Hi Pam,
I agree with what you're saying. My point in being careful about language is not to obscure the truth but to maximise the chances that the listener will actually hear what is intended. To be honest, the woman responding to my article is intent on seeing what she wants to see (even to the point of misrepresenting results of studies that she chose to use in her argument- quite astounding really) and it would not really matter what words are used. However, sometimes the message can be completely lost because women respond to the emotions that words or analogies may have. If we can use language that removes as much emotion as possible whilst being unambiguous about the message we wish to communicate it gives the listener the best chance of actually hearing us. 
Karleen Gribble
Australia

>> However, public, generalized statements about the importance of breastfeeding, and the "devastating" differences between breastfeeding and _not_ breastfeeding (formula) need to unambiguously clear, so that no-one is in any doubt - this is a time to speak up.  I don't think that, in writings which will be in the public domain, or in pronouncements which will be repeated or aired or printed over and over, it is helpful to be so tactful that it becomes difficult for the average reader/woman in the street to become confused about our message.  I find it achingly disappointing to see a TV interview with someone who is one of our known big names put forward a publicly and deliberately "moderate" point of view in order not to offend those who so loudly defend mothers' rights to bottle-feed.   It adds to the general misunderstanding that formula-feeding really doesn't matter, so why are some of us making such a fuss about it?  And of course the media love it.  And so do the very militant formula-feeders.
>> 
>> Years ago, when breastfeeding was under serious threat because of the move to provide replacement feeding to the babies of HIV+ mothers on a global scale, a UNICEF person said to me "But you people are only speaking in whispers".  And sure enough, formula-feeding was so heavily supported and actively promoted for about a decade, with truly "devastating" consequences that I wonder now whether breastfeeding rates will ever revert to what they were before this initiative was first dreamed up.  Some of us attempted to engage with those who seemed to be ringing the changes and deliberately maintained a carefully moderate stance so as not to be labelled fanatics.  It didn't help.  Thousands of babies died.  If we don't speak up - who will?
>> 
>> Sure, as I've recently discovered, today's mom's lists and blogs can be merciless and very public in distorting our words and intentions out of all proportion, so it's vital for us to be accurate and scientific.  But do we write and speak for them, or for the health of babies now and in the future?  In telling it like it is, I think we're allowed to use the occasionally negative descriptive word to emphasize a point. In fact, it might be high time we did.  The truth is that physiologically, nutritionally and psychologically breastfeeding really _does_ matter, and it might be our very restraint that perpetuates the myth that it doesn't. So words like "devastating" are good!  We shouldn't be intimidated into muting our advocacy.
>> 
>> Pamela Morrison IBCLC
>> Rustington, England
>> 
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