Absolutely we should know our competition.  And Rachel I agree with you in
so many ways.  That being said I will state this:  Many of us do not have
the time nor experience or skills to know what to do with the bigger issues
- the worldwide ones.  It is overwhelming and we are already overwhelmed
because we are working our butts off on the issues at home - ones that for
some (apparently) seem silly or trite or not worth the time.  But for us it
IS worth the time.  And we ARE doing a good and positive thing.  We are
saving mothers and babies one at a time on a smaller scale.  

We all need to do what we can where we can.  While I tell people about
Nestle and the boycott and why they are so bad and unethical, my focus is
not on Nestle - nor should anyone tell me where my focus should be.  My
focus needs to be on where I feel best making a difference.  For me that is
directly in my own community working to clean up train wrecks caused by
others 'inflating' their credentials and practicing outside their SoP.  For
others who are more entrenched in the worldwide struggle that is where they
feel most comfortable and I support and appreciate their efforts deeply.

However - when one of our esteemed tells us to stop infighting, and in
effect sit down, shut up and do something positive or go bathe someone's
cat...I take exception to that as I find it to be highly disrespectful, as
did many others.  The better message in my opinion would have been to give
some ways to deal with our issue, applaud us for being so passionate about
it and for holding the IBCLC credential up and working to protect it.  OUR
work to do that is just as important as the work anyone else is doing on
fighting against Nestle and other ABM companies.  It may be small potatoes
to some, but without those particular potatoes we won't have a full meal.  

We all should be applauded for what we do - NOT dismissed as we were.  We
should be encouraged to do what we can in our communities on a smaller scale
and worldwide on the larger scale.  But never should we be told not to fight
for our profession.

Warmly,
Jaye

Jaye Simpson, CLC, IBCLC, CIIM, MoM
Breastfeeding Network
www.breastfeedingnetwork.net

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