Obama calls for end to female genital mutilation in Africa while US has highest rates of male circumcision

Article here. Excerpt:

'During President Obama's recent visit to Africa, he urged Kenyans to reconsider their treatment of females as "second-class citizens," who are routinely subjected to violence, sexual assault and forced marriages while being prohibited from obtaining an education or owning property. What caught my attention, however, is Obama's calling for an end to female genital mutilation, in which he stated, "These traditions may date back centuries. They have no place in the 21st century."

My thoughts exactly. Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting, involves any number of procedures performed on a female's genitals, ranging from a ritual nick to infibulation, the most well-known and horrific form of FGM. What most people don't know, however, is that infibulation, which includes the complete removal of external female genitalia and a suturing of the vaginal opening, occurs in less than 10 percent of all documented cases of FGM, according to the World Health Organization. By far, more common forms of FGM involve a procedure in which only the female foreskin is removed.

Does this sound familiar? It should, because it's the most common surgical procedure performed in the United States without anesthesia, without informed consent, and without any valid medical reason - except that it's routinely performed on baby boys shortly after birth. Most people in the United States would cringe at the thought of anyone comparing any type of FGM to male circumcision. But the reality is that both procedures share much in common.'