Moms Hold Breast-Feeding Protest in Fla.ublic

[rickjump1 0]

Moms Hold Breast-Feeding Protest in Fla. EARTH LINK
April 21, 2005 11:46 AM EDT
MIAMI 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?"_____________________________________________

I can see it now: A judge imposing the death sentence while breast feeding her baby. Kidding.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[rehmwa 2]

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"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?"

Beautiful? nuts. It's natural though and shouldn't be restricted. Methinks Joe Fontana needs a girlfriend so he can stay on focus.

Now the other half is whether the mom is doing it with consideration to the others (using a light blanket, etc) vs whether she's being purposely 'in your face' about it because she's trying to make a point rather than care for her child. I can see an issue if she's some zealot with an ax to grind. Courtesy goes both ways. This is unclear and I tend to give side with the mom when I'm lacking more info. But we've all seen both.

Of all those mom's showing up to support, I wonder how many of those babies were really hungry or just having a nipplie shoved in their faces while "mom" was reveling in her PC demonstration.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[justinb138 0]

Ugh....Yet another story about people with waaay to much time on their hands.

[rickjump1 0]

I think this is a no win situation for everyone BUT those breast feeding moms. Distracting or not, this is motherhood.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[pajarito 0]

I always like thinking of "those" as mine and not the baby's.

[sinker 0]

Now the other half is whether the mom is doing it with consideration to the others (using a light blanket, etc) vs whether she's being purposely 'in your face' about it because she's trying to make a point rather than care for her child. I can see an issue if she's some zealot with an ax to grind. Courtesy goes both ways. This is unclear and I tend to give side with the mom when I'm lacking more info. But we've all seen both.
_________________

Very well said, sir! I agree that discretion should be the operating principle. A woman has every right to breast feed in public, provided consideration is afforded to others who may not be comfortable. My wife always has a light blanket available and also tries to dress in a manner that makes breast feeding inconspicuous.

It is ironic that so many other public displays of "flesh," even that could be considered soft-porn by conservative standards are de rigeur, while this, the most natural act b/t a mother and child, indeed the primary reason why breast exist, is so often looked on w/ disgust, disdain, and embarassment. How bass-ackwards.

-the artist formerly known as sinker

[flyangel2 2]

Great points.

I nursed both my children. Most of the time you didn't even know I was doing it.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[SpeedRacer 1]

They called it a "nurse-in."

Shouldn't they call it a "boob-out?"

Speed Racer
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[sinker 0]

ya put yer left boob in
ya poke his left eye out
ya put yer left boob in
and you milk it all about...

-the artist formerly known as sinker

[Guest]

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Moms Hold Breast-Feeding Protest in Fla. EARTH LINK
April 21, 2005 11:46 AM EDT
MIAMI 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?"_____________________________________________

I can see it now: A judge imposing the death sentence while breast feeding her baby. Kidding.

"Beautiful" - nope. Just another biological function that I, as a Westerner, do not care to observe in public; along with urination, defecation, procreation, vomiting, and a host of other biological functions.

Take your Third-World behavior back where it belongs - we're civilized here.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[flailchick 0]

I breastfed both of my daughters for a little over a year each. Wearing clothing designed to make breast feeding easier, most people did not know that my babies were nursing.
As a dz organizer, I actually organized loads while feeding a little one. No one at the dz complained. Of course, they'd seen it all before.....

[Lindsey 0]

It's wonderful that women breastfeed their babies. Nobody should have to hide in order to feed her child, and there's nothing gross about being fed. However, the world just is not nearly as in love with a mother's child as she is, and most of us just don't care to see every new mom's tits. At least I don't. A little discretion can go a long way.

The worst was at my grandparents' house the day of my grandfather's funeral. All of these people, whom I have known since I was old enough to know anyone, coming in to visit and offer condolences....and my sister-in-law felt the NEED to breastfeed in front of everyone. There was a bedroom 10 steps away, but we all know what her tits look like now.... Uncouth.

There are other ways besides just flopping it out there.

Peace~
linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[pajarito 0]

I'm surprised that you're in medicine and are uncomfortable with people breastfeeding whenever the need comes about. Not criticizing but do you think they should run and hide every time they need to breastfeed?

[kallend 2,106]

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"Beautiful" - nope. Just another biological function that I, as a Westerner, do not care to observe in public; along with urination, defecation, procreation, vomiting, and a host of other biological functions.

Take your Third-World behavior back where it belongs - we're civilized here.

What an ABSURD statement.

I've seen a lot of Americans whose table manners were more repulsive than watching any breast-feeding mother and child.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[swedishcelt 0]

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urination, defecation, procreation, vomiting

Though I agree it should be done discreetly I am appalled at this comparison.
A meal for a baby is just in no way gross.

[billvon 3,070]

>Take your Third-World behavior back where it belongs - we're civilized here.

Agreed. And hopefully someday we can get women to cover their legs and faces, too. No one needs to see that sort of temptation. Who do they think they are, anyway? Men?

[sinker 0]

"Beautiful" - nope. Just another biological function that I, as a Westerner, do not care to observe in public; along with urination, defecation, procreation, vomiting, and a host of other biological functions.

Take your Third-World behavior back where it belongs - we're civilized here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


What an ABSURD statement.

***

Something you and I whole-heartedly agree on. This man is truly the uncivilized one and belongs in a cave.

-the artist formerly known as sinker

[SpeedRacer 1]

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Take your Third-World behavior back where it belongs - we're civilized here.

yeah, well, we're also mammals.

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[Lindsey 0]

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I'm surprised that you're in medicine and are uncomfortable with people breastfeeding whenever the need comes about. Not criticizing but do you think they should run and hide every time they need to breastfeed?

No. But a little discretion is not a bad thing. There are ways of breastfeeding without showing your boobs to everyone around. I think with some folks that's the goal.

linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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No. But a little discretion is not a bad thing. There are ways of breastfeeding without showing your boobs to everyone around. I think with some folks that's the goal.

I think some people are just more freaked out about a breast than other people.

[freethefly 6]

***"Beautiful" - nope. Just another biological function that I, as a Westerner, do not care to observe in public; along with urination, defecation, procreation, vomiting, and a host of other biological functions.


Ever been to a Boogie?


***we're civilized here.


Speak for yourself.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[Lindsey 0]

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Quote

No. But a little discretion is not a bad thing. There are ways of breastfeeding without showing your boobs to everyone around. I think with some folks that's the goal.

I think some people are just more freaked out about a breast than other people.

Maybe it's the Southern Woman in me, but I try to be sensitive about what freaks others out. I think that's what bothers me about people who don't cover themselves up in some way. There ARE a lot of people who are uncomfortable with women showing their breasts. Maybe it's not particularly reasonable, as there is nothing *wrong* with a woman's breasts, but socially it's just not been done historically. Some people, for whatever reason, are offended. I try to be sensitive to that, whether I agree with it or not. I am not offended by a woman's breasts, but I am somewhat offended by people who couldn't care less how their actions affect others. I think that 10 years from now it will, hopefully, be less of an issue. Regardless of how backward it is, this is still an issue of social change. In time I would not expect it to be an issue at all.

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[kallend 2,106]

What do you think about public displays of sweating? And they actually show sweaty sportsmen (and women) on TV Or exhaling in public? I mean, human biology is so disgusting.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Lindsey 0]

John....you know that's not what I said at all.

But I wouldn't go to church sweaty, not because there's anything wrong with sweat, but because it would offend more people than not....

linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[Kennedy 0]

It's called common courtesy, and some people just don't get it.
(and it's becoming a little less common every day)

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
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