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I have no problem with breastfeeding in public. However, if I
started eating a sandwich in a courtroom I wouldn't be
surprised if I was told to leave too. If a judge's thinking
is affected by some distraction it is reasonable to address
the issue. There are many things inappropriate in a
courtroom. Distractions take many forms, and finding oneself
distracted by an activity should not be conflated with a
value judgement on the activity; i.e. people talking loudly
in any context can be distracting, though the value of the
act of talking is itself not in question.
In the context of justice being considered I think that the
most important thing is a clear-headed judge.
Submitted by Te Jackle on Sat, 27/10/2012 - 8:51pm.
Being natural has nothing to do with it - is it appropriate
is the question. A crying baby is also completely natural,
but would a crying baby be appropriate in a courtroom? I
don't think so. Just like sitting on a plane for hours having
to listen to one. I am all for breast-feeding, but is it
appropriate in a courtroom? Probaby not. [abridged]
If the judge had chosen to allow the mother to continue
attending quietly to her baby's needs, there would have been
no fuss or interruptions to the courtroom proceedings. How
embarrassing for the mother to be shamed in this way. My
support is with better education for all, in understanding,
showing tolerance and respect for breastfeeding mothers.
To the person who concedes it's perfectly natural, but argues
there are other things natural to humans for which we would
get arrested in public ... eh? We're talking about feeding
babies, not urinating or whatever else you were suggesting.
Babies are totally helpless and therefore completely reliant
on their parent for food. It doesn't compare to any other
"natural" adult function.
Submitted by Matty_S1 on Sat, 27/10/2012 - 7:23am.
I completely agree with you, Olive. It is disgraceful that an
element of society frowns upon breastfeeding to the point
where many mothers are now too embarrassed to feed their
babies in public for fear of scathing looks. Fortunately, we
live in a country where it is perfectly legal for a mother to
breastfeed her baby in public - hopefully stories such as
this will help see a shift in mindset as well.
Submitted by cityrise on Fri, 26/10/2012 - 11:29pm.
Wow, our society is sicker than I thought. Very
disappointed in this. I guess we are all doomed when a
human feeding a human baby is considered inappropriate
anywhere. Sorry, but what is wrong with you people?
Submitted by OliveMcrae on Fri, 26/10/2012 - 6:56pm.
There is no situation where it isn't appropriate to feed a
baby who requires it. The sexualisation of womens breasts to
the point where women are frowned on for feeding a hungry
child is so far removed from the interests of the child it
should not even be a question. There is not place that a
women would be questioned for putting a bottle in a child's
mouth, so there should be no questions or comments when a
child is offered mother's milk. This is how humans are
designed to feed their infants.
Submitted by Fungus Pudding on Fri, 26/10/2012 - 3:33pm.
We all know that breast feeding is perfectly natural, but
what's that got to do with it? I could list quite a few
things that are perfectly natural, but would have you
arrested in no time if you performed them in public.
Yep. Public/shopping mall toilets. Filthy places, and one
should never eat/drink in them, but unfortunately that's
where some women are forced to go. Discreet
breastfeeding should not offend anyone, or be pushed out of
sight. It is natural, and a baby should not be expected to
wait for his/her milk just because some adults have a
problem with it!
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