Did anyone else catch The View this AM in the USA?  They talked for many
minutes negatively about breastfeeding.  Even Joy Behar, who usually defends
breastfeeding, was making crude jokes about her Italian uncle who BF until
5yo and would ask for latte or double latte in the most embarrassing places.
Rosie talked about "those breastfeeding people" who picketed her when she
stopped Kelly from continuing to breastfeed after a month of difficulty and
how she sat at home laughing about it.  Elizabeth ended the talk by saying
that there was no need to breastfeed these days because there are formulas
now that have everything the baby needs.  Sounds like it was taken right
from one of her formula ads.  Then Rosie encouraged everyone to just not
breastfeed to avoid the embarrassment or some ridiculous reason.  It was
very disturbing, especially Elizabeth's comments about how she was all alone
because nobody wanted to be with her when she breastfed.  HELLO?  Who's
alone when they breastfeed?  She said you're alone until your child is 3 or
4 and can carry on a conversation!  How sad!  Anyway, I sent an email in
protest to Barbara Walters and encourage everyone else to do the same if you
saw it.  That's the last time I'll ever waste my time watching that show!
Please send your comments to the producer or to Barbara.  We don't want
Rosie sitting at home gloating about the rise she got out of us
"breastfeeding people."   My comments:

 

>Dear Barbara,

I have always respected you as a journalist and role model for young women.
What were you thinking when you hired Rosie O'Donnell to replace highly
respected Meredith?  Are you only thinking of shock value and ratings?  I
have been watching The View since it started.  I will never watch it again
after today. Rosie's and the rest of the cast's crude, demeaning comments
about breastfeeding were the last straw.  Didn't you learn from the airplane
incident?  Women do not appreciate these demeaning and disempowering
comments.  It is difficult enough in today's world to continue breastfeeding
for the NORMAL amount of time without misinformed and unintelligent comments
like Rosie and Elizabeth made today.  Elizabeth has made her views
abundantly clear about how she disliked breastfeeding her baby but somehow
felt obligated.  This is Breast Cancer Awareness month and The View is
cashing in on that one too.  Breastfeeding for the NORMAL length of time
(not 3 months as Elizabeth boasts) greatly reduces breast cancer risk in
both the mother and the daughter.  I'm surprised Elizabeth doesn't know that
with her family history of breast cancer.  And if breastfeeding was so
difficult for Kelly, why didn't Rosie get help for her.  There are excellent
specialists and support resources in NYC that she could easily afford.  Her
reasons for telling Kelly to stop were purely selfish, not because she felt
bad for Kelly.  Successful breastfeeding is the most empowering experience
in the world.  Maybe Rosie was threatened by that.  In any case, I hope
Rosie is laughing at home now as she says she did over that one.  She has
alienated many, many women today and most of us will never watch your show
again as long as Rosie and Elizabeth are on the show.  I'm sure Elizabeth's
formula company will profit well over this one.  Shame, shame on all of
you!<


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