Breastfeeding in Uniform?

[-Valoniah-]

I bring to you another TDP poll! This one was spurred by this article that had been going through the internet. I advise you all to read it.

shine.yahoo.com/parenting/military-moms-breastfeeding-uniform-stir-controversey-214500503.html

[-Valoniah-]

I'll start this shindig, and I'm not gonna sugarcoat this at all.

Do you remember when the military was a bunch of badasses that killed people? I do. A whole lot of people have this notion that soldiers have rights. Well, they don't. You signed them away. You surrender your rights, and in turn are granteds the privilage to blow things up.

If I were the enemy, and I was seeing pictures of the opposition feeding babies, I'd not feel very intimidated. There seesm to be this notion these days that everyone can do whatever the hell they want, there are no standards and no shame. Feeding babies is a natural part of life, in and of itself, a shameless task, but when your wearing the proud uniform of your nations military, use a little common freaking sense. Maybe I should rock my uniform and piss on the sidewalk. Pissing is something natural, everyones gotta piss. But wait, oh, I'm a part of a greater whole, and I may not want to do that while representing my fine organization. Common sense.

[Eist]

People, militarised or not, should have the right to breast-feed their babies wherever they want.

I think people are more intimidated by having an assault rifle stuck in their face or bullets whizzing past their head, than are less intimidated by a picture of someone breastfeeding their baby on a magazine.

In fact, it shows how free we actually are. In some ways that is more intimidating.

[La Vida De Sangre]

With all due respect, I don't see how pissing on the sidewalk is ever compareable to breastfeeding? I agree with you in that breastfeeding is a completely natural shameless part of life, so why is it suddenly so shameful when done while wearing the uniform? Even with all the macho culture that's going on, soldiers being, as you put it "badasses", depends on their skills and their loyalty and a lot of other qualities much more than what basic human actions they perform while wearing their official uniforms. Soldiers still have the basic human rights - and for a mother with a newborn breastfeeding is one of the most important things. No one is asking for luxury, just for the most basic of human needs - providing for your young. Being granted the right to serve in the military alongside men doesn't erase the fact that women are still the ones who bear children, still the ones who feed children.There is nothing disrespectful about feeding your child. If you can be a woman and still be respected as a soldier, you should be able to breastfeed and still be respected as a soldier. There is nothing degrading about it. And if the sight of a woman (who's otherwise a perfectly capeable and proffesional soldier) breastfeeding leads men to think she isn't not worthy of respect, then the problem definitely isn't with the women or with breastfeeding.

[Tsim Sha Tsui]

While I greatly support breastfeeding, I'm still old-fashioned enough to think that people shouldn't do it in full view of the public. It's a politeness thing. (Just like I wouldn't change my child's diaper in the middle of a restaurant.)

[Shemiki]

It's like what Tsim said. I'm not denying breastfeeding is an important function, but who wants to look at it when they're eating or going for a walk? Just find a private place to do it, and all is well.

[Surdra]

I think everyone is making a bigger deal out of the whole thing is really needed. Who gives a shit what the enemy thinks? They don't think we are badass, well they are going to be proven wrong when some American infantryman sends them to hell.

As for those two idiots from the article, they should be writen up for their little stunt. As Val said when you join the military you sign over your rights, one of those being the right to express your own personal opinions, especially when you are wearing your uniform.

[NeoYundar]

The funny thing is this was never an issue before because most of the ladies that got preggers got out. What are those girl doing with that baby in uniform? did they bring it to work or what? I don't understand why they would do this except for attention. In the service its best not to rock the boat, yet there they are doing it. I am perplexed and somewhat angered.

[Tsim Sha Tsui]

In this specific case, the two servicewomen in question are clearly guilty of using their uniform to promote an outside cause (a group called Mom2Mom). Anyone in the military knows that you can't use your uniform to promote non-military causes.

I should state that there is no rule against breastfeeding in uniform... this is more about having yourself photographed breastfeeding in uniform as a publicity thing.

[Geonossa]

I agree with Tsim and Shemiki.They could do it in home or somewhere else but not in public.And I don't think that will make the military more or less badass.It's their skill with guns that make them feared.

[Shemiki]

Jun 2, 2012 10:48:20 GMT -5 NeoYundar said:

The funny thing is this was never an issue before because most of the ladies that got preggers got out. What are those girl doing with that baby in uniform? did they bring it to work or what? I don't understand why they would do this except for attention. In the service its best not to rock the boat, yet there they are doing it. I am perplexed and somewhat angered.

I actually remember awhile back there was an issue like this in the House of Commons (I'm Canadian). Some dumb member of parliament brought her baby to session. She was a member of the (retarded) New Democratic Party. When she was asked to leave or at least take her baby out of the building, all the NDPs made a big stink. After the mess was cleared up, our dumb government told the media they sympathized with the dumb mother. What! You sympathize with her! What do you expect, having a bunch of squealing babies on the floor of the House of Commons while the members of parliament try to decide how our nation is run? The situation is similar here. Why are these dumb mothers bringing their babies to work? Put them in a day care or something. Sheesh!

[Geonossa]

I wonder if they take their kids to war ;D

[-Valoniah-]

Preggers chicks don't get deployed. Thats why they get preggers.

[Shemiki]

Jun 3, 2012 19:56:15 GMT -5 Geonossa said:

I wonder if they take their kids to war ;D

If they continue on the path they're going, it's only a matter of time.

[NeoYundar]

I think this whole thing is a symptom of the overal problem our current militaty has. To many poges/remfs. I heard my 1SG female dog one day about when he started the whole army was tankers and infantry. Now its full of sigint, cooks, and dental assistants.

[Shemiki]

Those are sort of necessary to support the military, though, aren't they?

[NeoYundar]

we need some, but not a 5 to 1 ratio. Which I'm pretty sure there is

[-Valoniah-]

Everyone wants the benefits, but they don't want to do combat or maybe they're not allowed

[Surdra]

figure for every one combat trooper. there are 3 three in support.

[Free South Califas]

You mean, do I want military police to invade the bodily sovereignty of mothers caring for their children? And for what, to make everyone think we're sterile-minded killbots? No, no I don't.

[Shemiki]

It's moral decency, not trying to prevent a mother from caring for her children.

[Surdra]

HA! Moral decency in the US armed forces! ;D

[Shemiki]

Yes, Surdra. I know it's hard to believe, but yes.

[Surdra]

trust me, breast feeding in public last thing the US armed forces has to worry about when it comes to moral decency.

[-Valoniah-]

Yeah......

I don't even want to get into that. There are minors on this forum.

[Shemiki]

That's the point I made awhile ago, Val.

[Aersoldorf]

Jun 1, 2012 10:44:37 GMT -5 -Valoniah- said:

I'll start this shindig, and I'm not gonna sugarcoat this at all.

Do you remember when the military was a bunch of badasses that killed people? I do. A whole lot of people have this notion that soldiers have rights. Well, they don't. You signed them away. You surrender your rights, and in turn are granteds the privilage to blow things up.

If I were the enemy, and I was seeing pictures of the opposition feeding babies, I'd not feel very intimidated. There seesm to be this notion these days that everyone can do whatever the hell they want, there are no standards and no shame. Feeding babies is a natural part of life, in and of itself, a shameless task, but when your wearing the proud uniform of your nations military, use a little common freaking sense. Maybe I should rock my uniform and piss on the sidewalk. Pissing is something natural, everyones gotta piss. But wait, oh, I'm a part of a greater whole, and I may not want to do that while representing my fine organization. Common sense.

I concur with Val

[Free South Califas]

Jun 5, 2012 9:13:51 GMT -5 -Valoniah- said:

Yeah......

I don't even want to get into that. There are minors on this forum.

Minors are harmed by discussion of breastfeeding, but not killing? Pray tell, what do you think minors do for nutrition when they become minors?

[-Valoniah-]

Thats right. Here in the west we're all about the killing from an early age. Its the sex we hide them from, and thats what we mean when we say "moral decency".

If we wanted to not subject minors to the subject of breastfeeding, I likey would not have called the thread "Breastfeeding in uniform?" Give me a little credit sir.

[Shemiki]

i made that point for drinking, val. breastfeeding is ok, it is doing it in public that is frowned upon.