<A HREF="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/printedition/chi-0302280300feb28,1,1870555.story?coll=chi%2Dprintcommentary%2Dhed">
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/printedition/chi-0302280300feb28,1,1870555.s
tory?coll=chi%2Dprintcommentary%2Dhed</A> VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (LETTER)
Nursing mothers
Virginia Van der Meer
February 28, 2003
Fox Lake -- I would like to respond to "Laws aim to protect moms who
breast-feed" (Page 1, Feb. 10), regarding the breast-feeding of a 2-month-old
child in an Indianapolis restaurant.
I understand the waitress gave the mother three choices: go to the restroom,
return to her car or leave altogether.
The mother chose to refuse the three requests.
I, too, fed my first child by breast in the year 1949.
At that time, females were modest about exposure of their bodies and were
prone to go to private locations to nourish their babies.
I did not feel deprived of socialization because of my decision.
I liked the private time with my baby, stroking her and having her grip my
one finger with her fragile, tiny hand. It was truly a privilege and blessing
that I was able to provide for her.
Today people are more apt to leave their home for a time of recreation and
pleasure. I suspect that some mothers do not want to wait out a period of
time until they can eat out often, visit museums, etc.
Nursing isn't continued for such a long period of time that a little adult
patience couldn't be exercised.
If public nursing is done in defiance, it is wrong. There have been times
when I have suspected nursing a baby in public to be in defiance of modest
exposure.
The mother in your article stated that she really felt sorry for her child
and for society.
If she is so defiant, I feel sorry for her.
Copyright © 2003, <A HREF="http://www.chicagotribune.com/">Chicago Tribune</A>
<A HREF="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/printedition/chi-0302280304feb28,1,3705567.story?coll=chi%2Dprintcommentary%2Dhed">
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/printedition/chi-0302280304feb28,1,3705567.s
tory?coll=chi%2Dprintcommentary%2Dhed</A> VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (LETTER)
Mothers' breasts
Paul Rapoport, Topfree Equal Rights Association
February 28, 2003
Ancaster, Ontario -- Columnist Ross Werland's "Playing peekaboo with breasts"
(Q, Feb. 23) was a winner. He found the solution to several problems when he
suggested decriminalizing the female breast.
As he pointed out, laws aside, nursing mothers are expected to be "discreet."
Too bad tots don't know the concept. They may capriciously lift Mom's shirt,
fuss and fail to latch on on command, or complain loudly when hit in the head
with a blanket or when required to have their meal in a toilet facility.
Solution: Decriminalize the female breast. No state should ever have to
legalize public breast-feeding. That confirms women's breasts to be
fundamentally unacceptable because they are indecent. Except, of course, when
men throw five bucks at them while guzzling a beer.
Women's breasts belong to women as much as men's belong to men. If women
expose theirs merely to enjoy the same warm air that men may on a nice summer
day, that is their right, same as men's.
Only then will breast-feeding truly suit its two participants and not have to
pander to onlookers' baseless enmity. It is really unjust to women to take
every sighting of their nipples as an excuse for moralistic combat.
Copyright © 2003, <A HREF="http://www.chicagotribune.com/">Chicago Tribune</A>
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