This was originally written, and cross-posted at A Creative Revolution, for a Canadian audience.

A week ago, my toes went numb.  Just a little at first.  I didn't think much of it, maybe a bit of a pinched nerve or something.  I'm on my feet all day, every day, after all.  I made an appointment with our family doctor for the next week, since it was a bit strange that it was in a specific part of both feet.  I mentioned it to some of my co-workers and their response was "you should go to the walk-in clinic".  

Dr. Richard Carmona, the first US surgeon general appointed by GWB, told a House of Representatives panel that he was muzzled by the White House.
 
Well I'll be damned!  The Bush Administration?  No WAY!

Dr. Carmona said:

"Anything that doesn't fit into the political appointees' ideological, theological or political agenda is ignored, marginalized or simply buried,"...

He said that he was kept from talking about the science involved with issues such as stem-cell research and contraceptives.  He apparently also had misgivings about the Administration's "abstinence only" total B.S. approach to sex education (which has been proven not to be effective).  

Did you know that recent studies have shown that up to 90% of Egyptian women have been "circumsized"?  That's a nice way of saying their clitoris has been removed. As the proud owner of one, the mere thought of having it cut off of me with a piece of glass, or even in a nice clean doctor's office with sterile equipment, fills me with gut-churning dread. What gets me even more freaked out is that some women in cultures that practice this mutilation (and yes, it is a mutilation) totally buy into it.  From a BBC comment thread:

I come form a community that glorifies and carries out this archaic and barbaric practice. What annoys me as a fighter of FGM is the way our girls in my community glorify this culture, saying that if you do not undertake it you are not a woman enough. This thing should be banned for it is a major cause of many deaths among our young ladies.

So.  They cut off your clitoris.  And make you believe it's necessary.  I think I'm going to be sick.