What this town needs is a healthy La Leche League club. I used to be a member of one in Reno and it was wonderful. We supported eachother and learned about the emotional and physical benefits both for the mother and child when nursing and how the benefits increase the longer the mother nurses.

Club members give eachother advice about nursing stradegies when things aren't going as easily as expected. And when a situation comes up, like this Safeway issue, the families come together and fight against this sort of discrimination. Soon, the local stores learn to back off and leave Mom and baby alone. Smart stores, like Macy's will actually construct a nursing room, equipped with soft couches and rocking chairs with TV sets and toys for the toddlers, where a mom can comfortably nurse her child during her shopping experience. I asked the multi-billion dollar Fred Meyers if they would consider this as an option for the nursing moms in their store so that we don't have to use the bathroom or dressing room or go out to -40 in our car to breastfeed, (since some moms are shy about public nursing) and they didn't even bother to respond. I'm curious during this construction project, if they included this idea in their plans.

I would like to share that nursing is more then just the loving bond. In today's society of toxins and mass vaccinations, and the stress of day care centers and working moms, breastfeeding is an activity that can literally rescue a baby from these assaults that he or she will be facing on a day to day basis. It's a moment that the child is totally relaxed and feels completely safe. Her or his digestive system is receiving important probiotics and oxygen along with a mile long list of vitamins and minerals, straight from the mother. It's a list totally formulated for that baby's specific needs and it's pre-digested making it completely digestable in the babies system. All diseases or shots the baby has come into contact with, will be dealt with and healed by the mother's immune response, or at least the baby will have a dramatically better outcome then without it.

There is no other perfect food on this earth for a baby then his or her mother's milk. It is healthy to nurse well into the toddler and even preschool years. The longer the mother nurses, the more likely she is not to get breast cancer. She also protects her infant from cancers since breastmilk actually destroys cancer cells.

The next time Safeway harasses a nursing mom for immunizing her child, they should be reminded that they sell their worthless, toxic flu shots, therefore they in their profitting minds are also immunizing, and if they have the right to, then so should we.

Aurorawatcher, I truly to not understand your view. How did you ever manage to breastfeed with way you appear to view the breast? Provocative? PLEASE explain how a woman who breastfeeds in public with no cover is being proactive? Is she batting her eyelashes? Is she in any way exhibiting behavior that announces that she WANTS people to look at her? Are you telling me that in all the times you breastfed, including when you first became a mother, you NEVER ONCE showed a bit of skin?

You keep referring to the breast as genitalia. THEY ARE NOT! They never have been, they never will be. Sex can be performed with out breasts(though they can/do make it better) Sex is impossible without genitalia.

People know that you are breastfeeding with or without that "sainted: cover. I truly believe that people who are so "offended" by breastfeeding in public are so because of the ACT not the breast. People get nervous just knowing about it. Doesn't have a lot to do with how much skin you see.

A babe is sucking on a part of the anatomy that is usually only used in sexual play. This is somehow seen as sick and perverted. People need understand that there IS a difference and that the breast has 2 distinct and separate rolls. One is nourishing and life sustaining. The other involves bedroom play.

Once you separate in your mind the difference you can then see a mother breastfeeding in public and not automatically be repulsed or think she is being "provocative".

In my experience, most breastfeeding mothers do it with discretion and class. I'm sure they don't want you looking at their breasts any more than you want to see them. I've never seen a nursing mother pull out a breast, wave it around, make sure everyone in the immediate vicinity has seen it, and then have their child latch on.

Breastfeeding is not a sexual act... it is fulfilling the main purpose of the breasts, to provide nutrition for a baby. Why that alarms some people is beyond me. It's a well-documented medical fact that the "breast is best" for at least the first 6 months of a child's life. Why would we as a society make it any more difficult to keep our children healthy?

I read an article recently (I think it was in Better Homes and Gardens) that said when a breastfeeding woman was at a restaurant, she should take her child to the bathroom to feed them and not to do it at the table. The bathroom? Are you freaking kidding me? How degrading to have to take a baby to a toilet stall (because really, how many restaurants have a breastfeeding area set aside in their bathrooms?) to feed them so that you won't offend some people's delicate sensibilities? You don't eat in a toilet stall (if you do, I really don't want to know about it OK?)

My advice... if you see a mother getting ready to nurse... look away if it offends you.

"I'm going to assume that you're a man from your screen name and suggest you go urinate in front of the police station and see what they charge you with. Probably 4th degree sexual assault, even though urination is not a sexual act"

I couldn't resist bringing this up, yet another great line from aurorawatcher. So using aurorawatcher's logic, I could go pee in front of the police station..............if I covered with a blanket first? I mean I would be modest if I did that.

Aurorawatcher -

You wrote "And, btw, many men who flash women in public settings do so with the firm belief that they should get over their prudishness."

Actually, men who expose themselves in public do not do it with the firm belief that women should get over their prudishness; they do it because they have an illness called sexual addiction. Educate yourself, if your sensibilities can withstand it.

It was actually supposed to read, BREASTS ARE NOT GENITALS, yay for the internet eating some of my text.

Oh and to back up my statement aurorawatcher

"The actual letter of the law:

"AS 11.41.460. Indecent Exposure in the Second Degree.

(a) An offender commits the crime of indecent exposure in the second degree if the offender knowingly exposes the offender's genitals in the presence of another person with reckless disregard for the offensive, insulting, or frightening effect the act may have."

Breasts are genitals."

I don't know if you have problems at home with your husband straying aurora, it actually does sound like there are issues. Don't take them out on breastfeeding mother, they are doing what they are allowed by law, which means society judged it to be socially acceptable. You are not the defining mind for our society, you are one person that does not care for it, I am sorry that your one voice against many doesn't change anything. But us, being the many, we will continue to be fine with mothers breastfeeding however they choose in public. I await your off the wall reply. And you should be able to tell from my name that that is my real name, I make no effort to hide who I am.

Poor aurorawatcher, you are not allowed to show your genitals in public, as you are aware, Breasts are fat, not classified as genitals. Do you feel a little more dumb after reading that, now you know how I feel after reading your tired arguments.

"Well, to a man who just happens to be walking through, say Barnes and Noble and sees a bare-chested stranger, breasts are sexual objects. To the woman he's supposed to go home to that night, he's just cheated in his heart. That's on him if he did it deliberately; it's on the woman at Barnes and Noble if she did it to him without his permission."

Do I really need to argue with aurorawatcher after that comment? A man seeing another womans breasts just cheated on his woman at home? I was wrong about you being stuck in the 50's aurora. What century did you time warp from, and what was the weather like before you left?

TheLighterSide

"western culture has sexualized them".

NONSENSE! Check out the Kama Sutra, read the Song of Songs, or Australian petroglyphs and you'll see that breasts are objects of sexual desire the world over.

It's our western culture that is trying to say they are sometimes but not other times. Well, to a man who just happens to be walking through, say Barnes and Noble and sees a bare-chested stranger, breasts are sexual objects. To the woman he's supposed to go home to that night, he's just cheated in his heart. That's on him if he did it deliberately; it's on the woman at Barnes and Noble if she did it to him without his permission.

People, really, stop being stupid! This discussion was settled millennia ago and anyone who is honest knows nothing has changed in human nature. We are talking about sex here and about women who could cover up, but refuse to.

clintlemen

Actually, it is NOT legal to bare their breasts in public in Fairbanks. I checked with the police department. They said that if it was a sexual act, it was against the law. The point is, what is a sexual act? Breastfeeding isn't, but baring your breasts in any other capacity is a form of sexual assault, according to the police. It's the same act, but somehow, they're going to make a judgment call on whether or not my husband has been assaulted by some woman flipping out her breasts for him to view with or without his permission.

I'm going to assume that you're a man from your screen name and suggest you go urinate in front of the police station and see what they charge you with. Probably 4th degree sexual assault, even though urination is not a sexual act.

The fact is, as a formerly nursing mother, I can state unequivocably that you don't need to be provocative while nursing a baby in public. That established, there is no excuse for being provocative other than you just want to be rude. Other people should not have to acquiese to your sexually assaulting them simply because you think it's natural. And, btw, many men who flash women in public settings do so with the firm belief that they should get over their prudishness. It's still sexual assault and they still go to jail for it.

No, I am not suggesting we arrest nursing mothers. I'm suggesting nursing mothers recognize that the people around them shouldn't have to avert their gaze or feel like they've been violated. Cover up! It's simple and it's socially acceptable! If you can't bring yourself to do that, then maybe you should ask yourself if there is something wrong with you that needs some exploration.

Connie: wonderful letter: thank you for pointing out the social/emotional importance of eye contact and touch during nursing. Those who say they support breastfeeding in public but only if mom covers up are NOT supportive and obviously have a few things to learn! Thank you to all of those who wrote in support of breastfeeding.

Lots of insightful comments.

Clintlemen, agree in general, but it doesn't sound like anyoneoutthere was disagreeing with the letter, probably he/she just tired of all the hoopla over the issue lately. But, maybe the attention was needed, as evidenced by the number of breastphobes about the town.

Excellent, excellent letter, Ms.Gardner. Thank you for writing it. Ironically, I would guess that a fair number of the folks who claim that public breast feeding is rude, inappropriate, lewd or illegal would also claim to be “family values” types. It would be funny if it weren't so sad. Breasts were designed to feed babies. Pure and simple. Unfortunately, our Western society has sexualized them—THAT is what is rude and inappropriate, in my opinion. Because a few folks have some screwed up sensibilities, they want women to do something unnatural. Ms Garner, your suggestion that complainers go find some real problems to work on is a bulls-eye. Coup de grace!

God gave women breasts to feed their children with, so if you have a problem with women breastfeeding, talk to the Big Guy in the Sky, or Mother Nature, take your pick.

It never ceases to amaze me how warped American values are when it comes to the breast, the most nurturing, life-sustaining entity on the planet. We won't show a bare breast on TV, but we have no problem showing brains being splattered all over a wall, or a dead baby in a dumpster for entertainment purposes. Sally Struthers said way back in the 80s that America is a place where if a man fondles a woman's breast it's rated X, but if he cuts it off, it's rated R.

Thanks for the letter, Connie. Nipples are not evil.

Would it be ok to breast feed the fathers too?

It could be that Connie wrote the letter a while ago and the FDN is just now publishing it. As to aurorawatchers comment, it is legal in Fairbanks for women to walk around in public with their breasts bared, your prudishness keeps it from happening. As for breastfeeding, perfectly legal, and mothers are protected on all fronts by the law. So keep breastfeeding mothers. As for anyoneoutthere, good attempt at being flip, kind of fail though. Maybe watch a mother and their child while breastfeeding. There is a lot of touch involved, there is a lot of eye contact, yes the baby doesn't run around saying this rocks, but they do form a bond with their mother.

If someone is offended by something, it's their own problem.

I can't make anyone be offended by something, they can only let themselves be offended.

Forcing some action to cease because it is offensive to a few people is called oppression. If someone is offended by something that is said, is a person forced into giving up their 1st Amendment Right to Free Speech?

Suppress your feelings, don't oppress their rights.

Maybe we should all just agree to walk around naked like those women somewhere in the Lower 48 are advocating. I mean, baring your breasts to breast-feed when you don't need to and going about topless are pretty much the same thing. Of course, we're going to have to stop arresting men for urinating in public and flashing women on subways because it's essentially the same thing. What's to object to?

My interest in this is seriously sagging.....

I really don't remember my Mother and I bonding in this way, thankfully.

I elect to remember the moments when I was able to talk coherently with her, and all the wonderful things that she did for me that I did not fully appreciate at the time.

Rest in Peace my breastfeeding Mother. See you on the flip side. Love your Son.