Fifteen years ago I paid for a poor family’s circumcision in order to include it in a TV show and I was eager to do it again. A circumcision is a big deal in Turkey. It’s a wonderful, full-blown family festival — a cherished celebration that they say is like “a wedding without the in-laws.” But putting on such a party can bring economic hardship on a poor family. I told Lale, who helps run our Turkey tour program, that we’d happily pay for one if it would help out a struggling family — and if we could film it. Talk about win-win (unless you’re the little boy, I suppose). This clip shows our crew scrambling to capture the scene as the boy, dressed like a little prince, approaches on his horse.
If you can’t see the video below, watch it on YouTube.
Seriously, how much does this cost Rick Steves? This doesn’t look like a “little boy”, seems kind of harsh to have that procedure done at that age. I would hate to be a male in Turkey.
And I’d hate to be a female in Turkey or just about anywhere outside the western world.
When we were in Istanbul, we saw boys all dressed up ready for the circumcision. They were definitely the same age as this boy. It’s an important ritual, one that most Westerners obviously have trouble relating to.
“Important ritual” be damned. It’s child abuse, pure and simple. It should be illegal to circumcise any child for any reason other than a medical one.
The Jews circumcise their boys 8 days after they are born. It is part of the religion. Why do the Turks wait so long to do the circumcision?
The part that bothers me the most is ricks comments in the video and photo captions. Circumcision isn’t funny, no matter what you believe.
People lighten up on Rick. I think the comments were practical as I am sure the little boy was hurting a bit after the ritual was complete. He has probably seen this a few times before was aware there was a little discomfort, but would survive the event.
Will you be filming and funding circumcision of a little girl soon?
Circumcision of boys is child abuse and should never be celebrated. This is disgusting and he has lost me as a fan.
I read your “apology” in regards to the Turkish boy’s circumcision.
Does this mean you will fund, film and celebrate a female circumcision and show it to your viewers?
If anyone protests about female circumcision you could just say this…..
“I have made a decision not to make judgments about institutions that are important to a culture, whatever my own personal feelings about them might be. It’s not my job to censor them from you, my viewers. These things exist, regardless of whether I (or you) agree with them or oppose them.”
He won’t make judgements but he will pay to make sure they happen. And we can infer your personal feelings about circumcision…you apparently think its entertaining.