What concerns me about this is the way it takes the thinking about BIP to a whole new level. Attitudes that it is "disgusting", "gross", "offensive", "exhibitionist" etc. is one thing. Annoying as they are, we can counter these with information and reason. On the other hand, the attitude that public breastfeeding is something to be feared for our own safety takes it to a whole new level. Fear is a gut reaction which when justified is a survival mechanism. However, today, the fear of terrorism, something we tend to feel we have no defense against, leads to immediate negative reactions toward anyone with a beard, in middle-eastern dress, wearing a turban, speaking in Arabic (or what we think might be Arabic), or, heaven forbid, praying using unfamiliar postures. Now fear of anyone breastfeeding in public as something threatening to our very existence had been added to the mix. Let's hope this doesn't get any wide spread broadcasting. I doubt
that those expressing this attitude intended such a far-reaching implication. They were probably acting on their own ignorance based on their prejudices and snatches of information.
Winnie Mading, (retired, but still concerned with attitudes toward breastfeeding)
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