While I agree that it would have been a good thing for this mom to stand up
for herself (and the breastfeeding cause), I do not feel saying what this
woman *should* do or should have done is anyone's perrogative.  She did what
she felt she *should* do at that time.  When we say what someone else
*should* do, we're assuming that *our* opinion is the correct and only
answer.  We do not know anything about this woman, her upbringing, her age,
etc.  I know I am not the type who likes confrontation, but I *WILL* speak up
when I feel pushed or driven to (as this post shows).  Years ago, I probably
wouldn't have (goes to show you what age, experience, education etc can do
for a person).  We have to remember that we are all growing, learning, and
changing every day.  This mom has had an experience that she will learn from
and hopefully grow from, but it's done and she can't go back in time and
change what she did then.  Perhaps the next time she goes into the dr's
office, her response will be different, perhaps it won't be, but she has to
live with her behavior and her choices as we all do.  I do feel this is a
case of blaming the victim as Valerie mentioned.

One other thing I'm noticing is the "in your face" breastfeeding attitude
showing through in a lot of the posts.  While I feel everyone on this list is
entitled to their opinion, I feel I also need to share mine.  Again, it's an
opinion, and you know what they say about those!  I feel that the
breastfeeding policies that have been enacted so far have been placed to
protect a woman's right to breastfeed her child and to keep her from being
harrassed and I applaud these laws, BUT we also have to remember that
EVERYONE has rights... not just breastfeeding women and babies.  There are
some people who would prefer NOT to see breastfeeding done in public and
while I do not agree that women should have to hide themselves away, I do
agree that discretion is not a bad thing either.  Are we trying to make a
point or feed our children?  I know breastfeeding gets "sacrificed on the
altar of ignorance" quite a lot, but I also don't want to see it placed on an
altar to prove a point.  I think radical behavior begets other's intolerance.
 Personally speaking, I would not want to see someone totally bearing their
breasts to breastfeed in EVERY situation.  Perhaps that's MY "problem," but
just as people have rights NOT to have to look at pictures they consider
sexual in the workplace and they could be fired for displaying them (even
though the majority of people don't find them offensive), it would be the
rights of that ONE person who did find it offensive that the courts would
probably side with because THEIR rights were being violated.  Again, I
believe in breastfeeding in public and I am not saying it is a *sexual* act,
but there are those that would disagree and they have rights too.  I just
don't feel breastfeeding needs to be done in the "in your face" fashion many
on this list seem want to see happen.  I feel feeding our children in the
issue, not forcing people to accept bare breasts in public.  I would hate to
see people who are just beginning to believe in the breastfeeding issues and
causes start thinking we're all just a bunch of radicals with a cause to
hammer home and have their support swing the other way.  Again, this is ONLY
my OPINION, and you are all entitled to yours also, but I don't feel the
focus is on the right angle in this case (IMHO).

Veronica Scott,
Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

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