I don't wonder whether or not the terrorists breastfed.  I think it is
likely, as some have pointed out, that they did.  How long?  Who knows?  I
think about, rather, the role of women in their brand of their religion.  It
appears they are relegated to a very low status, not allowed to be seen in
public.  Rather they are to wear coverings from head to toe.  It has been
reported (prior to Sept. 11 tragedy) that houses where women live in that
society, must have windows painted black (so women can't be seen), that
women have been stoned to death for having any part of their body seen in
public and for many other reasons, at the discretion of men.  I don't want
to argue about the politics here.  My point is that, in this type of social
setting, women have very little to no influence in the activities, ideas or
actions of males.  I would wonder, instead, HOW this breastfeeding was done
as well as how long.  It is the type of relationship, more than the activity
itself, that we value in breastfeeding, and who knows to what extent that
relationship is allowed in this society.  I'm asking.  I don't know.

 I do know that we here, in our town, have very recently had a most tragic
case of a couple -unmarried- who had twin boys.  They ended up living in a
car and the father would not allow the mother to comfort the babies for they
"needed to learn not to cry".  She was not even allowed to change their
diapers because that would involve her touching their genitals.  This father
eventually suffocated one of the babies, according to him accidentally, when
he stuffed a rag in the child's mouth and put tape over that to stop the
child's crying.  He then buried the little boy's body, which was only found
a few months later.  When authorities discovered this case, the surviving
child weighed only about 6-7 pounds at 9 months of age!  The mother had been
trying to get away from the father, but he kept a tight rein on her
-wouldn't let her look out the windows of the car even!- and was, of course,
abusive.  These events are tragic and I'm sorry to share them.  I weep for
the poor children we hear about all the time whose mommies don't protect
them and whose daddies hurt them.  My husband was one, though not to this
degree.  (I must say that I better never be left alone in a room with his
father!  His ears would do more than burn!)   I just wanted to share the
warped ideas some people can have about relationships and male/female
equality or lack thereof.  I do not mean to offend anyone.  I am only
speculating that a society that does not allow women to have a voice, lacks
a gentling influence, lacks evenness, lacks an importance placed on family.
Rather, I see the events of Sept. 11th  as an example of testosterone run
amuck, unchallenged, a collective thrusting out of the male chest, and
saying, "I'm better than you are!  Oh, yeah?  Well, watch THIS!".  Things
mothers see, and correct, in our little ones.  This is oversimplified, I
know, but I can't help feeling that my quote below is applicable even in
this situation.
Marsha


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marsha Glass RN, BSN, IBCLC
Mothers have as powerful an influence over the welfare of future generations
as all other earthly causes combined.
John S. C. Abbot
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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