Mothers protest Delta with "nurse-in"

[Flaxbee]

I'm sorry, no intention of inciting a flame war. Just thought it was relevant to the ongoing discussion.
:D


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/21/AR2006112101316.html

Mothers Rally to Back Breast-Feeding Rights

By Cecilia Kang
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 22, 2006; D01


Karen Gral knows how difficult it is to travel with small children: standing in long lines with squirming toddlers, dealing with new security rules that prohibit liquids -- including some baby foods -- and lugging strollers, car seats and diaper bags through airports.

For her, the finish line is sitting on the airplane and breast-feeding her hungry and worn-out 16-month-old to sleep.

So when the Alexandria mother of two heard that a family was kicked off a Delta Air Lines flight last month because the mother refused to cover her baby with a blanket while breast-feeding, Gral decided to join 70 people at Reagan National Airport yesterday for a "nurse-in" in front of the Delta ticket counter. Similar protests were held at more than 30 airports around the country, including Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, where 62 people gathered in support of Arlington native Emily Gillette.

"Breast-feeding is the most natural thing in the world. What was Emily supposed to do? Not feed her child? Not give her child comfort?" said Gral, while nursing her son, Garrett, who was wearing a white onesie that read, "I'm a Breast Man."

Delta has said it regrets the incident with Gillette, which took place aboard one of its contract carriers, Freedom Airlines.

<<snip>>

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. At risk of being flamed...

Could she not still breast feed while covering up a bit more? :shrug:

On edit to clarify, I don't have a problem with breast feeding in public, and Delta did go overboard, but what was really the harm in using the blanket?

[miss_american_pie]

3. Maybe

My first baby would not stay covered up. Made a huge screaming fuss if I tried to put a blanket over him.

The second didn't care.

[China_cat]

4. What the hell are breasts for, then?

Also, when you're breastfeeding, unless you're doing it in the nude, very little (if any) of the breast is actually exposed or seen.

Would you want to eat with a blanket over your head?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

7. If I were cold, I don't see why not.

Now, I can't vouch for whether or not the baby was cold, of course. I know very little is exposed, but at some point, a little courtesy does come into play here. Maybe the person shouldn't have been offended, but for such a small courtesy to just cover up a bit, is it really worth making that large a fuss over?

[ThomCat]

13. You're right. Courtesy does come into it.

But I think it's the mother and child that deserve the courtesy.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

18. The courtesy of making others around them uncomfortable?

Especially when solving the problem would have taken such a small step in the first place? Sorry, I'm not buying that.

[ThomCat]

21. So it's all right to impose arbitrary, unnecessary and rude

restrictions as long as they're small ones?

I don't buy that. She wasn't doing anything wrong, she wasn't visibly exposed (through the toddler's head and her husband who as sitting beside her). That should be the end of the discussion.

If someone wants to impose an unnecessary restriction upon me, and they have no right to, then I don't care how small it is. My answer will be "No." That's not a matter of me refusing to accomodate them. It's a matter of me not being willing to submit to idiots and fools.

[youthere]

31. I'm uncomfortable watching people chew with their mouths open...

can I throw a blanket over their heads?:rofl:

[Flaxbee]

9. lol - no, no blanket please. Interferes with the food, general

ambience, etc.

When you put it that way...

Really, why the hell do people get so worked up over breast feeding?

[Writer]

35. I honestly don't think breast feeding is the real issue here...

I think it's more of a feminist statement. You know: "I'm a female. I lactate. Get used to it!"

[Left Is Write]

85. It's not a feminist issue. It's a human issue.

Human babies eating food designed for human babies. I can't imagine why that is disgusting to anyone.

[Writer]

33. "Would you want to eat with a blanket over your head?"

"Would you want to eat in the bathroom?"

"Would you want to eat while doing jumping jacks?"

I ask myself: Do I want to eat by grabbing my mother's nipple and sucking at 31 years-old??? The begging the question here does little for me.

[Writer]

44. Deleted

Wrong spot for my rabble rousing.

[Karenina]

138. Yes, indeed.

[ThomCat]

12. My understanding

is that this toddler covered her pretty adequately, and her husband was between her and any possible onlooker.

How much more covered would she need to be? :shrug:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

15. A little more? I don't know.

:shrug:

I wasn't there, nor were you. A blanket still seems to be a very small courtesy. Certainly not worth getting worked up to the point where you get kicked off the airplane.

[ThomCat]

20. It sounds like the flight attendant got worked up.

The mom wasn't doing anything immodest, or anything wrong.

I don't cover my head with a blanket when I eat. I imagine a baby wouldn't care for it either. Does anyone like to eat in the dark?

[Divameow77]

26. You weren't there

the mother and father claim that nothing was visible, but why would the flight attendant have asked her to cover herself if that's true.

[ThomCat]

29. Because some people get bent out of shape

at the mere thought of breasts.

I think the flight attendant should at least claim that this mom did something wrong before dragging her off a plane. No accusation of exposure has been mentioned in any of the news articles.

[Divameow77]

36. I agree

It's ridiculous that she was escorted off the plane, and the flight attendant shouldn't have made an issue out of it. I could understand if a person complained, because heaven forbid they saw a boob, and the flight attendant could discreetly request that she cover-up but if mom refuses, oh well, get over it.

[youthere]

63. Apparently it was offending only the flight attendent.

not the other passengers.

From the article:

A flight attendant handed Emily Gillette a blanket and said, "You need to cover up. You are offending me," according to Boepple.




emphasis mine.

[ThomCat]

64. If the flight attendant was offended by seeing dark skin

would every black person on the plane have been ordered off the plane?

It's wonderful when people are allowed to persecute someone because of irrational personal prejudices. :grr:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

66. That's the second most irrational statement I've seen on DU.

Right up there next to the guy who equivocated pumpkin smashing with Abu Gharib.

[ThomCat]

74. How so?

The flight attendant kicked this family off the plane because she was offended by a breast she didn't even see. Is it irrational to wonder about such an irrational hatred of the rest of a passenger's skin?

Perhaps you think so, but then you and I often disagree.

[Divameow77]

79. Does a flight attendant

really have the power to kick someone off a plane? Or does the pilot or security need to get involved first?

[ThomCat]

80. According to some of the articles, the flight attendant

requested it and it happened. Given that there is nobody else working in the cabin (unless an air marshal is there)I guess they do have that authority.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

90. Being a racist is such a far cry from being a prude, it's not even funny.

And here's the difference - breastfeeding is a choice. No matter how you feel about it, you CAN raise a perfectly healthy baby and not breastfeed. Further, breastfeeding in public is a sub-choice of that. One need not always breastfeed even if that is what one chooses for their child. They can choose to only breastfeed in private, as I'm certain many do.

Being black, hispanic, gay, or any other minority group that has absolutely no choice whatsoever AND has a direct connection to potentially life threatening or ending experiences is so vastly different that I cannot even begin to comprehend your rationale in making such an absurd statement. You cannot choose to only be black in private. You can choose to hide your sexuality, but that can be an extremely traumatic experience.

Being kicked off the airplane is just about as bad as it will EVER get for a woman who wants to breastfeed in public. I would certainly hope that you'd see the difference.

[ThomCat]

92. This is not about what the victim does

it's about what the offended person chooses to be offended by. If someone is going to be offended by skin then it's not so different to being offended by skin.

Yes, as a civil rights activist I am familiar with the extent of racism and other forms of bigotry. Of course, I don't ever justify or validate any form of irrational bigotry because it's not as violent or pervasive as some other.

[Kerrytravelers]

77. I keep reading and rereading Thomcat's post and I just don't see the irrational part.

There are many people who are actually offended by breastfeeding. IF one of those people bring their prejudice to me while I'm feeding my child, I'm not going to stop caring for my child to accommodate their issues.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

91. There is no one that would potentially and literally kill you for breastfeeding.

There are many that could kill you for merely being black, hispanic, gay, etc...

You clearly haven't thought it through thoroughly if you don't see the difference.

[ThomCat]

96. You're changing the subject.

You're making the argument that because they're not the exact same thing one argument must be irrational. Wow. I guess you never, ever use analogies in your own posts.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

97. Are you kidding me?

You asked me how your comment was irrational. I just explained it. How the fuck is that changing the subject? :argh:

[ThomCat]

99. Your response is a non-sequiter.

Nothing in your post explained how anything I said was irrational.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

101. I'm not even going to bother.

This really isn't worth it. I feel I explained the irrationality in pointing out the vast discrepancy in your analogies. I'm just going to leave it at that. I'm none the poorer for your lack of comprehension.

[ThomCat]

102. Enjoy your thanksgiving!

:hi:

[Kerrytravelers]

120. Clearly haven't thought it through, or simply disagree with you?

No where in his post did Thomcat mention violence and killing. HE simply mentioned bringing prejudices to a situation.

But, as I can see from earlier posts, you seem top be very frustrated with Thomcat for also disagreeing with you. I consider myself in good company with Thomcat in this regard.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you are spared any women breastfeeding their children. ;-)

[swimboy]

110. You've led a sheltered DU existence then.

I've entered all your data and the UNIVAC says:

You are the owner of your own discomfort. The smallest change necessary to right the situation and remove the discomfort is for you to close your eyes. Think of England if you have to.

[ThomCat]

111. LOL

:rofl:

OMG! That's hillarious! :rofl:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

113. Again, it's not my discomfort.

I don't give a rat's ass one way or another. I'm just recognizing that this situation is not black-and-white.

[tigereye]

135. let's talk after your wife or partner get crap about

breastfeeding. Even if she wasn't totally covered (and most folks usually are covered enough), she shouldn't have to leave a plane. It's crazy.

[Kerrytravelers]

123. Bwwwwaaaaahhhhh !!!!!!!!

A much needed laugh before heading off to my Thanksgiving holiday!

[Left Is Write]

84. She wasn't being discourteous by *not* using a blanket.

Some children cannot stand having a blanket on them while nursing. They'll cry or kick or tear it off. Besides, "covering up" with a blanket will inevitably draw more attention to the fact that a mother is nursing than if everyone just left well enough alone.

[youthere]

14. I won't flame you..

but I don't believe she should have to cover up at all. Breasts are for producing milk for babies and there is no reason to be "discreet" about it.

[Patiod]

37. Do you ask cute teenager in tiny, skimpy tops to "cover up"?

Doesn't seem to make people too uncomfortable.

I've seen a lot more of the female breast at concerts and clubs, on the beach, on music videos and on the red carpet for awards shows on TV then I do when mothers breastfeed.

It's not the breast that people are uptight about, or we'd be forcing people to dress more modestly. It's obviously the whole concept of breastfeeding. "Put the baby completely under a blanket so I don't have to think about it. That's not what breast are for!!!"

[ThomCat]

40. Very true. Highlighting breasts sexually is okay

but using them to feed a child is not? Damn, what a statement that makes about our sexually obsessed society.

[miss_american_pie]

43. And if someone does ask the teenager to coverup

he/she is met with accusations of prudery and repression. But asking a breastfeeding mom to coverup is just asking for courtesy. :shrug:

[ThomCat]

47. That is an excellent point

and very telling.

[JVS]

57. No. You tell the teenager she's dressed like a "slut" or a whore

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

67. No, but I didn't ask the woman to cover up either.

Nor would I. Point=moot.

[Patiod]

70. Sorry, the "you" was rhetorical

(or something like that)

I didn't mean you as in Vash the Stampede.

I meant "you" as in "one": "does one ask a scantily dressed teen to cover up".

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

94. Well, I have two things to respond to that with

A) Again, I do still support a woman's right to breastfeed in public.
B) I have seen people be asked to cover up for dressing lewdly in public. And there is a point where lewd exposure is a crime. (Edit to clarify: I am NOT suggesting this should be or is a crime in any way, shape or form. Just illuminating a point.)

And further, if we want to get into bodily functions that are healthy and natural, I've seen guys get put into the sex offender registry because they pulled over on the side of the highway, run into the bushes, and urinate because they could not hold it any longer.

[ThomCat]

98. I've never heard of anyone getting arrested

and put on a sex offender registry for peeing in the bushes. Do you have a link?

What what exactly does waste elimination (which is done in a bathroom) have to do with eating (which can be done almost anywhere)?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

103. The exposure of body parts in the process.

That's the lewd part with urination.

And if you want a link, here: http://www.seacoastonline.com/2005news/rock/04012005/news/73224.htm

It's the first thing that came off of google. http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial_s&hl=en&q=sex+offense+public+urination&btnG=Google+Search

[ThomCat]

106. I worked as a security guard when I was a college student.

I saw seriously thousands of people pissing in public after a night of drinking. I've never seen anyone actually getting arrested for it.

I'm not doubting that it could happen. People overreact over almost anything. And it's possible someone was deliberately being lewd and exposing themselves while pissing.

I still don't think it's relevant to breast feeding.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

108. Of course you don't see the relevance. (nt)

[ThomCat]

109. You know, I truly feel sorry for people

who thing breasts are that disgusting and confuse sex with feeding a child.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

112. That's a strong assumption, isn't it?

Apparently, you've mind hacked every person that is disgusted by breastfeeding in public and you know with full certainty that this is the only reason why anyone would ever be put-out by the sight.

Now, I'm quite certain that you've read other arguments - this flamefest is not new to DU - so you're out of hand dismissing all of them and inserting your own conclusion. Again, because it is convenient for you to do so, not because it makes any sense. Just as you dismissed my argument as irrelevant without giving any good reasons as to why. Just as you failed to acknowledge that your analogy to racism as absolutely absurd because of the vast difference in societal ramifications.

Edit for typo (is->as)

[swimboy]

114. They are more tolerant of this in Amsterdam.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

115. Amsterdam is better in more ways than one.

I could certainly go for a hash milkshake, but I'm not getting one in Maryland. At least not legally.

[Divameow77]

126. Well now

that's just discrimination!!!!! Where's my outside toilet?????

[Oeditpus Rex]

116. Are you seriously drawing an equation

between a breast and a penis, and/or between public breast-feeding and public urination?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

93. who did she harm by not using a blanket. men fucking jog around without shirts on.

she cant do something actually necessary without a shirt?

[cwydro]

2. Good, I'm glad.

What a uptight country we are...afraid of breastfeeding. Geez...

[youthere]

6. no no no..

we aren't afraid of breastfeeding, so long as the women hide in some filthy bathroom stall like the sick exhibitionist degenerates they are.:sarcasm:

[sniffa]

5. hooray for Lactavism!!

Lactavists unite!

[MrCoffee]

8. Lactavists are the coolest.

[Divameow77]

10. Not this again...

How old was the "baby" she was brestfeeding again, wasn't he like 2? I can understand how a 2 year old might not want to be covered up but a 2 year old can also be consoled in other ways besides feeding. This is a tricky situation, while I have no issue with breastfeeding in public I think there should be a respect for modesty.

[miss_american_pie]

11. A respect for modesty implies breastfeeding is immodest

and breastfeeding is only immodest as long as people cling to hangups about breasts and sexuality.

[ThomCat]

17. Agree, 100%.

Given that the kid was 2 years old, and probably the size of a typical 2 year old, I'd say she was definitely covered. Unless you've got x-ray vision you're not going to be seeing any of that breast.

So the real issue isn't that someone might see a breast. All they'd see is the back of a toddler's head.

And even if they saw a breast, so what? :shrug:

[Divameow77]

19. true

but people do cling to the hangups, we can't change that.

[miss_american_pie]

27. Oh but I think we can

or else I wouldn't keep posting in these threads. :)

[Divameow77]

39. I think that

most of the people on this board agree with you :-)

[youthere]

25. Brava!

:applause:

[BarenakedLady]

95. Oh yes

:applause:

Sing it Sister!

[youthere]

23. I nursed my kids well past the age of two and I can tell you..

that in certain circumstances breastfeeding is the ONLY thing that will console a nursing child-2 months or 2 years old.

[Divameow77]

30. Well

I didn't breasfeed either of my children and they were both off the bottle around their 1st birthday and I found plenty of ways to console them when they were upset. I'm not even saying that she had to implore another tactic, or that she even needed to cover-up, but without seeing how exposed she actually was I can't make that opinion.

[youthere]

41. my POV is that it doesn't matter..

how exposed she was, because there isn't anything indiscreet or shameful about nursing.

[hedgehog]

16. There's neither a bankie nor a boobie to be seen in the picture.

[Divameow77]

22. maybe

the woman in the original incident wasn't so good at covering up? Maybe her breast was exposed :shrug:

[ThomCat]

24. With a 2 year old in front of her?

and her husband sitting between her and everyone else? Not likely.

The flight attendant apparently never claimed that she was exposed, only that she was breast feeding.

[hedgehog]

28. If they were all crammed into one of those little commuter jets,

I can't figure how the flight attendent saw them! Was the kid supposed to be secured for take-off? That's the only possible excuse for what happened, but no one has mentioned it.

[ThomCat]

34. One of the articles said they were delayed and

sitting at the gate, but maybe. :shrug:

A Toddler's head is much bigger than almost any breast I've ever seen. I can't imagine that anything was visible except maybe the very upper part of her chest, which would show above most collars anyway, so I am really amazed that anybody is ASSUMING that she was somehow exposed.

[Divameow77]

38. The only reason I'm making that assumption

is because to me that's the only way a logical person would have possibly asked her to cover herself in the first place. If she wasn't exposing her breast why ask her to cover-up?

[ThomCat]

42. LOL! I agree with you.

There is no other reason a REASONABLE person would ask her to be more discrete, but there are a lot of unreasonable people about.

And even if a momentary glimps of a whole breast is possible, my opinion is that everyone should discretely NOT watch her feed her child and then it won't be an issue.

[Divameow77]

50. Unfortunetly

my 9 year old son would probably stare, no matter how many talks we have had about the subject. I have always taught my boys that we should be modest but not ashamed about our bodies and what the functions are for many of our "parts", but yeah he would stare at the boobs... he's still a boy.

A few months ago I realized I should stop dressing in front of my now 4 year old when he asked my why I have 3 belly buttons, yep he's starting to pay attention.

[ThomCat]

51. If your boys were to see a woman breast feeding

and there was absolutely nothing lewd going on I imagine it would be an opportunity to reinforce some of those talks with a reminder or two. No harm done.

I can't imagine any boy being harmed by seeing breast feeding. :shrug:

[Divameow77]

59. Oh he wouldn't be harmed

he would probably just giggle over the "boob". He knows about breastfeeding.

[youthere]

68. LOL..

when my son was four and I changed in front of him, he just said "Ick."
That's when I stopped changing in front of him for good.

[Divameow77]

32. just throwing it out there...

I wasn't on the plane

[Writer]

45. Okay, here... I'm going to throw this out, my body armor well attached...

would you be willing to change your maxi pad or your tampon in public? And if so, should the rest of the public just "get used to" public menstruation? Why or why not?

Jus' asking here...

On edit: The vagina isn't meant for just one thing, you know?

[ThomCat]

49. Um.. There is a difference between eating

(which everyone else is allowed to do there) and performing any kind of hygenic function (which is always done in a bathroom).

Is that difference so vague and mysterious that you don't see it? :shrug:

[Writer]

54. I don't know, but you're condescending, bitchy response to me...

demonstrates an inability to look at this from someone else's perspective. I am a woman and I find it DISGUSTING! As much as I find smoking, open PDA, chewing with your mouth open, done in the open disgusting!

Yes, I liken feeding to menstruation. Yes, I do not believe either should be done in public. This is just another play on the cult of the child. The child-centered environment by any means necessary! And the emotional blackmail "Would you want to eat in the bathroom?" does little for me and many other women!

[ThomCat]

60. I wasn't being "bitchy"

but your response is truly a rant to remember. :eyes:

Just because you admit you have an irrational reaction to breast feeding is no reason why anyone else should care, or any reason why anyone else should cater to your reaction.

[Writer]

69. I am not alone.

There are many out there who don't want to look at it. Just like I don't appreciate it when certain topics are mentioned at the dinner table! It's what's done in polite company! Earlier someone mentioned that it depends on the crowd, and I couldn't agree more. If you are doing something as physically expressive as breastfeeding, have some consideration for where you are. Or at least politely ask, "Hey, my baby is rather hungry, and we are stuck on this plane for a while. Do you mind if I feed him/her here?" The righteousness surrounding around this is appalling!

And I certainly have no problem about my reaction to it. So you've decided to label it "irrational." That's too bad, because then that means that many, many in this country are irrational, and - of course - you have placed the crown of righteousness firmly on your head, all other perspectives on this be damned.

Heck - I'm going to rant! Why not? I have avoided responding to so many of these threads, but what I keep reading is more of the ME-centeredness that I read in identity politics threads. It's all self-minded. My needs above that of the rest of society. I wrote earlier that I typically avert my eyes, which I have done before, but believe me I'm thinking to myself, "I don't care that you're feeding your baby in public ma'am, but do respect that not everyone in this room wants to look at it."

And that is how I feel about it.

[ThomCat]

72. Good for you.

But don't you dare tell any woman to stop breast feeding because of it. Your feelings are yours and should not impact anyone who disagrees with you.

You can have all the private little rules you want that you enforce at your dinner table. They don't extend to other people in public places. And I'm sure we're all fortunate for that.

[Writer]

75. Why would I tell a woman what to do?

And why should a group of women tell me what to put up with, and how "irrational" my preferences are?

[swimboy]

119. What are you doing at a dinner table?

I hope you're not feeding yourself in front of others.

Ewww.

[Kerrytravelers]

124. Bwwwwaaaaahhhhh !!!!!!!!

Two in a row!

:rofl:

[Karenina]

133. So. Don't. Look.

What a concept! I do certainly hope you're child-free. You seem SO PUT UPON that YOU are FORCED to avert your eyes and MYOB! Here's a tip: NEVER GO TO JAPAN OR HOLLAND! Or for that matter the South Pacific! :rofl:
"ME-centeredness." All the babies I've ever known are complete MEGLOMANIACS. It's ALL about THEM (but most get socialized out of it between 3 and 6 when we're lucky which in your case it would seem...) :rofl:

"My needs above that of the rest of society." YEP! That's how babies think. And smart moms attend to them so they don't drive everyone else crazy. Some who have more enlightened national representatives are even able to multi-task! (OH! THE HORROR!!!) Babies are ALSO members of society. If you NEED to avoid the horrid sight of a child being fed and nurtured, JUST.DON'T.LOOK. :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[tigereye]

136. well, then don't look!

no one should have to ask.

Feeding the next generation of babies ISN"T me centeredness. Christ.

[Karenina]

139. ME-centeredness

from a woman who, rather than posting a pic on the MANY collective threads, NOW HAS 3 threads in tribute to herself on page one. But let's bash those exhibitionist, hussy, nursing moms, eh? :puke:

[Karenina]

140. ME,ME,ME,ME,ME!!!

Yes, Writer, I am VERY ANGRY with you and your cavalier dismissal and dissing of other women whose lives you clearly do not understand or care to. That anger is intensified by the feeling of betrayal. I feel SO VERARSCHT...

[China_cat]

128. Look, I don't like kids.

At all. My own are grown and gone and grandma don't babysit. EVER. The fact that everybody is supposed to put their adult lives on hold because a kid is around offends me mightily.

But breasts are made for feeding kids and treating them as sex objects is bullshit. Come to think of it, the few kids I've been able to stand being around for more than 15 minutes have been the ones who have been breastfed. They seem to have a little bit better concept of others' rights.

I find it disgusting when I have to listen to a kid cry forever while mom digs in the bag for a bottle, has someone warm it up, waits for it to cool down because it's too hot and by then the kid is screaming so hard that it can't even take the damn thing. So much nicer for those around when baby fusses a bit, mom sticks a tit in its mouth and peace reigns again.

[youthere]

53. Breastmilk is not a discharge of waste from the body.

It is deliberately manufactured for consumption by infants.
How often do you consume menstrual flow? Wait...NO ONE answer that.

[Writer]

55. But it is just as souring to watch...

I don't want to see either - especially if I'M trying to eat myself!

[ThomCat]

61. Would you be just as "soured" watching someone

drink a glass of milk? :shrug:

[Writer]

73. From a glass and not a woman's breast?

Are you kidding? Would you be willing to watch "The Miracle of Life?" You might find it wonderful, but I find difficult to watch.

Have you considered that you can't force others to change their tastes and preferences? I, and many, many others, don't want to look at a woman openly breastfeeding.

[ThomCat]

76. Then don't look.

It's that simple.

It's far easier for you to divert you're eyes than it is for everyone else to cater to you.

[Writer]

78. Or to do it in a small place and force everyone else cater to YOU! n/t

[ThomCat]

82. Right, because on an airplane you are FORCED

to look at what's going on is the seat at the end of one particular row. :eyes:

I have to admit, you're cracking me us. :rofl:

[youthere]

81. Then you need to look away..

just like I do when I see someone chewing with their mouth open or eating rare bloody meat.

[miss_american_pie]

56. Bodily functions aren't shameful

Any of them. :shrug:

[Writer]

58. So it's okay to menstruate, chew with your mouth open, etc. in public?

WTF?

[miss_american_pie]

62. And you'd have us all in tents one week each month?

Bit of a slippery slope argument you're making.

Here's the thing, if someone at a restaurant is chewing with their mouth open, I don't look. Just like no one forces you to look at someone breastfeeding.

[Writer]

71. Oh of course! That's me. A traitor to my own gender.

Get thee into the tent, woman!

(Tents? Who's really making a slippery slope argument here?)

[Left Is Write]

87. Well, you DID imply that one shouldn't menstruate in public.

MAP's comment was a reference to more superstitious times past when women were required to spend a week in a tents, because menstruation was a dirty time, and they were not to have contact with anyone else during such time.

[Evoman]

122. Nobodies kicking people off a plain for eating with their mouth open, or farting, or even picking

their nose.

[Dastard Stepchild]

127. I concur.

Seriously. :)

On the offense-o-meter, having someone let a really nasty one rip is 1 million times worse that a boob with a baby attached to it. It happened once on a flight I was on. I was gagging for 15 minutes. 15 MINUTES. It was just such an unholy smell. Said individual could have gone to the bathroom to let that bomb drop, but no, did it right in front of me. I laughed. I mean, really, what more could I have done?

The peril of being in public is the possible seeing, hearing and smelling of things that unsettle us.

[youthere]

129. love that sig...

viva la femmes!

[Dastard Stepchild]

131. thanks :)

and not to completely piggyback on your comment... but I like yours as well.
Republican elephants humping is pretty much a :thumbsup: in my book.

[youthere]

132. Now I have the "Kiss Off" earworm!

[Kerrytravelers]

83. Well, to be graphic, I don't take a huge dump on the floor, either.

The bacteria, germs and smell isn't pleasant. However, breastfeeding your child isn't spreading bacterias and germs to the general public, nor does it smell.

I do, however, blow my nose in public, most likely offending some people. I blow properly, into a kleenex. I never do the pick and flick.

Now, going to the bathroom and blowing one's nose are both taking care of personal issues, but one is definitely in private and one is acceptable in public.

Like breastfeeding. It is taking care of a need and can be done in public. I don't obsess over people blowing their nose in public and I don't stare at women breastfeeding their children in public.

However, someone taking a huge dump on the floor would certainly offend me.

[Maine-ah]

46. as a new Mom, I was

not sure how I was going to handle the whole BF issue. I have decided, it's know your company. My generation doesn't seem to have issue with the BF uncovered. My mother's generation does, so I cover up around her. To me it seems that with older gen's we're not going to change their minds, but it's our responsiblity to teach the new gen's that breasts are not for just one thing. I think breasts can be a "tool" and a sexual object. I apologize for the run on's, but I'm BF right now, and typing 1 handed.

[miss_american_pie]

48. How's that baby?

:hi:

[Maine-ah]

117. she's absolutly beautiful!

lost a little too much weight, but she's gaining it back. The best experience in my life, I have to say. I love her so much, and I love her daddy even more than I did before.

...got to stop there, I'm starting to cry again.....lol

[Divameow77]

52. I completely

agree with you.

Congrats on the baby :-)

[cwydro]

65. EEK!

PLEASE put a blanket on!

[Maine-ah]

130. LOL!

If you enter my home be prepared.... I let them both hang out! But between the boppy pillow, baby, and baby's blanket, you really can't see anything.

[Left Is Write]

89. I don't think it's a generational thing.

I've seen plenty of evidence on internet debate boards that there are many young women out there who find nursing in public to be shameful, rude, or disgusting. On the other hand, my 67-year-old mother couldn't care less. She's of the mind that if the baby needs to eat, you feed the baby. No big deal.

[Flaxbee]

86. so, I've never gotten so many responses to any previous

threads!

My all time previous record was 40-something replies, so this is my personal best (so far).

:*

[ThomCat]

88. Congratulations!

:applause:

[Flaxbee]

104. thanks...

being mildly tongue-in-cheek - my first 100+ thread, now. It's a topic that sure elicits a lot of comments!

:hi:

by the way - had any of those interviews yet? I'm glad your employer stepped up to (try to) do the right thing re $$ and an assistant....

[ThomCat]

107. Yes.

I turned down a job with a 10k raise becaus it was a dead-end job. Money would be the only reason to take it.

I got a healthy raise here where I am, and I'm getting an assistant, so they're definitely trying to get me to stay.

We'll see what happens after a few more interviews. :)

[cwydro]

105. Glad to help out!

:hi:

[Karenina]

137. Keep up the good work!

;-)

[Evoman]

100. Women should be able to expose their breasts even if they aren't breastfeeding.

What the fuck is wrong with people. Why would anyone get offended over a damn breast. I mean, who has never seen a tit before. Seriously.

I think that people that get offended by breasts should have their eyes gouged out. There, your not being offended anymore. Oh, you can't see anymore? Tough titty *snicker*

[cwydro]

118. NOW, you're talking!

I always thought it unfair that men can go without shirts and women can't.:cry:

[Evoman]

121. The only reason breasts are a big deal, is because we make them a big deal.

Its silly....it would only take one generation to having them just become a body part again...of course, it would take fundy freaks being tied up and put in a closet.

I mean, seriously..its a chunk of fat that releases milk.

[cwydro]

125. Once again, I agree

but you might have started a whole 'nother flame war:popcorn:

[tigereye]

134. cool!

wish they had had those when I was nursing the kid.

[1620rock]

141. Well, I am 61 years old and a guy. I have seen women..

..breast feeding all of my life and I never realized that it was such a big deal. It is as natural as the sun coming up in the morning, and anyone finding this offensive has a warped sense of propriety.
Movies showing chain saw massacres, the unfathomable violence of shock and awe, the inane crap shown on tee-vee. (If you have an erection lasting more than four hours etc.) Who in their right mind could possible be upset or offended by breast feeding???
To those of you who get all hot and bothered about the "shame" of this issue, I can only say: GET A LIFE!...nuf said. :eyes: