A LAW has come into force that makes smacking children illegal. The NSPCC and government's argument centres around the idea that the trauma caused can have a long-term psychological effect and children do not have the same protection from assault that adults do.

How then, as a civilised society, can we allow the ritual circumcision of children?

Any argument against smacking and child abuse can also apply to circumcision unless the Left-wing sociologists and social commentators bend the rules again.

Those of us in college during the Greenham Common all-men-are-rapists-and-a-woman- needs-a-man-like-a-fish-needs-a-bicycle era can not get our heads around how Islam is not seen as sexist.

Yet no doubt a different excuse will be used.

M SWIERS,

Worcester.