Ivan
Editor’s Interview
Through Female Eyes
The Cruellest Cut Of All
New Video Available
Helmets Mark
Mission Accomplished
Penny Drops For
Private Insurer GD
Acorn Meeting Douglas
Marlon Brando RIP 14
Beckham - The Truth At Last
Muslim Circumcision IN

Readers may remember my article in issue 4/2004 The Economics of Circumcision, pointing out the false economy of NHS thinking on Routine Infant Circumcision.

Recently, whilst surfing the web on a US parenting site, I found a thread where expectant moms were discussing the merits of circumcision, and who had or was going to circumcise their sons. RIC is a hot topic on many of these maternity message boards these days.

I quote from one enlightened mother: “While I do agree it is very personal decision. I have circumcised both my boys and I am very happy that I did for numerous reasons. But I did get a very interesting piece of information the other day. When I got my insurance benefits information from my obstetrician’s office, it said they had contacted my insurance and the following was the amounts they would cover: listed in that was circumcision.

I got very curious because it is a ‘cosmetic’ surgery and in this day it seems like you have to fight for coverage. I called my insurance company and they said they started covering circumcision last year because they were finding more people would circumcise if covered and they were having a major increase in circumcisions in older children where they then had to pay for the circumcision, general anaesthesia, and other expenses associated with surgery. They found by covering infant circumcisions it was reducing the medically needed expensive circumcisions later.” (Chelsea)

Now I’ve frequently read of US opponents of circumcision crowing about US insurance companies’ dropping of this cover and thus proving it is ‘unnecessary cosmetic surgery’. When you remember that insurance companies employ people who do nothing else but pore over figures all day, to calculate premiums and cover, so they don’t lose out, this has to be a pretty significant piece of news!

Foreskin problems are not rare at all. Most men will experience some trouble at some stage in their lives. Not all will end in circumcision, but enough obviously do to persuade this insurance company to change its rules.

I’m not sure what view the UK Health Insurers take of elective circumcision, but I know they used to cover it. We had friends who circumcised their son when father changed jobs and acquired private health insurance as part of his package. The son didn’t need circumcising but mother wanted him done to match father who was cut shortly after their wedding. From her side of the conversation it was clear she was very pro circumcision.

Last time I looked, BUPA seemed to be covering circumcision in their maternity package. Perhaps others with PHI can check on their cover and report? Consideringhow the cost escalates as a child grows older, and reaches £1000+ by adulthood, it seems the actuaries of the insurance companies are canny enough to appreciate what the blinkered bean counters of the NHS can’t.

GD

Acorn N0.6 2004

Editorial Ivan
Editor’s Column Ivan
An Irish Odyssey ED
Life Living With My Aunt CP
Next Meeting of the
Acorn Society Douglas
Poetic Cut Ivan
She Wants Me Circumcised!
A Circumcised World - Courtesy Dubya Vernon
Four Foreskins For Christmas
My Six Circumcisions - Part 1 DLDeath Ivan
The Purpose of the Glans KG
Suffering In Silence GD
The History Boys
Analgesia Underused for Management of Circumcision Pain Ivan

She Wants Me Circumcised!

[The following question and answer appeared in a Daily Mail advice column in December 2003.]

Question:I have been dating an American girl for a few months. Everything is excellent apart from her constant request that I have a circumcision. The thought is not a very welcome one and I have refused. This seems to be affecting our sex life now. Can you advise me as to how I can talk her out of her request/demand?

Response:
Circumcision is more popular in America so it is possible that she believes you
need to have it done because it is more 'normal' to her. It is important to ask her why she wants you to do this. My guess is that she will say it is because it is cleaner and more satisfying for sex. Neither of these arguments is true. As long as you wash under the foreskin daily your penis will be as clean as a circumcised one. And sexual satisfaction is no different in an uncircumcised man to a circumcised one.

There are some risks to having a circumcision performed in later life (as with any operation that involves an anaesthetic). You may find the operation causes numbness and soreness for some time. In addition, some men find the whole thing so emotionally traumatising it prevents them from enjoying sex afterwards.

My suggestion is that you explain all this to her and say that if she wants you then she gets a full foreskin as part of the deal! Your relationship is still very new and there is plenty of time to make an informed decision at some point in the future if you really want to. For now, concentrate on building a relationship that is not determined by how your penis looks but by how compatible you are inother ways
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