I think what we can learn from both sides of this issue is to try and be as respectful as we can to each other. I am going to try and be respectful of other people's discomfort and they can respect my right to nurse.
All I know is that I love you.
Seriously, you have the most down to earth personality and the kindest heart. You're the kind of person, while we may disagree on many things in life, we'd still be good friends.
As to breastfeeding, respect needs to be given all the way around. People need to realize that babies are just that - innocent babies. And when they're hungry, they're hungry. To me, the saddest thing is to watch a hungry child crying for food and not be able to do something about it.
. On the other side, if you're at a restaurant and you need to feed your baby, and there's another family across from you that consists of young boys in the 9-13 age group, please don't flash your nipple just because you can. (My sis-in-law decided to nurse while we were all out at a restaurant, and she refused any type of cover - or tact -, and a family with two young boys were right across from us. Those boys saw nipple and all, and they turned sooo red and kept looking at the floor or the ceiling, because if they looked across to their parents, they saw M as well. I understand they were "old enough to know better, but that's an awkward age and an awkward sight for them. So in that case, M should've done what she could've to be discreet in such a situation)
The breastfeeding debate will always be a hot issue, and the issue is mostly between moms.
I have never in my life been treated so badly as I have by mothers pushing breastfeeding. It didn't matter that Cole was born without the sucking reflex, I should've demanded they only had me breastfeed (they did encourage it when he was older and stronger, but he never had a strong enough latch and he tired too quickly....so I pumped, bottlefed breastmilk comvined with formulas as was needed for calories, protein, and Vitamin D and we had plenty of skin-to-skin bonding time). With Carson, my milk never came in (not even colostrum). So I was tarred and feathered and called lazy and told it was all a cop-out. With Cooper, it was right back to latch issues, and the frustration of it (with nipples that looked like something out of a grinder) combined with trying to be a caretaker for my Dad, who was dying and died just 4 months later, plus two REALLY bad bouts of mastitis (think pus and blood coming from nipples), and it was all too much. Again, I was called "lazy", and I was pretty much told that I could not possibly care for the health and well-being of my children, and that I should t have any more.
I have horrible memories of the verbal abuse inflicted upon me by other breastfeeding mothers, so to me , I stand by each mom and the decision she makes for herself and her baby. It's not an attack of "formula moms" on "breastfeeding moms".....it's 50/50 each way, IMO.