Some days just start out right.  I woke up to find the following as one of
the 2 editorials in the local major daily paper.

BAN BOTTLES, NOT NATURE

HOW ABSURD.  Michelle Poirier has been bounced back and forth between the
Human Rights Council and B.C. Supreme Court because she was told to stop
breastfeeding her baby on the job at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs six
years ago.  She won't learn the outcome of her second appeal to the HRC
until March 17.
        Poirier was working at a desk job, for the love of Pete.  She wasn't
a cop directing traffic, she wasn't flying an airplane or even driving a
truck.  She wasn't, in short, endangering herself or anyone else by suckling
her wee one.  But you'd think she was, by the way her dried-up supervisors
reacted.
        Of course, her supervisors were public servants, and like many
public servants, liked to set rules and enforce them.  But Poirier got the
same prune-faced reaction from people when she tried breastfeeding in
restaurants or beside the swimming pool.
        What's the matter with these people?  How much more unpleasant than
the sight of an infant at its mother's breast is that of a kid slurping from
a grubby plastic contraption that's been kicking around on the floor of the
family car and God knows where else?
        Bottle-feeding is not only artificial and an affront to Nature when
it isn't necessary; it's an unsightly abomination that should be outlawed on
the job, in restaurants and in all public places.

Victoria Times Colonist March 11, 1997. page A14.

Just a quick note about the case referred to in the editorial.  The woman
was breastfeeding at a meeting held on her lunch hour.  She has since
started an organization providing support to women in similar situations.
She is strong, articulate and an excellent spokeswoman.
        The Times Colonist can be reached at [log in to unmask]
Managing editor is Jody Paterson (yes a woman).  Editorial page writers are
Paul Minvielle, Iain Hunter and Paul MacRae.
        Does anyone in Victoria know if Paul MacRae is related to the Rev.
John MacRae and Mrs Sheila MacRae (Sheila is a former LLL ACL and John was
instrumental in the start of INFACT while he ministered in Toronto).  It's
just a thought.
--"Without interest and passion nothing great has ever happened in history.
Hegel"
               Rhoda Taylor, B.A., IBCLC   Duncan, B.C., Canada--