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.
When the Repo Baby was much younger, when I had to feed her in public, I used a large smock that fastened around the neck and fanned out over everything.
It was probably pretty obvious what I was doing, but I certainly wasn't 'subjecting' anyone to the sight of the Repo-knockers. The only people to ever take issue with my smock were some rabid Le Leche League women who thought I was being TOO MODEST.
Nothing.
My wife, her four sisters, and three sister-in-laws breast fed all of their children (28 total). Over all the years, I never even witnessed an accidental exposure.
The negative posts are about the women who deliberately bare themselves in public. Sometimes the posts are a little inarticulate, and the flame wars erupt.
You're absolutely right, and I think the answer is to start photographing women who are "in your face" about breastfeeding. Camera, cell phone, whatever.
I admit that most men would find it distracting, especially if the woman’s beautiful, but I find it hard to imaging anything unpleasant about it. Even in mixed company.
I demand an apology for asking a question that implies there is something wrong with our culture!!!
I agree. And the fact that she demands an apology tells me that the ticket probably had more to do with her attitude than with the breast feeding.
From the article:
"A law passed last year gives women the right to breast feed anywhere she's allowed to be in public."
What offense did she commit?
Someone posted that the Park Ranger was a woman (not a teenage boy on a summer job, as I imagined :-). Cat fight!
Hear, hear!
After removing the mountain of cultural "embellishments" that have somehow accumulated over the ages, that's what they're, well - meant for.
It's really no more complicated than that, and if someone has a problem with a mother nursing her infant under any circumstances, that's just THEIR problem, and not the mother and baby's.
Geez, this thing has been blown all out of proportion or perspective!
No, the problem is how there is something wrong with those who don't think babies should be breast fed in public.
It's like two guys getting it on in a public park. We could say, "Hey! What in the hell are they doing?" and call the cops or whatever. And yet, you would have people come forward and very definitely imply there was something wrong with us for having such disdain.
Nobody is saying children should not be breast fed. We are saying just whipping it out in public like that is not the thing to do.
;-)
If this is the truth as written by the reporter, sounds like she did the right thing.
"There is a time and place for it"
What do you mean? Children have to eat all day long. I'm breast feeding my 4month old girl (Liberty). I will always find a descrete place or cover myself... but If I was at the beach I would have done what she did with the umbrellas. It just blows my mind that people have such negative views on nurturing our children.
I must say that at one year it starts to get kinda weird.
Are you saying the lady ranger who improperly issued the ticket should have faced more meaningful consequences?
You seriously equate public breatfeeding to two men having sex in a public park??
Sorry about the typso.
That would probably get about the same response as if you started photographing someone’s wife or daughter at the beach or park. Give it a try some time ;^)
LOL, but that reinforces what I suspect. The ranger probably walked over to the woman, words were exchanged--likely heated words from the woman--and there was the ticket.
Thank you MarineDad!
As a nursing mom I've nursed 6 children. I had one that nursed well past her second birthday. And YES I nursed in public. Yes we had the occasional accidental uncovering. Does that make me an exebitionist(sp?)? I think not. I used the equipment God gave me to nurture my children the way God intended. Who are these people to say when or where I can feed my hungry child? Should I have stayed in seclusion the entire time my babies were nursing so as not to have a situation where I had to feed my child in public? And as to schedules nursing babies do not do well on a forced schedule. When nursing you feed the baby when the baby is hungry period. Ever hear of the law of supply and demand? OK I need to stop now.
Judging by that picture, it's past time to wean that child (it's not a baby any more) from the teat.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.