Chinese Eunuch Boys

[Mac (imported)]

Thanks for mentioning my avatar. ...

The man in uniform is my dad, the little boy is me ... I was so incredibly proud of my dad, but by the time I was 10 our relationship had deteriorated to strangers ...

We never did reconcile ...

I know that I could have done more than I did to get us back together. Well, I cannot do that because he's been dead for about 17 ... I am still very proud of my dad.

Your story is very sad. Thank you for sharing it with us. We often learn the important things much too late.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones,

they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to somebody who looks up to you in awe,

because the little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you,

because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart

and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember to say "I Love You" to your partner and your loved ones,

but most of all mean it.

Remember a kiss and embrace that comes from deep inside

of you will mend hurt.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for

someday that person will not be there again.

Remember, Give Time to Love, Give Time to Speak,

Give Time to Share the precious thoughts in your mind.

[yankee masha (imported)]

Charlieje, I thought instantly that would be yhou and your Dad. It reminded me of a time when I was about 4 when my dad reurned from WWII and we were just like you two in that picure. Then we also had a terrible falling out -- which I will post in a few days under a separate thread because it fit in with the theme of this site. It will take some length as it tells about another strange practice in the military that was connected.

I am also older although I have no grandchildren. I am glad you have positive feelings now about your father, but be assured in these cases, the child always thinks he himself could have done more to make it better. In actuality that feeling is false and comes out of unwarranted guilt. The rough fact is that adults often do not have the equipment to make things right with their kids, and the kid takes on the burden of responsibility. But the kid really would need a master's degree education and maturity to do anything. The burden is on the parent and if the parent doesn't know hnow to do it, then the whole thing is lost. I spent years of my life suffering before I learned that. The role of the parent is to guide and teach. If he can't then sadly we lose the relationship.

The only thing that helps is to know that the parent probably WANTED to make things right but didn't know how and probably figured the kid somehow knew he was loved or told himself the kid was all right as long as he was provided for. Many men love their kids deeply but just can't let them know.

I will post my story for you in a few days. it should have a wider interest because of what happened and why. But I am amazed at how similar our houses were then!

[Pueros]

The so-called Christian empire of Byzantium, based until the early 15th century on Constantinople, as well as the successor Islamic Ottoman state, were, besides China and Persia, other major entities where it seemed acceptable for poor, or even better-off but very ambitious families, to submit younger sons for castration to facilitate entrance into the respective Civil Services.

(Perhaps the deed should still be a requirement for Civil Service entry? I suggest this having just received a large tax bill!)

The disfigurement, however, seemed to stimulate some of of the poor young victims into very worthy high-flying careers. My (true?) story about the Imperial Chinese eunuch, Zheng He, is one example.

PUEROS

[Moreschi (imported)]

And last but not least, as a Retiree.

Mr. Yu Chunhe, as a eunuch for the last emporer, Pu Yi, he was witness to the fall of the Empire, and lived in the Forbidden City for 18 years. He started work in 1898 at the age of 17.

I think they are really interesting. I assume Yu Chenhe was castrated before puberty?

[Moreschi (imported)]

In formal and even in most informal photos one generally will not find most people smiling before about 1910 or 1920 at the earliest.

Professional photographers prior to that time did NOT want their clients to smile. Photographs were as daunting and formal as a portrait in oil - just in a newer, more accurate, and less subtle medium.

As an example, my grandmother's earlier pics all make her look like one of the most grim people on planet Earth - even though she was an imp and troublemaker who was ALWAYS laughing, smiling, and pulling tricks.

When one was plopped down in front of the camera, one was told to compose theselves, not to smile, and not to move.

Only now days do most of us look like village idiots or maybe like all of our brains just dribbled out of our ears moments before the photo was snapped - huge grins, bulging eyes, laughter, informal "poses," etc.

http://home.earthlink.net/~imagepool/tomsig03.gif

I had my photograph taken in Tintype back around 1977. I remember this day. It helped that my sister and I were exhausted from the day so we didn't move. You just couldn't move for pictures taken that way because of the long exposure time. Its not that everybody was grumpy, but otherwise they would be blurry!

[Moreschi (imported)]

I still believe it is a very gross injustice to modify a child in any way, be it castration, binding of feet, or whatever. (personally I even include circumcision - that should also be a person's personal choice)

I totally agree! http://www.CircumcisionQuotes.com/

[yankee masha (imported)]

I wish I had been circumcised when i was born. I have had a lot of discomrot from he foreskin, and in recent months the thing has closed up to the point that I am going to have to have it cut. I know most men don't go through the problems I ahve, and I know that a lot of suptid mistakes on the part of moels and doctors ruining an infant's penis are legend. I should be a choice, but to thell the truth I was too scared to have it done and contemplate the discomfort of having to get used to having my over-sensitive dick head exposed all tgeh time. I think however that once a boy has matured enough that his foreskin is safely separate from his penis that cicumcision be considered by his parents.

[A-1 (imported)]

I am not sure where you live, but if you can find a teaching hospital in your area you would be more likely to find a sympathetic surgeon who would be able to help with the minimum of cutting.

The medical term for your condition is Phimosis and it is not uncommon among the un-circumcised. The foreskin becomes irritated, forms small ulcers and then heals with adhesions to the glans penis, (the head). This makes the foreskin impossible to retract and erections very painful.

Remember, you are in command when you go to see a doctor. They cannot cut off more than you give them permission to take. If you onsent to a circumcision be sure that the leave the frenum and plenty of slack skin.

Another piece of advice. Shop around and get a doctor who is not going to mess you over. Be comfortable and do not let them imtimidate you.

A-1

[Moreschi (imported)]

Phimosis is a pathology- means something has happened to the foreskin to make it unretractable where it was once completely and normally retractable. There are plenty of conservative treatments to rememdy this, including steroid creams. Non-retractability in children (under 18) is considered natural and normal, however, and *not* phimosis.

By the way, scar tissue forming (true adhesions) between foreskin remnant and the glans, skin bridges, infection, meatal stenosis, and a whole host of other things are problems induced by circumcision itself. Also, erections are not painful at all in children who are not retractable. The skin just unfolds/unwrinkles and that's that. No pain, no problems, no big deal. IF there is no pathology- and that goes for iatrogenic- then there should be no pain with erection. The less you do to the penis, the fewer problems it will have.

[yankee masha (imported)]

Thanks for your input. I actually hae seen a doctor aobut it, a very good one, and he feels, as I do that circumcision is the best option. Don't wnat to bore you with tales of my penis here, but Thanks for the information.

By the way, Moreschi, I like your avatar picture. Reminds me of an old pic of my grandfather.