Posted on 07/30/2005 8:15:50 AM PDT by Asphalt
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Never mind officials voiding a $50 ticket for indecent exposure, or an explanation from county officials that a ranger who issued the citation to the breast-feeding mother was inexperienced.
Dorian Ryan said she wants an apology for what she called a "humiliating and degrading" experience.
"This isn't right. Women shouldn't be harassed for breast-feeding their children," Dorian Ryan said.
Colorado lawmakers agree. A law passed last year gives women the right to breast feed anywhere she's allowed to be in public.
Ryan, 43, was ticketed for indecent exposure July 14 when she breast fed her son at the Carter Lake swim beach in Larimer County. She was shielded from view by two umbrellas and a towel.
An inexperienced park ranger mistakenly issued the ticket, said Dan Rieves, manager of the Blue Mountain District, which oversees the beach. Park officials have voided the ticket.
Rieves, who has been in contact with Ryan, said a written apology would be sent Friday.
People who demand apologies have lost my respect.
At least she isn't suing.
What is it with our culture that it has become so fixated on apologies?
A heavily coerced apology isn't worth much: an apology is more meaningful when voluntary (not browbeaten), when the person realizes they have done wrong, and when sincere.
What should people do when they are falsely arrested or fined? An apology's cheaper than a civil suit.
Maybe she will, if the apology isn't florid enough. (I'm guessing the park ranger was a very young male :-)
Sincerety isn't the point. The goal is to humiliate the offender.
All the more reason to not apologize when browbeaten. ;-)
I would expect an apology rather than demand one.
The ranger who would ticketed the woman for breast feeding with a towel covering herself is either poorly trained or political correct zombie.
Zero tolerance negates the concept of common sense or he's simply a moronic jerk
If one suffered economic damages, then a civil suit is appropriate, if necessary, to recover the loss.
In this case, the fine was cancelled; the adult response, in my opinion, is to just shrug and get on with life. Everyone's been involved in a nuisance situation of some kind ... why make a hugh ego demonstration over it?
Yes, I would expect an apology, too, but whether one arrives or not does not change anything that happened. As I said in #7, I expect the ranger was a boy :-).
It's the whole "thought control" thing ... outcome-based education, "hate" crimes, etc. It's not enough for some people to address and (if necessary) punish wrong actions. They have to make sure everyone has the correct feelings.
I agree. Still, it's so strange to me. I have never felt the need to get on someone's case for an apology.
I figure a person's words and actions tell me who they are, or at least an aspect of who they are. If they do wrong in my judgment, I note it.
If they realize they are wrong and apologize, very good.
To heavily solicit an apology from anybody tends to give them, and their opinion, way too much credit in my book.
You're absolutely right about that honey, but women who breastfeed in public should be harrassed, because they use this as an excuse to bear their breasts in public.
Recently I was having coffee and a sandwich in an Au bon Pain restaurant. A young mother with infant exited her SUV with darkened windows and came into the place. She sat down with her drink and her baby, and proceeded to take out her dripping breast and feed the baby in front of all the patrons. This is just patently WRONG. She could have just as easily fed the baby in the privacy of her SUV.
The cult of victimology is everywhere.
Which part of "She was shielded from view by a towel and two umbrellas" did you not comprehend?
This encourages future abuses, IMO... sort of like letting your kids get away with disobeying, so long as they don't cause tangible damage.
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