Anti-Semitic Comic Book “Foreskin Man” Making Headlines
A politically motivated comic book pitting a blond superhero called Foreskin Man against a sinister-looking Monster Mohel (who looks a Rabbi) is causing a serious flap in California.
The colorful series was created by the “intactivist” group MGMBill.org as part of its campaign to ban circumcision through ballot initiatives.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is blasting it as overtly anti-Semitic.
“Foreskin Man, with its grotesque anti-Semitic imagery and themes, reaches a new low and is disrespectful and deeply offensive,” Nancy J. Appel, ADL Associate Regional Director, said in a statement Friday.
The online series portrays a menacing-looking Mohel, someone specially trained to perform the traditional Jewish circumcision ceremony, waving bloody scissors over a screaming baby laid out on a pool table. Appel said the imagery invokes the “age-old anti-Semitic canards” such as the blood libel, the accusation that Jews ritually murder Christian children.
(Monster Mohel, Foreskin Man’s archenemy)
Matthew Hess, the president of MGMBill and the series creator, did not immediately return an email seeking comment. His San Diego-based group has an anti-circumcision measure on the ballot in San Francisco’s next election in November.
“We would have hoped those backing the anti-circumcision effort in San Francisco would know better than to use this type of anti-Semitic imagery to advance their cause,” Appel said.”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.”
Don’t feed the trolls, is my view on this. It’s an online comic book because no one in their right mind would publish this shit. Ignoring it would be the easiest thing to do, but of course in our media driven society we have to make a big deal about it. The comic is blatantly prejudice and that’s what it was designed to be! Who would take this seriously anyways? A blonde, blue eyed superhero named Foreskin Man, fighting a Rabbi? If anything it’s comical if you don’t take this type of shit too seriously.
Spider_Inferno,
I'm sure the Jews who suffered through the Holocaust would disagree with you.
The Nazis started everything with propaganda such as this. This is something that should be taken seriously and should be removed immediately.
Think before you speak.
i think you misunderstood me. I in no way support this, I'm just saying that the press this is getting is what makes this dangerous. The creators obviously meant to start a reaction from people and a reaction is what they got. I agree that the comic should be taken down, but taking this too seriously means you're letting them win. For fucksake Foreskin man?? Come on…
And FYI I'm Jewish.
I have to back Spider_Inferno up on this. I totally agree that the outcry and all the exposure over this is far more dangerous than the content itself. You just know that anti-Semitic groups will be all over this like a rash to make it their own, and THAT is when it will get twisted into something it is not meant to be.
This is truly ridiculous whats truly messed up about this group is that they are trying to force their ideology down people's throats in a truly sinister way;marketing to kids. And in all honesty the issue at hand here is not an issue I mean circumcision is the parent's choice or if your parents give you the opportunity your choice. This like abortion is an issue that is a matter of personal choice and it should not be mandated by city,county,state or federal government, sorry MGMbill (douchebags) what we do with our bodies is our decision so stop using overt racism and stupid heroes to push an meaningless agenda ,Jewish people aren't the only practitioners of this circumcision anyway.
While the foreskin man comic could have been… less explosively inflamatory, the intactivist argument is valid.
Circumcision of a child is an irreversible act. A days-old infant cannot consent to such an act, and as such it represents a violation of that child's rights. If your religious beliefs require circumcision, then raise your child and if your beliefs are true and strong, they will make the informed choice at a later age if they wish to participate in your religion. But if they don't, that is THEIR choice.
my problem with it is they are asking people to invest tax dollars to help enact a bill that amounts to a matter of personal choice/preference/religion and in doing so, they feel the need to demonize those who do it out of religious reasons rather than the perceived health benefits. I'm not for or against circumcision but I am against people making personal decisions,and inflammatory hateful rhetoric. what's next not clipping dog tails or ears, not spaying or neutering since animals can't consent. yes i am being slightly hyperbolic, but it becomes a slippery slope when we discuss these type of issues.Ultimately, the children are the ones who are either going to hate or thanks their parents over the choices that were made. and statistics are showing that less people are choosing circumcision anyway , the amount of boys that went circumcised in the U.S were 32.5%in 2009 so we can assume they either have stayed the same or fallen since then. so shouldn't this issue just be left up to the people?
Not if you see it as child abuse. Not if you see that quack doctors solicit it in hospitals to mothers who are exhausted from giving birth. Oh, and they still allow canine tail and ear mutilation in San Fransisco? How cruel!
The comic parody, Smegna Man Gets Circumcised, (published at Smegmaman.com) is a lot funnier; has a great plot; and passes along sound information about the medical and cosmetic benefits of the procedure– and, in the end, the villains meet a very appropriate end.
Ed Margolis