Good morning, all,

I'm practically reeling in shock from a clip I just saw on Mr. Rogers which
depicted breastfeeding in a very matter-of-fact, warm and frank way!  (For
those of you outside the USA, "Mr. Rogers" is a kid's show that's broadcast
on educational TV.  Mr. Rogers himself is a real person and a Methodist
minister somewhere in New England.)

Emma, my 23 month-old, just came into the kitchen and insisted that I come
into the living room with her.  (Not much of a distance in any NYC
apartment.....<G>)  She led me to the TV and there was a film clip running of
various animals nursing their young -- piglets, kittens, calves, etc.  Then
the next series of shots were mothers and babies of several races
breastfeeding.  There was no coyness; babies were shown quite close-up
latching onto nipples and nursing enthusiastically.  I missed whatever he'd
said as an intro, but Fred Rogers closed the clip with a comment that Mommies
like to feed and care for their babies.

There was *one* brief shot of a bottle-feeding mom interspersed throughout
the entire clip.  Particularly in light of the animal shots that had come
first, the message seemed to be that breastfeeding is simply the natural
thing to do.  The single bottlefeeding snippet seemed to be there just to
keep the kids who get/had gotten bottles from feeling bad.

Kudos to Mr. Rogers!  I'm sure there's likely to have been some controversy
over the frankness of the breastfeeding film, and we *KNOW* the prudes will
write in.  I think it would be a great idea for as many people as possible to
write in to their PBS stations in support.  Especially since most PBS
programming relies heavily on corporate sponsership, much of their
programming for kids is subsidized by formula manufacturers.  (Just look at
Sesame Street if you want proof!)  It's awfully darn rare -- and awfully darn
refreshing! -- to see such lovely and honest breastfeeding footage.

BTW, Emma really enjoyed the footage too.  Sometimes I think it perplexes her
to look around and see all the other kids at the park and on TV -- everywhere
she looks -- toting bottles around.  :-/

Diane DiCarlo
LLLLeader
Brooklyn, NY