Dr. Phil Steps in It
My friend Dia Michels sent this to me; apparently it's making the rounds of the mothering lists:
http://www.drphil.com/plugger/respond/?plugID=9244
Strangers Complain When I Breast Feed In Public!
Do you think it's okay to breast feed your child in public places but others complain that your behavior is inappropriate?
Have strangers told you that they are appalled by your breast feeding in restaurants, grocery stores, public restrooms, department stores, doctor's offices, etc. but you think breast feeding is such a natural and beautiful act that you should have the right to do it anywhere and anytime you please?
OR do you know someone who breast feeds their child in public and you are offended by it? Do you need Dr. Phil's help at confronting your friend or family member about their inappropriate habit to breast feed in public?
If you have personal experience AND very strong feelings about this issue please reply by emailing us your story. ONLY RESPOND IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO APPEAR ON NATIONAL TV WITH DR. PHIL.
I've got yer strong feelings RIGHT HEAH, Dr. Phil, but no one EVER complained when I breastfed in public so I don't qualify for your little bashfest. The way this is set up, it's obvious where they're going with it: "Do you need Dr. Phil's help at confronting [sic] your friend or family member about their inappropriate habit to breast feed in public?" No corresponding "Do you need Dr. Phil's help to confront your friend or family member who is so hung up on boobs he or she can't stand the sight of a baby breastfeeding?"
So now we know where Dr. Phil stands on breastfeeding. I wouldn't care except that a lot of folks put stock in what he says.
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I believe that drphil.com includes message boards, where you could make comments if you want. (You collectively, that is.) I don't know if they put up topics before a show airs on it or if it is possible to pre-comment.
I am actually surprised about this. I watched a lot of Dr. Phil in the hospital and found that he was often open-minded about things which I thought he would not be open-minded about.
Surprised
I'm surprised a this too. Is it definitely not a hoax?
not a hoax
I checked the link and it obviously is genuine. However, if you take away the one sentence
'Do you need Dr. Phil's help at confronting your friend or family member about their inappropriate habit to breast feed in public?' then the piece is neutral. This one sentence changes it completely. Perhaps this sentence was included to find people who are very anti, in order to increase the intensity of debate? It doesn't necessarily follow that it represents Dr Phil's views. I am not convinced he would be anti public breastfeeding. Time will tell....
Grrrrrr
My breastfeeding years are well behind me, but I'm still irate that this remains an issue. Most recently, a mom in Colorado was ticketed for indecent exposure for breastfeeding - under a towel and two umbrellas - in a park. Evidently the park ranger was young, inexperienced, and unfamiliar with Colorado's law protecting a mother's right to breastfeed in public. The ticket has been cancelled, and evidently an apology is forthcoming .. but STILL!! GRRRRRR!!!
Snarl
The phrase: 'Do you need Dr. Phil's help at confronting your friend or family member about their inappropriate habit to breast feed in public?'
Should have read, "Do you need Dr. Phil's help to confront your own inappropriate habit of dissapproving of public breast feeding?"
Almost five years ago I felt so self-concious about breast feeding in public that I'd hide in the car, in restrooms if there was a bench, changing rooms in shops, and otherwise morbidly hide from everyone what I was doing, because of my own self-image and from my perceptions of hostility towards nursing mothers in public. Looking back, I'm deeply resentful of the fact that I felt I had to hide and am grateful that there are laws that say I don't have to.
I'm also grateful that I now know other women who breastfeed (didn't know any back when DD was a baby) and have seen how they are comfortable in public. Should I be blessed with a second child, I won't hide.
What is Dr. Phil thinking? Breast feeding in public is legal. Wonder if the "lactivists" are going to picket him next?
______
"If you want your children to be bright, read them fairytales-- if you want them to be brilliant, read them even more fairytales" Albert Einstein
What's Dr. Phil DOING?
Here's another request for anti-breastfeeding guests.
I want to know where he's going with this because a lot of people listen to and are guided by this guy.
______
"If you want your children to be bright, read them fairytales-- if you want them to be brilliant, read them even more fairytales" Albert Einstein
Wait and see
I think we should wait and see how the show turns out rather than jumping to conclusions. It could just be a pitch to get people to turn out for a debate (in a more Jerry Springer-esque kinda way). He hasn't stated his ACTUAL opinion on the matter.
We just shouldn't jump to conclusions just yet. And for the record, I do like Dr. Phil, but I seldom watch the show because 1) we get that channel in really fuzzy, somedays it won't come in at all, and 2) it comes on when I'm out picking the kids up from school, so I miss most of the show anyway.
Jenny
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