Last May a group of people calling themselves “intactivists” succeeded in having their petition qualify for the November ballot in California. They believe that circumcision is genital mutilation and seek to abolish it and make it illegal. Religious groups are predictably taking the case to court. Meanwhile in Africa there are groups trying to talk young men into being circumcised. Studies have shown that circumcision is a way to fight HIV/AIDS protecting not only men but also women. Somehow what’s happening in Africa brings out how weak, ill-conceived, unnecessary and even inane the efforts of the intactivists are.