The Lawerence Eagle Tribune, P.O. Box 100 Lawrence, Ma. 01842. In the Lawrence Eagle Tribune-Lawrence,Ma: -Headline- California allows moms to breast-feed anywhere-by Betsy Hart Score one for the breast-feeding Nazis. They and their political sisters have won a major victory. To Whom It May Concern: And it should concern us all. The use of the word "Nazi" to describe women who feed their babies, by normal means, in public, is frightening at best and deeply offensive at worst. Ms. Hart is confused about what form of infant feeding is akin to planned, meticulously carried out torture and genocide of a class of people. In this case the class of people is infants. The mothers who needed to have this bill signed into law are not a political movement out to destroy an entire class of people. In fact they are trying to save an entire generation. Can the same be said for their counterparts? The formula companies? When it comes to calling one or the other Nazi's, the formula companies more closely fit the definition. The hazards of infant formula, even just one, yes one, bottle of artificial infant food, to the long-term and short-term health of both infants and their mothers is well documented. Pick up any of a hundred medical journals available, read the American Academy of Pediatrics' own statement on infant feeding to begin to get a clue. Then watch a woman breastfeed. I see more breast tissue in billboards advertising everything from trucks to men's underwear for heaven's sake. I suggest Ms. Hart take a walk through an art gallery -- would she have a portrait of the Virgin Mary nursing Jesus covered by a blanket or hung in the last stall of the women's restroom for fear of "sexually harassing" the patrons of the museum? Michealangelo attributed his great gift to the "mountain air and my nurse's milk" on which he was raised. To the people who say they are "offended" by the sight, I have to wonder what offends them? Love between a mother and baby? Food being served in public places? Or the possibility of glimpsing some breast tissue? Remember, breastfeeding does not involve being completely topless and swinging tassels from one's nipples. Breastfeeding is NOT a sexual function. Are the men in question embarrassed because they find themselves drawn inappropriately to a co-worker's breasts? How about the bathrooms, showers and dressing rooms of most health clubs/pools, etc. more skin is exposed, rubbed and handled here than anywhere. Should we ask someone to leave the healthclub shower because their breast was exposed? Do these same men feel sexually harassed in the men's room everytime a co-worker uses a urinal and exposes his penis for one of its intended purposes, the elimination of waste? No? Gee then why does an infant using a body part for its intended purpose, feeding, get some people so nervous? Ms. Hart needs to rethink her use of the very ugly word, "nazism" and her understanding of normal human infant feeding, health and nutrition before she puts another word in print, and then it should be an apology to the mothers and children of California and everywhere. Sincerely, Anne E. Robb, MAT Mother to Publically "Best-Fed" Roberto and Nicholas Anne E. Robb, MAT, LLLL Off on a Tangent, Oregon, USA mailto:[log in to unmask]