Dear fellow lactnetters,
History is a learned teacher given that one is at that "teachable moment" often
spoken about by Coach Smith. In reviewing history one is reminded that whole
nations have been built on the founding premise that there is great value in
giving everyone the freedom to speak their minds. Wholesale emmigration, wars,
rebellions and revolutions have resulted when the powers-that-be have chosen to
ignore this basic characteristic of human nature. When freedom to speak one's
mind has been discouraged or squelched, the people find other venues in which to
voice opinion, concern and discent. Ignoring this most basic fact will not make
this characteristic of all people - much less a group that is predominatently
female - go away.
Lactnet is an open, public forum for those concerned about breastfeeding and
human lactation, and though it may not be the very BEST venue for discussion on
certain issues, it IS an established forum. One of the few available to such a
global multidisciplinary group at reasonable cost, and as such, issues
surrounding : LLLI, IBCLE, WHO, UNICEF, USAID grants, USDA/WIC, BFHI, IBFAN,
INFACT, and ILCA will be discussed. I do not believe that any one of these
organizations or agencies are in jeopardy of being misconstrued as affiliated
with Lactnet. I also don't believe that any of the other organizations are
concerned about posting to Lactnet to correct rumor or misinformation for fear
that this connection will erroneously be made. Additionally, in the past year
each of these organizations/agencies have taken a certain amount of criticism
and concern from various posts, yet at no time do I remember being told by
another lactnetter to REFRAIN from addressing LLLI issues, or WIC issues, or
IBLCE issues, etc., because this is not the correct forum. I do remember our
"mothers" on ocassion asking us to continue the discussions that have spun off
onto tangents "outside".
Various leaders of these different organizations may not always like the
concerns raised on Lactnet, but they usually, quickly and correctly, respond to
the issue of the post, using the ease of Lactnet to accurately educate a large
audience of interested participants. In this way more than a specific
membership understands the purpose and action of the organization, setting the
whole of the human-lactation-interested arena straight on information, policy
and decisions. Likewise, if the leaders should chose, they can gain much wisdom
and insight from the various minds - both those who feel the issues personally
and those who are objective - available to them as a member of this forum.
Personally, I see no good reason to stymie this process of open exchange.
From personal communication with various ILCA BOD Members, including the
Immediate Past President and the current President, I know that the idea of a
volunteer Editor-in-Chief for the JHL was being considered with several other
scenerios. I heard Kathy Auerbach's position on this idea at the ILCA Conference
in Kansas City, and watched the strong sentiment of the membership in their
resounding standing ovation for her decision. I have read the posts on this
topic here on Lactnet. And I am glad to hear that the ILCA BOD has determined
that an honorarium for the EIC is important to them as well and will be
retained. What I am struggling to understand is the grave harm done by this open
exchange of ideas and feelings as decisions are being made. I disagree with the
implication of wrong-doing inferred when I am told to refrain from speaking on
ILCA matters in this forum.
ILCA's core strength lies in both the global and interdisciplinary nature of the
association's membership. With such a diverse group, there will ALWAYS be
disagreements and concerns with potential decisions that leadership contemplates
and finally chooses. But in discussion we both gauge the weight of the concern
AND we find the common ground of the majority. It is only in open, public
discussion that we (ILCA) as a group, can move forward with a firm understanding
of the concensus of the whole, all the while truely appreciating the discenting
concerns of a few.
People WILL make their opinions known. Possibly there are other more direct
venues for this, but how fortunate for us ALL to be able to enjoy this venue, to
speak our minds on ANY subject relating to breastfeeding and human lactation -
and on ocassion some subjects that don't relate like ties and politics. How
fortunate are the leaders in the field: leaders in research and theory, leaders
in credentialling, leaders in mother-to-mother support, leaders in political
advocacy, leaders in the profession, to have a forum in which to hear the ideas
of a whole large, global, multidisciplinary group replete with wisdom. Let's
hope we freely continue to use this resource wisely.
Jeanine Klaus, MS, IBCLC, LLLL
Oakville, Ontario
(who in between breastfeeding twins and the latest baby, was the President of
the ILCA BOD, 1988-1990)
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