PUBLIC OPINION > Time's Breastfeeding Cover Went Too Far

Oh my goodness..what a gorgeous arab! He looks a bit like an arab that a friend of mine owns, wouldn't it be funny if they were related? lol I agree about the horse market- it is so sad how many horses end up in "kill pens" at auctions. :-( There are some local rescues around here who go to the auctions (beforehand I guess? I am not really sure how it works) take pics of the horses and get them on facebook in an attempt to get them to safety. I always wish I could help them, but I can barely afford my own horse (actually, if it wasn't for my leasers, I would have had to sell him a while ago when times got really tough). If I ever am able to have my dream of owning my own horse property, I will rescue how ever many I can afford and take care of. :-) I think it is amazing that you have rescued mares who ended up being pregnant. That happened to a couple of my friends.....

As far as the breastfeeding goes, I am sorry you had such a negative experience in so many ways. Your lactation consultant should not have brought her older child like that without you agreeing first. While I am pro extended breastfeeding, I don't think it should be forced on people like that, especially a new mommy who is trying to learn the basics.

I also went through a lot of struggles to breastfeed as I had a chronic low supply (due to pcos and an undiagnosed posterier tongue tie) and I was never able to exclusively breastfeed. I was very upset about it- breastfeeding was something that for me was ultra important, so I made the choice to push myself for 6 months and did everything possible to give him as much breastmilk as possible. At 6 months I returned my hospital pump and switched to a regular one (to try and keep up supply) which was the beginning of my downward spiral. But 9 months, although I still had some milk, it had decreased. I went back to school and work and that was it....my supply couldn't take it and I dried up. I was very sad about it....I would have been one of the mothers who allowed self-weaning, at least until 3 or so, but I didn't have that option.

BTW- you were amazing to push through and breastfeed for your childs health. I am so sorry it was painful for you, it shouldn't be after the initial week or so. :-( Breastmilk is healthier (there are so many benefits) but the lack of help and support makes it so hard to be successful. And now one can expect a woman to breastfeed if she is in pain.....

I had some poor advice in the beginning and no one caught Shane's tongue tie, which I now believe was a big contributing factor to my low supply. I wish I had known then, when I know now.....my experience might have been completely different. Ive been dwelling on this a bit recently, which I really need to stop! lol

Happy Mothers day to you!

Breast feeding for me was a nightmare and I am sorry for you it did not go as you had wished either. It is "supposed" to be so natural and easy w/ milk flowing freely... but well.... did not work for me either. Using that pump was a help, but my daughter refused to bottle even w/ the breast milk in it. She insisted it had to be straight from the tap,.... and I was "it". But both kids survived inspite of me... and now I have a teen dtr and 8 y/o boy... and fortunately neither of them remembers any of that!

Thank you for the compliments on Thee Masterpiece, I was really proud to have bred him. Owned his Mother and full sister too. He has sired gorgeous foals for his people who have him now and I hear they are selling all over the world. So, good for them! At least they have found a market. :) I have only one very good mare left, and have yet to breed her. Just can not afford anymore, like you, this economy is just breaking us. I have been lucky that for the last few weeks, I have been able to graze my horses for the AM meal, so I only have to feed hay in the evenings. But it has been scary, very worrisome. Just today found cheap hay that is to be bailed tomorrow... and I committed to 100 bales. Now weather report shows possible thunderstorms tomorrow... how could this happen???? Murphys law. Hoping he will be bailing crack of dawn and my daughter and I will be racing to try and get it up off the field and here stored before the rain hits... if it does. Crazy. Weather just this AM said no possible rain for the next 7 days.... now this. Yikes. So if you need a horsey friend to yak with, you know I am on the same page here!!

I think thats a problem in general in the U.S....we all think breastfeeding will be so easy and natural, but the fact is that it is very much a learned process and although parts of it are instinctual and natural, doing it correctly (to avoid pain and have enough milk) requires learning and knowlege....most women are so ill-prepared in the U.S. that they dont get passed the first few weeks. From the research I have done, it appears to be due to how little we actually see the act of breastfeeding occur. In other cultures, children grow up seeing their mothers, aunts, friends, etc breastfeed and are familiar with out it works. To me this makes sense. :-)

Oh no....I hope all is okay with your hay tomorrow! I am crossing my fingers that is doesn't rain and you get the hay safe and sound!! And it stinks that money is so tough. *s* I am definitely right there with you! Money issues seem to be everywhere atm. I am so glad I didn't have to sell my horse. There were a few points where I really thought I would have to....which would be heartbreaking. While I don't have as much time for him as I used to (with children and all...another reason I am glad to have leasers!) I love him dearly and can't imagine my life without him. PLus my children are very attached (I have an almost four year old adopted son as well as Shane). I really can't imagine my life without him! I started riding him at 13, bought him at 17 (saved up teaching riding lessons and working summer camp at the barn) and now I am 28....so it is a long-standing relationship.

This is him and my older son, Sean....

Borderline pedo? I think they took this picture to subconsciously tell people it's normal. Watch, pedophiles r gonna claim they have to be a protected group. Wait, they already are.

Democrats Pass ‘Hate Crime’ Protection Bill for Pedophiles, Refuse to Consider Same for Our Military Veterans
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on May 5, 2009
By Vicki McClure Davidson * Frugal Café Blog Zone

Hate is hate. Crime is crime. Hate crime protection doesn’t protect anyone from squat.
In a recent Judiciary Committee hearing, Democrats voted against excluding pedophiles from hate crime protection in a new crime bill. At the same hearing, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) lambasted Republicans for trying to add protections for veterans in the same bill. No such outrage was voiced against the protection for pedophiles. Good grief, what is WRONG with these people in Congress?
Is this upside-down world? I remember that when soldiers returned from their service in Vietnam, many were spat upon in airports, had nasty names hurled at them, were pelted with garbage and stones, and were physically attacked by college-age mobs. The young veterans had already suffered terribly in the jungle war zone, only to return to a second war zone. America betrayed them.
While our nation’s treatment of military veterans has greatly improved since those dark days, these attacks still happen at the hands of hateful, anti-military zealots.
For what sane reason do pedophiles fall into this special “hate crime” category? There are already laws that protect them, and all the rest of us, if we are victims of violent crimes. Why do these twisted perverts get “extra” beyond that of regular citizens, and beyond that given to our returning troops who are targeted solely because they are in the military?
As I said before, hate is hate. Crime is crime. Hate crime protection doesn’t protect anyone from squat. There is no “extra layer” of security by merely escalating the name of a violent act. “Double dog dare” isn’t as bad as “triple dog dare”?
It’s utter nonsense. No sleazy thug thinks, “On second thought, I’ll rob this white macho guy rather than this black woman because if I’m caught, I don’t want be accused of a hate crime.” If a group of college students beat up the class egghead because they deeply hate him for ruining the grading curve, and the perpetrators and the egghead are all the same gender and white, is this not a crime of hate? By definition, no. Only if the victim is in a protected category, like pedophiles now are. Utter rubbish.
To me, “hate crime legislation” seems to create a two-tier justice system and wants to give a false, fairy-tale sense of comfort that is becoming more complicated.
Somehow it must be proven what the perpetrator was thinking at the time of the crime, that he or she was thinking about their hate. Not easy to prove someone’s thoughts, I’m sure. Certain groups of citizens are granted (at least on paper) special protection over other groups of citizens, which distorts our judicial system. That’s just my opinion.
Why should Congress stop with pedophiles… why not include released murderers, too? Why not convicted homeland terrorists, too? You can see the escalating nonsense of trying to measure “hate” and the terrible precedence it sets in the courts. If, God forbid, an Asian, gay woman was raped and murdered out of hate and this was proven in a court of law, and if the state in which this crime was perpetrated had the death penalty, no amount of “extra” hate crime legislation will change the final results: the woman is still dead and her murderer will still be executed by the state. There is no such thing as “extra execution.” Dead is still dead.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said she thought it was belittling to other protected groups to request that hate crime protection be granted to members of our military (see the videos below). To grant hate crime protection to those who have put their lives on the line for our country upsets her. But she approved legislation that gives evil predators who have sexually assaulted and psychologically damaged one or more innocent children extra legal protection. No belittling there, apparently.

http://www.frugal-cafe.com/pu...

Interesting post.
I hope America does not slide to where pedophiles can claim it as a disease disability, like in Greece. HOW do they prove that, btw? I guess they have to get convicted of a misdemeanor? Must pedo felonies are 25 years to life nowdays...which means they already are getting a small pay,ment from the state. smirk.

As far as my comments above...
The more I see the photo, the more I am de sensitized to it.
Just a generation ago...the magazine would be FINED and the boy put in foster care.

Our parameters have certainly opened up...which in a way, is healthy.
I just hope this does not mean other media are going to try and press the limits further.

That is why I mentioned Grecian civilization before Rome. Greece had a lot of excepted practices that involved minors, that became part of their society. It seems to be a pattern, as a society is stressed...they move towards these things. Rome acted similarly in their last century, with orgies.

These changes have gone on before, in history. We have to consult history to how they evolve. Not all changes are bad, but some pull a civilization down to a base level where passing rules becomes more chaotic. If there is a change in the stressing on society...and things recover to a certain level...these borderline sentiments tend to back off a bit...or go back into the background.

For the record...I have nothing against breast feeding in public, or passing laws to restrict the age a mom and her children can breast feed. I know in years past, moms had kids taken away, etc. The courts said UNFAIR...and protective services has backed off.

It should be a personal decision. But public demonstrations like we see in TIME need to back-off a bit, so we do not get backlash from our more conservative sectors...that want to restrict freedoms.

So, you see, I am in the middle about this...allow it, but do not make a big deal out of it, like on the cover. But...maybe that is the point. We are being told to allow this at airports and places where waiting times are long...and a toddler still nurses. And, maybe that change in viewpoint is good...if they can de sensitize us.

Curious pose - don'tcha think?
Trying to make the kid look bigger and older. It is meant to provoke.. but, I am not sure if I would call it provocative.
Stupid is more like it...
I wonder if it's child abuse - posing a kid like this... pretty disgusting...
The child is in the latency period, but STILL.. wonder what's going on in his mind?
And,what will he think about that picture when he is 13 ??? ugh...
i guess the radical right will complain and then we will have another law on the books.
Can see it now... NO BREAST FEEDING past two years of age... or no photos of children who can stand up and reach mama's milk fountain.
If we get crazy enough, we will have all rights taken away, and some dictator will be in charge who will promise you that you will never have to be made uncomfortable again.
But, that would not be America.
Our freedom insures that we will be disturbed, made uncomfortable... The alternative is the nanny state.

But, that does not mean that we cannot have opinions - or try to effect change!

Breast feeding is about feeding babies, not kids who can have a conversation with you and ask for pasgetti ....or sushi.... or heaven knows what else!

Now that I have made "both sides" angry... if you are really bothered by it, (like moi,) complain to the advertisers. Pick out a few of the main advertisers, and email or write - explaining why you will not be buying their product or partaking of their service, etc. If enough people do it, it WILL work... Also, if you subscribe, cancel.

I DID notice that I did not see that grossly inappropriate ad for Carl's Jr for very long, but I have made it a point NOT to frequent their establishment ever since - despite the fact that they have very tasty shakes, salads, and chili cheese fries. Also a good, if messy guac and turkey burger. (And, please don't tell me that I have succeeded in making a commercial for them.. I am fully aware... but if you go, tell them you are ONLY there because they pulled the patty melt ads:)