Wonderful! I for one, find the sight of a woman breast feeding to be a spiritual thing....

The issue you have addressed here is a very important one. Breast-feeding is NATURAL, it is not a sexual thing whatsoever. Breasts are not offensive nor is feeding an infant. Well versed, thank you for addressing this important issue. I agree with eternalwytch...it is a spiritual bond between mother and child.

Sarah, if you are on LJ, I made a public post of an email I sent re: this issue... :)

I couldn't agree more. There is a distinct bond formed by the mother at this cucial and very formative time. Nice work! Steve :o)

This is a beautiful poem delving into an issue that many people have a problem with. It is well worded and beautifully compiled. My view to this is there is unfortunately to much emphasise put onto breasts. The larger in many peoples minds the better. They are natural and a part of the woman that do serve a function other than titillating men. I for one do not have a problem with women breast feeding in public. After all it is part of the mother child bonding and an essential aspect of mother hood, not to mention that mothers milk is a much better for the child than any other artificial milk. Thank you for posting this

like you can tell a nursing baby when is the most appropriate time... hiding in bathrooms & under blankets in public... so ppl won't be offended rolls eyes... not familiar with the news in Toronto... can't imagine there being more to the issue but where she was breastfeeding i'm guessing... yes, "breast is best" if one can :]

this is an email I sent re: the issue... Subject: Illegal attitudes about breast-feeding in your recent newsletter / To Whom It May Concern re: Friends of Dufferin Grove Park / I was dismayed and disappointed to see what was published concerning breast-feeding in your recent newsletter (please see attached screen capture in jpg format). / For your information, (the following quote was taken from http://www.ohrc.on.ca/english/guides/pregnancy-breastfeeding.shtml ): You have rights as a nursing mother. For example, you have the right to breastfeed a child in a public area. No one should prevent you from nursing your child simply because you are in a public area. They should not ask you to "cover up", disturb you, or ask you to move to another area that is more "discreet". / Yet, in the newsletter, surrounded by a bunch of blather to try to make it seem that the POV taken is acceptable (when it is certainly not) it states: There is however a problem if a mother feels the need to disrobe in such a way that a good deal more than the nursing baby is visible. A few babies are a bit rowdy, and hard to nurse discreetly. In those cases, we have several options. There is a comfortable seat in the womens washroom (the washroom is bigger and brighter than normal, so theres room for a nursing corner). If the babys mother wants to stay in the main room, there is a curtain that can be pulled across half the room, or if she prefers, there is a small screen that can be placed beside her, wherever shes sitting, to give a bit more privacy. / However, all this springs from an incident created by a particular organizer. This person greatly disturbed a nursing mom twice on Jan 7th, 2005 and admitted doing so in a message on an e-list for the organization while trying to justify and explain away her illegal behaviour. / A few of the statements that appeared in her message that highlight her erroneous behaviour are: - I quickly went over and asked her to cover up a bit - the location was not the issue here -- it was the amount of disrobing. I wanted [her] to cover up more. - [She] went over to a bench at the side of the change room with her partner and baby and sat there to nurse the baby, but it was evident that both of them were unhappy about my request. / After admitting she could sense/tell they were unhappy, she then chose to disturb them yet again: - After a short time I went back over and tried to explain better. / Whether the person wishes to admit it or not, the nursing mother had her rights violated and I think it is a travesty that now this person is still trying to bandwagon up some support for her clearly illegal behaviour. / As a person, a wife, a mother (who breast-fed my child for 17 months) and as a Canadian I could not remain silent about this and felt I must help speak out against such behaviour.

I have to say that I'm a heterosexual male who would be completely UNstimulated in any way if every woman on earth went topless. However, this is most certainly not the point here - a nursing mother is quite simply a mother feeding her child in the best possible way. It is a sight which from me elicits a smile of delight, and definitely not a leer. I would [indeed I have done so on one occasion] defend a mother's right to feed her child as she thinks fit publicly and without any reservation.

Miss Cara Mae - Excellent written work - V - When I saw the title I was waiting for one of your famous pics you always take of yourself (eyes, lips, etc.) - WINK - Breasts are offensive to many people, at least 'publicly' they say - many of these also quietly watch such movies in the privacy of their homes - go figure, huh. WINK 2 - To the ladies: many men don't go for the 'bigger is better' crapola. Methinks many ladies are hung up on ''meeting expectations''?

cool post....I'm reminded of the Madonna video with the bullet bra and The Madonna w/Child painting. Threatening breasts. LOL V

thanks everyone :):):) and Brian, one of my "famous pics" wouldn't have the message I wanted to portray... :)

You seen one, you seen em both...Wow, people are still screwed up about this subject? Still some Neanderthals among us I guess. Great job Cara Mae.

Thanks :) and LOL ;)

You said so much in so few words. I really can't understand why porn is an "acceptable" venue but a woman breast-feeding has such disdain with it! Talk about screwed-up logic! Love your writing Cara! -j.p.

thank you :):):)