I can feel it in the air that the tide is turning in favor of  
breastfeeding anytime anywhere.  There are now a huge number of  
comments, over 90% of which affirm a baby's right to eat when hungry  
free from harassment.

http://forums.delawareonline.com/viewtopic.php?t=29879

There is no reason to get mad over this man's opinion.  The truth is  
on our side, and it will prevail.  Negative opinions about  
breastfeeding will join the ranks of other fringe beliefs such as a  
flat earth.  Anyone who for some reason does not see the beauty in  
breastfeeding mothers and babies needs our sympathy and education.   
If anyone doubts that they can feel compassion for this guy, please  
read Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Letter from a Birmingham Jail:

http://almaz.com/nobel/peace/MLK-jail.html

MLK was able to feel compassion for the enemies of human rights, and  
in the process, won their hearts and minds to his cause.  He not only  
won the battle for the civil rights amendment, but he won the war --  
getting people to fully embrace the idea that all people deserve  
respect as human beings.  He did this for African-American people,  
but in the process, helped free many white people from the anger,  
fear, and racism that was contaminating their own souls.

We would do really well to study what he did (or if you were alive  
then, revisit it), and then embrace his philosophy as a breastfeeding  
advocate.  Too many breastfeeding supporters give in to their anger  
(justifiably, but not effective for our cause), but we can only win  
for mothers and babies if we are strong enough to respond to  
naysayers with love, compassion, and calm education.

I was very dismayed to see some formula bashing in the comments  
(which I know none of us would do publicly, but I'm sure we all do it  
in our minds sometimes; I know I have been guilty of this!).  Bashing  
the opposition conveys lack of confidence in our own beliefs.  The  
truth about breastmilk speaks for itself; it does not need to  
criticize formula in order to build itself up.  Formula feeding moms  
are our allies in reclaiming the sovereignty of mothers to do what  
they feel is right for their babies.   Not all moms are able to buck  
the bottle-feeding system that they are immersed in, but they will in  
the future have grandchildren or friends who want to breastfeed.   
Being considerate of their feelings is critical in winning the war to  
reclaim breastfeeding for the WHOLE future, not just the immediate  
future of the next mother and baby who walk through your door.

If you are still reading, thanks!  I am feeling very impassioned  
today.  Or maybe I am just trying to avoid my laundry. :-)

Warmly,
Lynnette

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