April 21, 2005
Opinion:
Family values?
By Jack GrantFrom Fox News:
16 Breast-Feed in Protest at Public Meeting
Thursday, April 21, 2005 Associated PressMIAMI BEACH, Fla. - A city commission candidate was criticized for breast-feeding her daughter during a public meeting, so 16 other mothers turned up and nursed their children at another gathering as a show of support.
Gabrielle Redfern apologized for offending anyone, but says she won't stop breast-feeding her child when necessary. She had been criticized by some for breast-feeding her 1-year-old daughter, Elsie, during Mayor David Dermer's recent State of the City address.
"Elsie's been coming to public meetings since she was 2 weeks old," said Redfern, who is in her first bid for public office. "I shouldn't have to choose between being a publicly involved citizen and being a good mother."
On Wednesday, 16 women held a "nurse-in" in support of Redfern, breast-feeding their babies at a Miami Beach Commission meeting.
"How is she supposed to raise her child and have a career if she isn't allowed to breast-feed her child when she attends meetings?" said Ellen Sandoval, who came to show her support. "I quit working because I didn't know or have the courage to do what she is doing."
State law says a woman can breast-feed her child anywhere she is otherwise legally allowed to be.
But even in a city where topless sunbathing is common, others say there should be limits.
"I think it's a beautiful and natural thing, but there's a time and a place for it," said Joe Fontana, who regularly attends community meetings. "It's distracting. Why inside? Why not step outside to do it?"
Question: If you claim to believe in "family values" and say "it's a beautiful and natural thing" then why is it so tremendously distracting?
I'm a normal, healthy, fully heterosexual male, and I am not distracted by it (full disclosure, I like and enjoy seeing ALL parts of women, not just one particular part like "legs guys" or other categories I will leave to the reader to imagine).
Perhaps there is some other reason; one best dealt with by Freud?
At least try to be philosophically consistent, if you're going to say you promote "family values"...
People like that idiot piss me off. Breasts were designed to feed one's young. I am sick of women made to feel ashamed or uncomfortable because they are doing what our bodies were designed to do.
Someone once said to me that they thought nursing mothers should just go into the bathroom when in public, to nurse. My reply was, "Why don't you go eat your dinner in a public restroom next time and then let me know how much you enjoy it."
I could expound on this at great length... which I may very well now on my blog... now that you brought it up.
Posted by: Boudicca at April 21, 2005 10:59 PMOkay there are various factors to consider... one is that this is NOT a 2 week old baby. This is a one year old child. Presumably this child is old enough by this time to be able to work feedings around a meeting time.
Are all the people in this meeting bringing kids with them and putting food out at the table while they conduct business? BTW - I wouldn't be any happier if she was there bottle feeding the child either. This isn't a restaurant... or the mall... it's a meeting! They are trying to conduct business in a reasonable length of time.
At the age of one year old, I don't see why she is bringing the child with her to an adult meeting - she needs to get a sitter. I don't care what anyone says, small children are a distraction - not just feeding them - but in general. They. Require. Attention!!! Just think of all the conversations you have tried to have over the years with a parent who is conversing with you AND trying to watch their kid... it's nearly impossible.
So, I agree she shouldn't be there nursing her baby - but not because breast feeding is a bad thing - there are just some venues where kids distract from business - I'm sorry people can't seem to accept that - but it's true.
Posted by: Teresa at April 22, 2005 07:11 AMThe issue to me is not the age of the child. The issue to me is children at the meetings. If it is known that children are allowed at these meetings, then her breast feeding is totally irrelevant. Who cares? It is a natural act of a mother feeding their child, only made more shameful and not done in public in the last half of the 20th century... probably during the 60s.
My father grew up seeing women breastfeeding their babies (and 1 year old is still a baby) in public, in parks, all over. It was common. He said he didn't notice it disappearing until the 60s, which I think is a sad state of affairs. Perhaps that is a big thank you to the feminazis? I don't know. But it does not speak well for our society that something so natural and healthy as breast feeding one's child in public, even at a year old, is considered embarrassing and classless... as if only the poor and those from 3rd world countries should nurse in public... afterall, they can't afford formulas or pumps to put their breastmilk into bottles. Bottles: the civilized way to feed.
And for the record, nursing is a very private choice. I think no less of women who bottle feed than those who breastfeed... because... it's not my business.
Posted by: Boudicca at April 22, 2005 09:22 PM
