This is Chapter 18 of The Universal Good Deal, you may want to start at the beginning or go back to Chapter 17.

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I must now turn to the topic of genital mutilation. Shockingly, many Martians of this era ritually mutilated their male children's genitals shortly after birth. There is some evidence that there were also those who mutilated the genitals of female children, but for unknown reasons, most Martians acknowledged the barbarity of that practice. Slicing foreskins off male infants, however, remained socially acceptable across many Martian cultures, although there were some who decried the practice.

The famous model Richard Bennett had commissioned a dramatic work condemning the practice, called Damaged Goods. The action of this play concerns a father—himself genitally mutilated—who decides not to maim his own son's penis. The father is subject to great ridicule, even from the child's mother, and finally acquiesces. The play triumphs when, as the infant is held down and the blade upraised, the father bursts in, naked, revealing a prosthetic foreskin.

This Bennett, though, was considered something of an eccentric, and most Martians dismissed him. Barrow did not. Barrow sent him a note, saying, 'The Association of American Aerial Advertisers supports your praiseworthy intention to fight genital mutilation in the United States by producing Damaged Goods. You can count on our help.'¹ Barrow signed the note simply, 'The Association.' The word had a ring of authority and dignity.²

It was the case that this model had spent a considerable part of his fortune in having a prosthetic foreskin designed, and attempted to popularize the equipment by public demonstrations. After reading the communication, Bennett called the number on the letterhead, which was the number for the airfield where Barrow worked, and said he wanted to speak to the Association. After some confusion, he was connected with Barrow.

'I have but one question, sir,' said Bennett. 'Do you believe the butchering of hundreds of millions of little boys' penises is a blight on our society?'

'I would argue,' Barrow answered, 'that the loss of a single foreskin would have been sufficient to require action.'³

'Yes!' said Bennett. 'Yes, you understand the injustice of this. We must act! We must show the people what they are missing. I want a thousand airplanes, all over the country! They will tow banners that show what I'm talking about. I really don't know why I didn't think of it earlier. I mean, you have to admit that a banner is just about the perfect shape for this.'

'Advertising is not God Almighty,’ said Barrow. ‘The day of miracles is past.⁴ What we want is your play.'

'It's impossible. No one will fund it. I've tried.'

'The people will fund it,' said Barrow. 'The Association will take up a subscription to underwrite the play.'

This is exactly what Barrow did. The fabulously handsome Bennett played the lead. It seemed that almost everybody who was anybody in Martian society wanted to see this single performance. Bennett's prosthetics were a cause celebre before the curtain rose.⁵ Tickets were ludicrously expensive, with all the profits going to improve access to prosthetics for the many Martian men who suffered from genital mutilation. Of course, Barrow arranged that a small overhead should be deducted to pay for the Association's efforts in producing the performance.

Barrow was elated at the success of the prosthetic foreskins and the national fame it brought to the Association.⁶ But he thought the Association should extend its influence into other causes that needed the support of public opinion.⁷

As the Association's revenue began to increase—soon there were more than two thousand dues-paying members—Barrow decided it was time the Association had an official office. He rented a space in the nearby strip mall and furnished it with expensive, but not lavish, effects. The Association needed good, quality tools and offices if it was going to provide good, quality services to its members. The Association also purchased a limousine and hired a professional driver. Barrow believed that members should be treated with great respect when they came to visit.

He devoted so much time to the operation of the Association—brow-beating regulators, pestering the governmental body in charge of air traffic, and harrying legislators—that he had quit his job. He was evicted from his apartment and moved into the Association's office space. He allowed himself to use Association money for meals and lodging when he was traveling on business. As Association activities took up more and more of his life, especially after the Aliens arrived, Barrow found that he was always on Association business.

Chapter 19 tomorrow, same time, same place.

The editors of the Medical Review of Reviews support your praiseworthy intention to fight sex-pruriency in the United States by producing Brieux's play Damaged Goods. You can count on our help. Edward L Bernays to Richard Bennett 1912 in Edward L Bernays, Biography of an Idea: Memoirs of a Public Relations Counsel 1965 ↩
These words had a ring of authority and dignity. Edward L Bernays, Biography of an Idea: Memoirs of a Public Relations Counsel 1965 ↩
I would answer that a single one would have been sufficient to bring you to me. Upton Sinclair, Damaged Goods: The Great Play "Les Avaries" of Eugene Brieux: Novelized with the approval of the author. 1913 ↩
Science is not God Almighty. The day of miracles is past. Eugène Brieux, Damaged Goods [Les Avariés] 1901 Translated by John Pollock ↩
It seemed that almost everybody in New York with four dollars wanted to see this single performance. Damaged Goods was a cause celebre before the curtain rose. Edward L Bernays, Biography of an Idea: Memoirs of a Public Relations Counsel 1965 ↩
I was elated at the success of Damaged Goods and the national fame it brought to the Medical Review of Reviews. Edward L Bernays, Biography of an Idea: Memoirs of a Public Relations Counsel 1965 ↩
We think the fund should extend its influence into other causes that need the support of public opinion. Edward L Bernays, Biography of an Idea: Memoirs of a Public Relations Counsel 1965 ↩

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Footnotes