Count my "vote" for keeping LLL out of politics and lobbys. LLL's greatest
strength is providing one-on-one mother-to-mother support for breastfeeding. We
win our "battles" one mom at a time. Perhaps this is not the most effective way
of changing the world to one in which bf is the norm, but it IS the most
effective way of helping the mom who needs help. A new mom who has sore nipples
or is engorged or just plain bewildered about being a mother doesn't care about
the WHO code, bf legislation, or whatever. If she gets her immediate needs met,
THEN she may be in a position to care. And thankfully, there are other groups
whose expressed purpose IS to make these kind of changes. Support for change
comes in many forms that complement one another. If LLL was doing things that
deliberately undermined the political efforts, then that would be another story.
Instead, they provide the information, support, and a place for moms to turn to
while the political battle rages elsewhere.

As Liz Baldwin points out, whose politics should LLL get into and still remain
an international organization?? I'm reminded of something I posted about 3-4
years ago on Prodigy, fussing to my "co-Leaders" online about a particular
presidential candidate's tactics. I was MOST surprised to find out that a
substantial number of my close buddies were NOT politically alligned with me!!
Stupid, huh? It really made me appreciate why LLL chooses NOT to mix
causes--including getting into what might at first be seen as anything but
mixing causes (bf politics). I'm not quite so naive anymore!!

I wonder how many bf political activists would be so active if it were not for
groups like LLL and other support groups who helped them when they needed help
and who were available for such help whenever it was needed??

Melissa Vickers, IBCLC, LLLL (though I am speaking for myself in this post, not
LLLI!)
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