"First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you.
Then you win."
Soapbox alert.
Alice thinks breastfeeding advocates should avoid making "extreme"
statements.
Let's talk about Valerie. She has some extremely serious and urgent and
disturbing things to tell us. Some of us are uncomfortable with this
information, with Valerie's tone, with the whole negative aspect of the
discussion. Some of us really dislike conflict. We want to kill the
messenger! Valerie is giving us facts, and we don't like what we are
hearing.
I have read so many posts which imply that Valerie is too extreme. Some
say she should choose her words more carefully- she might upset people.
Then they will - I don't know- stay in their safe cocoon of denial, I
guess. It's the ostrich effect- like a first time mother can't stand to
hear that her doctor isn't going to be there to hold her hand throughout
her entire labor!
And then there's that Michael Moore. He is too extreme too. He tells
it like it is, and that's just too - well, uncomfortable to hear. After
all, he says the American public has been lied to by it's president
(Alice calls this an attack.) Of course there has been an outstanding
reward of $10.000.00 on offer for anyone who can find an incorrect fact
in his movie..... but nevertheless- he is perceived as nasty (by some-
not me.). Why? Because some of us don't like the facts he is telling
us. It makes us uncomfortable.
Here's what I think. Those who would do us harm- (formula industry
executives are doing harm, I believe (don't you?) and those who would
lie to us, do not play by the same rules as the rest of us! They think
the ends justify the means. So as long as we, who KNOW what is true,
are willing to continue to go along, trying to play nice, hoping to
sound moderate and reasonable and oh so nice- we will get more of the
same results we have been getting to date, like a multinational
conglomerate moving in to directly compete with the milk of mothers.
The strides we have made so far? They have been made for ONE reason-
because someone stepped up and spoke some truth to power- they told the
doctor they would NOT use formula, thank you very much. They told the
hospital they would NOT leave dad out in the hall during the birth,
thank you very much. They told the Secretary of Health and Human
Services they would NOT stand by and see the Ad Campaign gutted, thank
you very much. They told the store clerk they would NOT feed their baby
in the bathroom, thank you very much.
And I have noticed that Valerie, like all true warriors, does not give
up her fight- she continues faithfully to speak up, and to invite the
rest of us to join her battle. Rather than viewing Valerie, or Michael,
as "extreme" I view them as heros. They are willing to take their
stand, no matter how unpopular this makes them to some. I have said
many times that Michael Moore is working for me. Tonight I declare that
Valerie is, as well, and I thank both of them from the bottom of my
heart. I also declare that I will double my efforts to speak my own
truth, even if it makes someone uncomfortable.
No flames please. And, I honor and respect Alice's right to her
viewpoint.
Sue Jacoby, IBCLC
Clovis, CA
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