Imagine what chaos our society would be if everyone got on with (and were allowed to get on with) their individual lives, and allowed others to do the same, without 'raising awareness' of whatever perceived 'victimhood' they (or more likely those who they champion, often uninvited)are suffering.

I imagine (and please correct me if I'm mistaken) that the vast majority of people don't object to children being breastfed. I further imagine, that the vast majority of mothers would wish to do this discretely wherever possible. But no- 'awareness' must be raised, a 'right' must be exercised in the most public, 'in-your-face' way possible, and woe betide any objection.

The sooner we rid our Country of the meddling classes and their ham-fisted attempts to make everyone a victim, the quicker we can return to a genuinely tolerant , give- and -take based society founded on common sense.

DanOxford wrote:
Imagine what chaos our society would be if everyone got on with (and were allowed to get on with) their individual lives, and allowed others to do the same, without 'raising awareness' of whatever perceived 'victimhood' they (or more likely those who they champion, often uninvited)are suffering. I imagine (and please correct me if I'm mistaken) that the vast majority of people don't object to children being breastfed. I further imagine, that the vast majority of mothers would wish to do this discretely wherever possible. But no- 'awareness' must be raised, a 'right' must be exercised in the most public, 'in-your-face' way possible, and woe betide any objection. The sooner we rid our Country of the meddling classes and their ham-fisted attempts to make everyone a victim, the quicker we can return to a genuinely tolerant , give- and -take based society founded on common sense.

Well said Dan.

I do not object to breastfeeding,i do object to seeing it when i am walking through a park though.

What next.....


Sex in public in front of children because it is a human right????

Oxfords bored overpaid hippies need to really recognise what they are doing to this city in the long term.

The only thing that can stop this nonsense is when the various 'minorities' they pigeon hole individuals into complain- for example- a Muslim family objecting to naked breasts in the park, or the gay community opposing a publically broadcast call to prayer on behalf of a religion intolerant towards homosexuals.

Publically demonstrating your 'right' to do whatever the Politically Correct deem socially acceptable (breastfeeding in public= natural, necessary human function to be 'celebrated', urinating in public = crime to be punished)just gets up perfectly reasonable, tolerant people's noses, increases resentment and forces people to put themselves on one side of the fence or the other.

The only real 'winners' are the meddling classes themselves, who either get attention and kudos (junkie criminal car theif wasting £12,000 of OUR money delaying the Bonn square development, anti- car lobby Cyclox etc etc) or actually PAID to discover victims and discrimination (Oxfordshires's own Racial Equality Council- accused by a black Caribbean employee of discrimination b teh black African managers!)

With no 'victims' and no 'awareness' to be 'raised' they would have to get a hobby that didn't involve bossing other people around or would be unemployed- all to the rest of our advantage- even those amongst us who are gay, black, Muslim, disabled, have brown eyes, drive a blue car, like wearing cardigans or prefer apple juice to orange.

What's wrong with breastfeeding in public? If you can't understand the difference between a breast being "kinky" or a breast being food for a baby and having no s*xual connection at all, then you really need to get out more!

J wrote:
What's wrong with breastfeeding in public? If you can't understand the difference between a breast being "kinky" or a breast being food for a baby and having no s*xual connection at all, then you really need to get out more!

You have completely missed the point lady (i suspect you are one).

It is not nice to see an intimate part of a body in public,simple as that.

You have completely missed the point lady (i suspect you are one).

It is not nice to see an intimate part of a body in public,simple as that.

It's only an intimate part of the body to someone you're close to. It's also (and equally) the place where the babies milk comes out of!

It would only be "not nice" to those who are a little on the warped/sick side and can't see a breast as anything other than an intimate body part. Were you never breast fed?

Don't be so prude!

yet again a bunch of do gooders wanting to make a point-do they not realise that in this day and age with all the perverts that get off on this are going to be attracted to this kind of crap. get a life-i am a women with 3 children and beleive that this should not be done in public-if they need to go out then express it and put it in a bottle. I think they are a bunch of perverted women who get turned on by a baby sucking on a tit in public and men watching and when they are still letting the baby suckle at 1 year plus should be classed as paedophilia

I WAS ONLY REGARDING AGE 1 PLUS OF YOU HAD READ IT PROPERLY

"yet again a bunch of do gooders wanting to make a point-do they not realise that in this day and age with all the perverts that get off on this are going to be attracted to this kind of crap. get a life-i am a women with 3 children and beleive that this should not be done in public-if they need to go out then express it and put it in a bottle. I think they are a bunch of perverted women who get turned on by a baby sucking on a tit in public and men watching and when they are still letting the baby suckle at 1 year plus should be classed as paedophilia"

Idiot

Dear All,

just wanted comment that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the following:

"Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers. A recent review of evidence has shown that, on a population basis, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way of feeding infants. Thereafter infants should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond."

And here is the link:

http://www.who.int/n
utrition/topics/excl
usive_breastfeeding/
en/

Best Regards,
C.

I feel sorry for you people.

If it's so offensive, why not just look away? You don't have to stare.

Or are you after a peak of the poor woman's breasts? Remind me, who is the pervert here? the woman feeding her child, or the person watching her?

A breastfeeding awareness event does not equal a bunch of woman flashing their nipples.

Unfortunately attitudes like this put woman off feeding their child in public, which is why events like this are held.

To 'women, oxford' - I can tell you gave your children the best start in life..

You people are aware that we are mammals, right?

Although I'm not sure some of you even deserve that classification. Back under your rocks.

To EM, From country Bumpkin land. You should get out a bit more and develop a sense of humour. This is a web site from Oxford (The centre of world learning) so we cant really expect you to understand our dicussion forums, maybe if you asked your older sister or mum (maybe they are one in the same) they will explain to you Humour, Irony, sarcasm etc. You are welcome back when you grow up

Tom wrote:

DanOxford wrote: Imagine what chaos our society would be if everyone got on with (and were allowed to get on with) their individual lives, and allowed others to do the same, without 'raising awareness' of whatever perceived 'victimhood' they (or more likely those who they champion, often uninvited)are suffering. I imagine (and please correct me if I'm mistaken) that the vast majority of people don't object to children being breastfed. I further imagine, that the vast majority of mothers would wish to do this discretely wherever possible. But no- 'awareness' must be raised, a 'right' must be exercised in the most public, 'in-your-face' way possible, and woe betide any objection. The sooner we rid our Country of the meddling classes and their ham-fisted attempts to make everyone a victim, the quicker we can return to a genuinely tolerant , give- and -take based society founded on common sense.

Well said Dan. I do not object to breastfeeding,i do object to seeing it when i am walking through a park though. What next..... Sex in public in front of children because it is a human right???? Oxfords bored overpaid hippies need to really recognise what they are doing to this city in the long term.

why is it that breast feeding mothers are ofter associated with being hippies?
I'm a young (23 and non-hippy) mother of 2, breastfeeding one and if a group of mums want to meet together in a park and breast feeding while showing other mothers that may be less confident with breast feeding in puplic then let them get on with it.
And if others think they can go along to see some boob then i'm sure they will be sorely disapointed!

women wrote:
yet again a bunch of do gooders wanting to make a point-do they not realise that in this day and age with all the perverts that get off on this are going to be attracted to this kind of crap. get a life-i am a women with 3 children and beleive that this should not be done in public-if they need to go out then express it and put it in a bottle. I think they are a bunch of perverted women who get turned on by a baby sucking on a tit in public and men watching and when they are still letting the baby suckle at 1 year plus should be classed as paedophilia

how on earth can you say that? I'm feeding a 12 month + baby and the only joy i get out of it is knowing i'm doing the best i could ever do for my baby and i have made him grow and develop into the lovely little boy he is today.

The world health organisation says that babys should be and continue to benifit from breast milk until the age of 2.

Nature made women breasts to feed their young, not as a s*xual organ.

When a baby needs feeding, they should be able to have it when they need it. Not be draged to some place screaming to then have to wait for a bottle to be heated

The (few) indignant, self- labelled 'breast feeding mums' posting on here entirely miss the point:

Most people have no objection to breastfeeding; most positively think it's a good thing to do for a baby. What annoys many is the self- righteous, insensitive arrogance behind 'raising awareness' (this used to be called: 'shoving it down your throat') of the perceived victimhood of whatever group has to exercise their 'right' this week.

How many women have been 'discriminated against' in Oxford, for breastfeeding? I understand that it is now an offence to ask any woman not to breast feed in public- fine- but on how many occasions would this be used, given that most people are sensitive and tolerant towards the needs of others anyway?

A romantic meal in a softly lit restaurant would not be enhanced by some woman suddenly hoiking up her blouse and clasping an infant to her breast- but how many would?

A woman should not be prevented from feeding her infant, but neither should she gratuitously risk causing discomfort or upset to anyone else- for example by sitting in the middle of a public park 'raising awareness' that she can now do as she bl**dy well pleases and f*ck you if you're offended!

PC nonsense like this just outlaws upsetting or offending one group of people (breastfeeding mums) and removes the right of anyone else to be upset or offended.

Nulabour's meddling classes love this sort of thought- policing- just as new laws will 'protect' the religious, who can then carry on preaching hatred against homosexuals and (real) discrimination against women.

I think you are missing the point. The need to raise awareness is under the 'protect me, protect my baby' slogan - actually there is no legal right to breastfeed in public in England Ireland or Wales, only in Scotland where the enlightened 'Breastfeeding Bill' made it an offence to ask a mother to stop breastfeeding her baby. In England however, currently there is no such law, though the government proposes to add to sex discrimination legislation via the Single Equality Bill to support babies' rights to be fed wherever they need to be fed, by giving the mother a right under the law to breastfeed in business premises.
The reason for today's 'breastfeeding picnic' is that this legislation, unlike the Scottish version which makes it AN OFFENCE for someone to ask a mother feeding her baby with its milk (from breast OR bottle) to move - ie she could call the Police and the someone would be in trouble - the England / Wales / Ireland version will give a mother the right to bring a case for sex discrimination against any business from whose premises she was asked to move - so THEY could call the police and have her moved, but then she could sue them, IF she had been breastfeeding (this Bill does not protect the bottledfeeder) and if she could, frankly, be bothered to rake it all up again. It also does not protect her right to breastfeed in, for example, a park.
Again, the picnic is not about raising awareness that mothers CAN breastfeed wherever they like, but rather that they should be able to.
There are several in parks and green spaces all over the UK (including outside the Houses of Parliament, which was the point, of course) today.

'Imagine what chaos our society would be if everyone got on with (and were allowed to get on with) their individual lives, and allowed others to do the same' - including the right to raise others' awareness of issues they feel are important? ;)

I'm saddened that almost everyone commenting here has stooped to personal comment/insult -

preaching to the converted only, whichever side you're on. If you enjoy creative insulting, fine,

but don't expect the point you're also making to be taken seriously.

I wonder how many of those who are anti public breastfeeding have ever seen it, to know how

offensive it is? I suspect you've walked past it many times (in parks, shopping centres, cafés)

without realising.

Hardly public indecency which is what the law

Have a look at the WHO link that C gives above. If you don't want to inform yourselves, fair

enough, but do recognise that you can't justify your view without knowing the facts.

(And, from personal experience: i breastfed easily for quite a while but never mastered

expressing, the two skills are different. It's not always a solution, and even if you carry a bottle of

breastmilk there's still the wait etc. Far simpler to use what's there, already at the perfect

temperature and no worries about sterilising.)

The only right that matters, as i see it, is that i'm allowed to eat when and where i need to, so

why wouldn't my baby be allowed to?

MMS wrote:
\'Imagine what chaos our society would be if everyone got on with (and were allowed to get on with) their individual lives, and allowed others to do the same\' - including the right to raise others\' awareness of issues they feel are important? ;)

...like protesting outside Parliament?

Oops- no- that was Politically Incorrect so banned under nefarious Anti-Terrorism Legislation.

NuLabour's meddling Socialists aren't interested in raising awareness of REAL issues (mass immigration, an EU referendum, civil liberties, Islamification, discrimination against white males being enshrined in law, identity cards, detention without trial...)because there's no money in it, no 'minority' to champion and they have REAL consequencs for the majority.

No, instead, the PC brigade have to whip up a frenzy over minor issues, based on the assumption that without their meddling, we would all be unreformed, homophobic, misogynistic, racist chauvinists (can't say 'pigs'- might offend the Muslims...)who would victimise everyone else.

It's this hectoring, 'nanny knows best' mentality, complete with it's catchy slogans and trendy 'action group' names, that divides people and splits communities.

Tom wrote:

DanOxford wrote: Imagine what chaos our society would be if everyone got on with (and were allowed to get on with) their individual lives, and allowed others to do the same, without \'raising awareness\' of whatever perceived \'victimhood\' they (or more likely those who they champion, often uninvited)are suffering. I imagine (and please correct me if I\'m mistaken) that the vast majority of people don\'t object to children being breastfed. I further imagine, that the vast majority of mothers would wish to do this discretely wherever possible. But no- \'awareness\' must be raised, a \'right\' must be exercised in the most public, \'in-your-face\' way possible, and woe betide any objection. The sooner we rid our Country of the meddling classes and their ham-fisted attempts to make everyone a victim, the quicker we can return to a genuinely tolerant , give- and -take based society founded on common sense.

Well said Dan. I do not object to breastfeeding,i do object to seeing it when i am walking through a park though. What next..... Sex in public in front of children because it is a human right???? Oxfords bored overpaid hippies need to really recognise what they are doing to this city in the long term.

I am sure that both of you buy The Sun newspaper to check out the breasts in there!
Get a life, breast feeding is natural and i am sure you both were breasfead many moons ago!

God love the parent. The one who has managed to further their line must always be right and woe betide anyone who questions their rights or that of theor children, they are always more important than everyone elses.

Breastfeeding is entirely natural, agreed. So is taking a leak, so is sex, so cutting my toenails, should we be "Raising Awareness" of these too, a mass toenail clip one afternoon maybe.

I was ina restaurant one evening when the woman on the table behind my wife started breastfeeding. 2 things happened, I suddenly didn't feel particularly romantic anymore and was forced to ensure I looked anywhere but in her direction (a man looking at a woman's breast lactating or otherwise, could have been misconstrued) this was difficault as it was happening pretty much in the line of sight with my wife. BUT, it was HER right to feed HER child and if I'd said anything I'd have probably been perceived as an unthinking, uncaring boor. Like I said, Parents are always right, especially mothers.

Should women be allowed to breastfeed in public? Of course!

Should the few mothers who think that right extends to any place any time be made aware that actually, no, there are a few occassion where it wouldn't be most appropriate? Yes.

Is the "awareness raising" stunt required? not really, no.

I cannot believe some of the comments, especially the person saying women are paedophiles feeding infants over 1 year old. That is such an ignorant and disgusting comment. I am still feeding my 22 month old, giving her the best start in life. There is nothing perverse about it.

I honestly cannot understand what the big deal it is with breastfeeding a baby in public.

Most breastfeeding mums are very discrete and Im certain most of the people commenting on here have passed or sat near a nursing baby without even realising

Im currently pregnant with my second child, my first daughter was bottle fed due to me being in intensive care following a terrible emergency c-section. This time Ive decided as its my last pregnancy I'd like to breastfeed, not because its "hippy like" or to prove some point (I dont need to as my 3yr old bottle fed daughter is perfectly healthy) but because its a cheaper and more efficient way of feeding a baby

Why would someone go to all the trouble of breastfeeding, teaching the baby how to latch correctly, going through the pain that mostly comes in the first few weeks and then to try and sit for hours to express a few drops (not easily done, and sometimes impossible) to just be able to feed their baby with a bottle whilst out

Maybe these people commenting aren't parents, or havent been the main carer of an infant and gone through the expensive and time wasting effort of preparing bottles daily, then trying to sterilise, keep them sterilised and ensure milk is kept fresh when out, and then find a place to warm the milk etc...

Im sure if these people had been through this and realised there was an easier option, the right temperature milk, no sterilisation, no storing etc they would choose the easier option, plus it being free!

With the cost of food prices always on the rise especially of late, surely this would be the greatest way to reduce costs in a working class family's food bill? Makes perfect sense to me!

I do honestly believe this "awareness raising" isnt needed, just for breastfeeding mums to be descrete as possible, and for members of the public and businesses who happen to notice a breastfeeding mum to be polite and not comment, dont stare, dont be rude, dont offend her and certainly not ask her to move for doing something which is completely natural.

Ok I agree, maybe a romantic resturant isnt the ideal setting for breastfeeding, yet saying that I wouldnt think about having my baby in such a place, now maybe a cafe in the daytime, or a park bench in summer when her older children are playing on the swings etc, even on a train when having a day out, but certainly not in a resturant in the late evening surrounded by couples. Which Im certain most breastfeeding mums would agree with.

I say where the baby is welcome breastfeeding should also be!

I am really dissapointed in the people from Oxford who have made these comments. Are we not in the 21st century? Mo wonder the UK has the lowest breastfeeding rate in Europe. And for Tom, I AM NOT A HIPPY. Grow up and get a life anti breastfeeders, if you dont like it, dont look.

for the lads!

Ah, I see you have it all wrong.

Do any of you who think a woman shouldn't breastfeed in public understand what could happen to the mothers' milk supply if she was not to feed on demand?

One of two things, either supply would slow down and she would not have enough milk to feed her baby or she would end up engorged with too much milk possibly leading to mastitis.

I think her health, and the continuation of the baby's breastfeeding is more important than your sensitivity.

As for the whole comparison between urinating/having sex in public, sex is an adult activity, not involving children so has no bearing whatsoever on breastfeeding, and needing to use the toilet? How many of you would object to seeing a young boy having a wee against a tree as there were no toilets near by?

This picnic wasn't all about the mothers right, but the babys' rights to be fed.

You know how I know this? I was the organiser, and sorry to disappoint but not hippyish in the slightest.

I breastfeed my seven months old son and sometimes this is done discreetly public. But I don't understand the need for these picnics and similar events, people know that breast is best and the majority of people wouldn't be able to spot a discreet breastfeeder. Have all these breastfeeders been asked to stop breastfeeding in public or are they just making an issue out of nothing?

btw, I breastfed my first son unitil he was 2years. This is normal and in the interests of the child not a sexual act, anyone thinking that it is perverse is the sicko in this debate!

Jo wrote:
I breastfeed my seven months old son and sometimes this is done discreetly public. But I don\'t understand the need for these picnics and similar events, people know that breast is best and the majority of people wouldn\'t be able to spot a discreet breastfeeder. Have all these breastfeeders been asked to stop breastfeeding in public or are they just making an issue out of nothing?

btw, I breastfed my first son unitil he was 2years. This is normal and in the interests of the child not a sexual act, anyone thinking that it is perverse is the sicko in this debate!

Recently many people have been asked to leave public places, such as MacDonalds and Starbucks.
Sadly this seems to be some sort of trend, all we are asking is that a law (already passed in Scotland and proposed in England) be passed to stop mothers from this kind of harassment.

I, personally have received comments in public btw. If you go to BBC radio Oxford and listen again to this mornings breakfast show my interview at 7:30am explains all this and more.

Children have a right to adequate nutrition. Mothers have a right to support in providing it. Governments have an obligation to protect these rights, which should include stopping mothers from being harassed if they are trying to feed a child (whether breastfeeding or bottle feeding) in a public place. This is not a theoretical right, they are rights enshrined in international conventions.

People in many countries would be (indeed are, when I ask them) incredulous that mothers in the UK have to assert the right to feed a child in public, that in Scotland Parliament has had to pass a law to protect it.

Rights generally have to be won and defended, whether it is the right to be free from slavery, the right to vote, the right to equal treatment regardless of sex, creed or race.

So it is with the right to feed a child.

For more discussion see:
http://boycottnestle
.blogspot.com/2008/0
7/right-to-feed-baby
.html

Drinking a cool beer on a warm summer evening in the park is also natural.

Thank you Oxford, for showing how much hungry babies need protection. Ignorance and bigotry, not to mention vile and demeaning comments about women's bodies, are very useful evidence in terms of asking Parliament for legal protection. When you reveal yourself like this, all you do is help us establish why legislation is needed.

Babies get hungry, and require food where and when they get hungry. It's quite a simple concept. Hungry babies get fed milk. Cultural hysteria over the delivery system isn't part of the equation.

Woman are free to breastfeed where and when they please in the UK. The issue isn't the breastfeeding, it's the prejudice, hatred and ignorance you are spouting here.

But please, do carry on spouting it. It's such a help! This is why we held all those picnics after all, to raise awareness of the need for protection. Anyone reading your measured and considered comments can fathom the basic principles in nanoseconds. We simply couldn't do it without you.

Thanks! :-)

New Labour hand shandies in the parks?

J wrote:
What's wrong with breastfeeding in public? If you can't understand the difference between a breast being "kinky" or a breast being food for a baby and having no s*xual connection at all, then you really need to get out more!

Well, J, I think you need to chill out, having self-censored the common word, sexual.

You'll be censoring 'connection' next

What about my rights - I want to be able to have a swift one off the wrist on a bus - masterbation is a natural act so why am I discriminated agianst

make you voice known vist wankingonthebus.com

and vote to petition governemnt

I agree with John Thomas - I feel a persectued minority , my poems were deemed treasonable and of a lavacious nature , my whoring is unacceptable , my drinking and the carring out of various riots ,sports and japes is now deemed unaceptable behavior , now I would be fined and possibly imprisioned for smashing the windows and doors on a whorehouse if i didnt feel i had my moneys worth . But these wontons are allowed to suckle their childeren in public - its one law for the working class and another for a pier of the realm - disgusting , what is this country coming to

Lord Rochester wrote:
I agree with John Thomas - I feel a persectued minority , my poems were deemed treasonable and of a lavacious nature , my whoring is unacceptable , my drinking and the carring out of various riots ,sports and japes is now deemed unaceptable behavior , now I would be fined and possibly imprisioned for smashing the windows and doors on a whorehouse if i didnt feel i had my moneys worth . But these wontons are allowed to suckle their childeren in public - its one law for the working class and another for a pier of the realm - disgusting , what is this country coming to

I too am a Pier of the realm and feel persecuted as i was the victim of an arson attack

Walking naked down the high street is also natural if you live in darkest timbuctoo - but in Oxford one would be locked up - why is it one law for the native and another for the law abbiding citizen , personally I think women should be allowed to breast feed in public , in the toilets of restaraunts , but not at the table sat next to me whilst i am tucking into my scoff- what about my rights to the enjoyment of my meal without some unwashed old baggaage feeding their spewing brat at the table

As this is a public event and a "Promotion" these ladys wont mind if me and all my mates come along to watch - I have about 30 interested parties so far

Mr Britain wrote:
Walking naked down the high street is also natural if you live in darkest timbuctoo - but in Oxford one would be locked up - why is it one law for the native and another for the law abbiding citizen , personally I think women should be allowed to breast feed in public , in the toilets of restaraunts , but not at the table sat next to me whilst i am tucking into my scoff- what about my rights to the enjoyment of my meal without some unwashed old baggaage feeding their spewing brat at the table

You could always take your dinner to the toilet so my child didn't have to watch an ill-educated misogynist eating next to them whilst they tried to enjoy their breastfeed.

John wrote:
As this is a public event and a "Promotion" these ladys wont mind if me and all my mates come along to watch - I have about 30 interested parties so far

Sadly, you missed it, it was held yesterday, as the article states.
But there will be another picnic, we will get this law passed.

As morgan says the comments on this article show exactly why we need it.

I'll be sure to let you know when the next picnic will be held and you can bring along your minions.

Anyone causing trouble at these events would just strengthen our reasons and resolve.

I hope i dont bump into any of you narrow minded people on a dark night! How many of you are from Oxford i wonder? I have lived in Oxford all my life and i am ashamed to read all these anti breastfeeding comments. What sad lives you all lead - if you dont like it dont look its that simple. And the women that thinks someone is a peodophile for breastfeeding a child of one or over is one herself for even having those disgusting thoughts.

DanOxford wrote:
Imagine what chaos our society would be if everyone got on with (and were allowed to get on with) their individual lives, and allowed others to do the same, without 'raising awareness' of whatever perceived 'victimhood' they (or more likely those who they champion, often uninvited)are suffering. I imagine (and please correct me if I'm mistaken) that the vast majority of people don't object to children being breastfed. I further imagine, that the vast majority of mothers would wish to do this discretely wherever possible. But no- 'awareness' must be raised, a 'right' must be exercised in the most public, 'in-your-face' way possible, and woe betide any objection. The sooner we rid our Country of the meddling classes and their ham-fisted attempts to make everyone a victim, the quicker we can return to a genuinely tolerant , give- and -take based society founded on common sense.

So you now have no objection to people downloading illegal crap off the internet in the privacy of their own homes?

The most hilarious thing about your pseudo tolerance is that it is so artificial that a mere pin could **** it.

What about bullfighting, female circumcision, halal killing etc?

Each to their own?

Almost as funny as your "treat people as individuals-all moslems are terrorists" position.

DanOxford wrote:
The only thing that can stop this nonsense is when the various 'minorities' they pigeon hole individuals into complain- for example- a Muslim family objecting to naked breasts in the park, or the gay community opposing a publically broadcast call to prayer on behalf of a religion intolerant towards homosexuals. Publically demonstrating your 'right' to do whatever the Politically Correct deem socially acceptable (breastfeeding in public= natural, necessary human function to be 'celebrated', urinating in public = crime to be punished)just gets up perfectly reasonable, tolerant people's noses, increases resentment and forces people to put themselves on one side of the fence or the other. The only real 'winners' are the meddling classes themselves, who either get attention and kudos (junkie criminal car theif wasting £12,000 of OUR money delaying the Bonn square development, anti- car lobby Cyclox etc etc) or actually PAID to discover victims and discrimination (Oxfordshires's own Racial Equality Council- accused by a black Caribbean employee of discrimination b teh black African managers!) With no 'victims' and no 'awareness' to be 'raised' they would have to get a hobby that didn't involve bossing other people around or would be unemployed- all to the rest of our advantage- even those amongst us who are gay, black, Muslim, disabled, have brown eyes, drive a blue car, like wearing cardigans or prefer apple juice to orange.

And who supports the rights of "junkie car thieves" to end up in that state in the first place? Who even thinks drug dealing junkies should be allowed to bring up children in houses surrounded by drugs paraphanalia?

As you have already classified yourself as being white bourgeois you are part of the very class you deride.

All very amusing.

Laura wrote:

Tom wrote:

DanOxford wrote: Imagine what chaos our society would be if everyone got on with (and were allowed to get on with) their individual lives, and allowed others to do the same, without \'raising awareness\' of whatever perceived \'victimhood\' they (or more likely those who they champion, often uninvited)are suffering. I imagine (and please correct me if I\'m mistaken) that the vast majority of people don\'t object to children being breastfed. I further imagine, that the vast majority of mothers would wish to do this discretely wherever possible. But no- \'awareness\' must be raised, a \'right\' must be exercised in the most public, \'in-your-face\' way possible, and woe betide any objection. The sooner we rid our Country of the meddling classes and their ham-fisted attempts to make everyone a victim, the quicker we can return to a genuinely tolerant , give- and -take based society founded on common sense.

Well said Dan. I do not object to breastfeeding,i do object to seeing it when i am walking through a park though. What next..... Sex in public in front of children because it is a human right???? Oxfords bored overpaid hippies need to really recognise what they are doing to this city in the long term.

I am sure that both of you buy The Sun newspaper to check out the breasts in there! Get a life, breast feeding is natural and i am sure you both were breasfead many moons ago!

Suckled by ravenous rabid dogs I would imagine.

DanOxford wrote:

MMS wrote: \'Imagine what chaos our society would be if everyone got on with (and were allowed to get on with) their individual lives, and allowed others to do the same\' - including the right to raise others\' awareness of issues they feel are important? ;)

...like protesting outside Parliament? Oops- no- that was Politically Incorrect so banned under nefarious Anti-Terrorism Legislation. NuLabour's meddling Socialists aren't interested in raising awareness of REAL issues (mass immigration, an EU referendum, civil liberties, Islamification, discrimination against white males being enshrined in law, identity cards, detention without trial...)because there's no money in it, no 'minority' to champion and they have REAL consequencs for the majority. No, instead, the PC brigade have to whip up a frenzy over minor issues, based on the assumption that without their meddling, we would all be unreformed, homophobic, misogynistic, racist chauvinists (can't say 'pigs'- might offend the Muslims...)who would victimise everyone else. It's this hectoring, 'nanny knows best' mentality, complete with it's catchy slogans and trendy 'action group' names, that divides people and splits communities.

I think your 4th paragraph sums you up pretty well actually.

Lord Rochester wrote:
I agree with John Thomas - I feel a persectued minority , my poems were deemed treasonable and of a lavacious nature , my whoring is unacceptable , my drinking and the carring out of various riots ,sports and japes is now deemed unaceptable behavior , now I would be fined and possibly imprisioned for smashing the windows and doors on a whorehouse if i didnt feel i had my moneys worth . But these wontons are allowed to suckle their childeren in public - its one law for the working class and another for a pier of the realm - disgusting , what is this country coming to

Phone call from your mate the Marquis de Sade agreeing with everything you say.

Reading the "insightful" comments below is proof alone we DO need protection. Babies have a right to eat wherever they are legally allowed to be and women have a right to go about their legitimate, lawful business without fear of harrassment or persecution from mindless, bigots such as those who have expressed their ignorance here.
We are mammals for goodness sake, the PRIMARY function of the human breast is to feed our young.

How can anyone who opposes this be so narrow minded?

I'm totally outside on this one, have been given the link by a colleague and quite frankly am rather dismayed.

I do not have children, but even I can totally understand what this is all about.

It's not about masquerading oneself around town, boobs hanging out with a middle finger held firmly in the air. It's about feeding children based on a personal preference and not being afraid to do so. In a sense, the strong (those whom are not afraid to defend their rights) protecting the weak (those who are too afraid to do what they choose)

No body has the right to tell anyone to stop breastfeeding, especially not when the reason they'd oppose it is due to their own personal opinion.

It's obvious to me that there are women out there who want to breastfeed but are too scared to do so in public (therefore neglect to take their small children outside and remain indoors) because of this pathetic social stigma adopted by stiff upper lip individuals who value image over doing the right thing by supporting those in their community who want to do exactly that.

Just live and let live.

"In a sense, the strong (those whom are not afraid to defend their rights) protecting the weak (those who are too afraid to do what they choose)"

So right Dave. As I said earlier, I was one of the organisers of the Oxford picnic, the lady up above (morgan) was one of the people who arranged the larger picnic in parliament square.

I have no issues with feeding my child in public, and every one of these opposing comments gives me more determination, but there are ladies who will sit at home all day, never venturing outside their front door for fear of their baby needing feeding whilst out, it's for those women we held our picnics yesterday, and for those women we shall continue to make a stand.

I get the impression people commenting know this though and would imagine that is the very reason we had no opposition in person on the day.

'Should women be allowed to breastfeed in public? Of course!

Should the few mothers who think that right extends to any place any time be made aware that actually, no, there are a few occassion where it wouldn't be most appropriate? Yes.'

Right....so WHOM decides where and when is 'most appropriate'?

Also, what's the social benefit of stopping a baby feeding?

In the first scenario you are enjoying a stroll through the park, see a woman breastfeeding on a bench and merrily continue on your way elsewhere.

In the second scenario, you are attempting to enjoy a quiet time at the park, but can't because of screaming hungry babies.

So it's more socially disruptive not to feed babies on demand.

Also, have you ever met a woman suffering from mastitis? That's a pretty nasty situation.

I cant sleep I have no life so sing with me: bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois
and again
bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois
and some more
bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois
one more time
bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois
all together now
bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois
encore encore
bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois bourgeois

I'm such a loser

Can anyone give me another word to utilise in every pointless epic I write on here.

mand wrote:
I'm saddened that almost everyone commenting here has stooped to personal comment/insult -

preaching to the converted only, whichever side you're on. If you enjoy creative insulting, fine,

but don't expect the point you're also making to be taken seriously.

I wonder how many of those who are anti public breastfeeding have ever seen it, to know how

offensive it is? I suspect you've walked past it many times (in parks, shopping centres, cafés)

without realising.

Hardly public indecency which is what the law

Have a look at the WHO link that C gives above. If you don't want to inform yourselves, fair

enough, but do recognise that you can't justify your view without knowing the facts.

(And, from personal experience: i breastfed easily for quite a while but never mastered

expressing, the two skills are different. It's not always a solution, and even if you carry a bottle of

breastmilk there's still the wait etc. Far simpler to use what's there, already at the perfect

temperature and no worries about sterilising.)

The only right that matters, as i see it, is that i'm allowed to eat when and where i need to, so

why wouldn't my baby be allowed to?

" I wonder how many of those who are anti public breastfeeding have ever seen it, to know how offensive it is? I suspect you've walked past it many times (in parks, shopping centres, cafés)without realising. "

So what is the point of making them aware of it?

i love some in the park.

Less than a dozen supporters for the event are pictured in the update on this stunt.

Because the photographer turned up late...
Would you like pictures of the London event?
80 supporters, I could get them for you quite easily.
Like was said, the meek were the ones we were fighting for.

Lorayn Brown wrote:
Because the photographer turned up late...
Would you like pictures of the London event?
80 supporters, I could get them for you quite easily.
Like was said, the meek were the ones we were fighting for.

How many supporters were there then?

Eighty supporters for a London event is pathetic, but then, there are things to do in London.

I'm sure the photographer had other jobs to cover and did his best to arrive in time given traffic and other events he was covering not running to time.

David wrote:

Lorayn Brown wrote:
Because the photographer turned up late...
Would you like pictures of the London event?
80 supporters, I could get them for you quite easily.
Like was said, the meek were the ones we were fighting for.

How many supporters were there then?

Eighty supporters for a London event is pathetic, but then, there are things to do in London.

I'm sure the photographer had other jobs to cover and did his best to arrive in time given traffic and other events he was covering not running to time.

Silence is golden.

David wrote:

David wrote:

Lorayn Brown wrote:
Because the photographer turned up late...
Would you like pictures of the London event?
80 supporters, I could get them for you quite easily.
Like was said, the meek were the ones we were fighting for.

How many supporters were there then?

Eighty supporters for a London event is pathetic, but then, there are things to do in London.

I'm sure the photographer had other jobs to cover and did his best to arrive in time given traffic and other events he was covering not running to time.

Silence is golden.

I was busy, I have other things to do than keep checking the Oxford Mail website for any comments someone like yourself may have.

The whole thing (numerous events throughout out the country) attracted a few hundred supporters, and many more signatures.

There was also a facebook live online event which attracted a few more hundred for those who couldn't make it to an event or where too scared to come and enjoy the sunshine incase bigoted narrow-minded people like yourself were to come and comment.

I'm not bigoted. I'm not narrow-minded. I simply asked you to provide figures for your event and you respond by hurling insults.

"The whole thing (numerous events throughout out the country) attracted a few hundred supporters, and many more signatures."

A few hundred - two or nine hundred? Still less than a thousand, nationwide.

You took part in a campaign which was unnecessary and a failure on a massive scale, trying to solve a problem which does not exist. You now seek to be offended because the facts are against you.

If you want to make new law, try one which prevents mothers from smoking in cars whilst their kids are strapped in the back, a common sight.

Good luck with that one, Lorraine - sorry - Lorayn.

How was it a failure?
As for unnecessary, surely you can see by the vitriolic comments made here alone that women do need protection to be able to feed their children in public without any worry.

On the way home from two of these events two different mothers were hassled for feeding their children in public. I think that, together with the comments on here speaks volumes.

The facts are not against me, at all, as I said previously women are scared to feed their children outside their own homes so how on earth would they attend a picnic likely to have people opposing the act near by?

I'll feed my baby whenever and wherever he needs feeding, this law is not needed by myself, but by mothers who are too frightened to do what is both natural and necessary.

Lorayn Brown wrote:
How was it a failure?
As for unnecessary, surely you can see by the vitriolic comments made here alone that women do need protection to be able to feed their children in public without any worry.

On the way home from two of these events two different mothers were hassled for feeding their children in public. I think that, together with the comments on here speaks volumes.

The facts are not against me, at all, as I said previously women are scared to feed their children outside their own homes so how on earth would they attend a picnic likely to have people opposing the act near by?

I'll feed my baby whenever and wherever he needs feeding, this law is not needed by myself, but by mothers who are too frightened to do what is both natural and necessary.

There is little point in titling at windmills.