Ok. My blood is boiling over this one. This is the local high school
newspaper under "Opinions." This boy obviously as something to learn.  I
have called the faculty advisor for the newspaper, and he has yet to
return my call. If anyone cares to respond, I will compile responses and
mail them to the author and the faculty advisor. I am also asking Kathy
Dettwyler to write a brief (and printable!) response. I plan on
following up on this. I am sad for the girls at this high school who are
subjected to would-be men who have these "opinions." In that vein, maybe
we should start a Lactnet match making service?

"Open Breast Feeding: Free Show or Gotta Go." By xxxyyy

"I, as much as the next man am an avid enthusiast of the female body,
but just like everyone else, I prefer to know when and where I am going
to be exposed to such skin.  Naturally, by watching an R rated movie,
passing by a nude beach, and even the occasional gander at the Discover
Channel or Animal Planet, one comes to expect that they may come in
contact with some nudity. Generally, when people want to see it, they go
and seek it out. In this case it is justified though. People know that
the chances of seeing a bare female body is heightened in these
instances, and has this knowledge going into action. One knows that when
they go into a building with a large neon sign reading XXX, that the Vin
Diesel movie is already out of the theatres and onto video, so there is
no reason to be confused or surprised with what they will encounter.
But, when one is strolling down Church Street, eating dinner in a fancy
restaurant, or spending any other of their precious time in a public
area, they do not expect (and do not want, let me add) to come in
contact with a mother nursing- and shouldn't have to either.  Many
people have differing views than I do though as witnessed in votes
across the country.  Courts have voted that public breast feeding is a
right that must be kept in place for all women. They say that women need
to do it, and they should be protected in doing it when and where they
desire.

Well what about public urination? If a guy's gotta go then he's gotta
go. They need to do that in the same urgency as someone who needs to
breast feed. One may say that they shoudl just find the closest
restroom. That seems logical, so why can't the breast feeding mothers do
the same?

Eventually, this may end up as a Constitutional rights debate or perhaps
a dispute over whether or not it should be, or is, considered indecent
exposure.  In this instance, this constitutes a whole different topic
which is public nudity. Stark naked bodies running around may be
commonplace during Spring Break in Cancun (and I would go to see those
then), but as for my lunch break on Church Street, I tell them the same
thing I tell the breastfeeders: Put on some clothes!
Don't get me wrong, breasts aren't a bad thing, but it's been centuries
of concelament that have kept them out of the public's view and placed
them into the realm of secrecy.  Whenever something is considered
forbidden or unknown, it is subject of fixation to the point of
fascination by all who wonder and do not know. History aside, there is a
place and a time for everything. As for women, babies, and breasts,...in
public, let's stick to the bottle instead."


And to boot, this kid has horrible grammar.

Looking forward to responses to forward to this young and ignorant man.
Kathleen



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