Delta airlines was tottally wrong. Breastfeeding is as natural as breathing and mother's should not have to cover this issue or themselves up. People just need to be more respectfull and mature.
Rick.

Delta airlines was totally wrong. Breastfeeding is as natural as breathing and mother's should not have to cover this issue or themselves up. People just need to be more respectfull and mature.
Rick.

Someone was really out of line in putting a nursing mother off the airline. She was sitting in a back window seat,hardly visible to many people. She was not running up and down the aisle flashing her breasts. With current limits as to what can be carried on airlines, this is certainly safer then bottles of formula that must be kept from spoilage. Who made this decision? Delta or a confused employee?

She should NOT have been kicked off of her flight. how insane is that?!! Our American culture is so mixed up. T&A everywhere, yet something natural like breastfeeding is offensive??? Please. That's like banning National Geographic from the libraries.

This kind of puritanical view on breastfeeding is an embarrassment to our country. It's the same ideology that tells women they must wear a burqa or be guilty of inviting rape. Anyone offended by breastfeeding has a sick mind.

Delta airlines is wrong on this.The lady was not doing anything that could be considered offensive,so what is wrong with the people working for delta.delta would rather let that mother starve her child.i think the gov should put in effect some basic things for the airlines...such as not kicking off women who breastfeed...not to double charge heavy set people...things that should be of kindness.not money driven.if delta gets away with this, than they get away with our rights.our rights to be caring parents to our children.

I think Delta airlines was right for kicking the breast feeding mother off the flight. If I understand the story correctly, she was not kicked off for breast feeding, but rather for objecting to the flight attendents request. It only takes one to open the flood gates. As far as breast feeding in public, I do not object. Infants need to eat when they need to eat. Dennis

I thought that liquids were only allowed on planes in special little bottles an special little baggies. Just imagine the bioterrorism that could happen due to breastmilk, urine, and fecal materials! Everyone should be dehydrated before travelling to prevent such unspeakable acts.

Minus 10 for Delta. Let the baby eat.

I think Delta is wrong. If her breast was showing while feeding the infant the mother should have been asked to cover while feeding.

Why is breastfeeding something to be hidden? A woman's breast is not obscene or indecent, particularly in this context. Delta deserves these protests, and I personally will boycott them until an apology and policy change is announced. This is another case of provincial morality run amok.

I am so sick of hearing of breast feeding mothers refusing to cover up because it is natural. Well get a clue so is urinating, but I don't want to see people doing that in public either. vivian

As a breastfeeding mother, myself, this really hits home! Just two weeks ago I had to fly with my 8 month old son. With the liquid restrictions now in place, it was so much easier to breastfeed than to have to carry on formula, etc. I believe the fact that the flight attendant even asked the mother to cover herself is totally offensive. I've tried covering my son while nursing and I cannot even describe how hot and uncomfortable this is. Now that he is older he just pulls the blanket off anyway. I may not have stated this very eloquently, but I firmly believe in my right as a mother to nurish and comfort my child in the way that is proven healthiest for both of us.

This is a natural thing , i breast fed my children,one until she was two. People should mind their on business enstead of minding others.

I don't believe Delta was wrong in asking the woman to cover her self up. I don't want to see that woman's breast no more than I would want to see a shirtless man. How many times have you seen a sign in a business that says "No shoes, no shirt, no service"? It is common courtesy to the other's on the plane. It was absolutely fine for the stewardess to request politely for her to cover up. It is a privately owned plane not a public place. The woman did not have a legal right to refuse. "My house, My rules" so to speak. Thus when she refused to cover up, Delta had every right to take her off the plane. In the future it would be nice if this could be avoided but as long as people feel that they have the right to do whatever they want, whenever they want, with no consideration for anyone else we will continue to have more of these situations. I support Delta's decision.

The Delta flight attendant was out of line. It is really sad that such a natural and necessary practice is looked at as indecent exposure. Maybe this incident will help the country to address how the womens body has been so exploited through mainstream media and pop culture that we perceive a nursing baby and mother to be wrong. If you look across the world you will find that for many women in African countries, Mexico, Central, South America and elsewhere not only do they breastfeed in public without draping themselves but they also are not in a rush to cover themselves up again. If we as a country of people would acknowledge the positivity of breatfeeding and support mothers who are giving their babies the best nourishment possible, maybe we could shift our maturity and grow through our uncomfortable insecurities. Breasts are for breastfeeding.

Delta Airline is wrong. I believe she was removed from the flight becuase she refused to cover up with a blanket...from what I read the only one that could see her was her husband. Get real Delta, nursing a baby is a normal. natural function.

Kicking the woman and her infant off the plane is an exageration. Breastfeeding is a natural process and most of all a necessity for the infant. My 4 month old is having difficulties accepting the bottle so breastfeeding is the only way I have to feed her and keep her happy. I am going to fly in a month, should I be concerned?

Breasts are commonly shown, and depicted in various shapes and forms whether it be as tastefull as art,or as universally depicticted as a commonly accepted sexual medium for even basic cable. They are adknowledged for every thing other than what thay were originnaly made for.
If the case is that the shawl a mother did not wear, perhsps she likes to see that her infant is infact nursing and not suffucating under her biologically engorged breasts. I believe that there may be at least some new precedents set if not an impending class action law suit. antonia oregon

I think Delta airlines were wrong for kicking the breast feeding mother off the flight. I do not see why she should have to put a blanket over herself and the baby to feed the baby. With everything that is shown in movies and television that degrades and subjugates women and the clubs and magazine that cater to T&A what’s the problem. Most of the women I have seen breast feeding their babies are just as covered up as some of the shirts we see today. I think the flight attendant was out of line. My question is was it a male or female attendant that found it so offensive that they went to this extreme. At least the mother did not have to drink the baby’s food out of a bottle before she was allowed to travel on the plane.

Delta Airlines was TOTALLY wrong. We purport to be a nation of 'family values' yet 'family' is thwarted and sabbotaged by ignorance and over regulation.
There were probably more 'titties' / breasts exposed on the in flight movie.

Michele

if the kid would have been in his 20s yeah i could see them having an issue with that. this country is so backwards we have evolved to a new stone age.

try finding a show on tv that doesnt evolve around somebodys boobs. i hear countries like austrailia its common for women to go around topless, so then who cares? whats the big deal? they are for feeding little ones. here its all about porn.

for once someone was getting back to basics and doing something natural then gets punished for it.

A baby has as much or more right to eat when he needs to as anyone else. I wonder how the complainers would feel if they were told to eat in the restroom, or with a blanket over their head. No one has to stare or look while a mother breastfeeds, anymore than you have to watch someone chew with their mouth open. If it bothers you, look away. I traveled extensively with my children when they were babies, and breastfeeding helped their ears so they were not uncomfortable and crying on flights. I flew on several airlines, including Delta, and I found that the airlines from other countries, especially in Asia were very friendly and helpful. Delta was my least favorite and the least "mommy friendly."

The woman needed to be more respectful. Sex is natuaral also, but I don't want to see this im public, any more than people who engage in passionate necking on the street corner. Just asking for a little modesty is NOT OUT OF LINE. Delta did nothing wrong here. Nobody would argue the breastfeeding issue, but modesty is another matter. Sounds to me like the woman had a bad attitude to start with, or their wouldn't have been such a big issue made. Children don't starve because of one plane flight, bottled food for one flight won't kill anyone.

Breastfeeding mom's should get a life! No one is denying them their natural right to feed their children we are just asking them to be polite in public. I am tired of these women forcing images of their naked bodies on me. I can choose to go a museum and see art with nudity or choose to watch tv with exposed women but I cannot choose to go somewhere else when I am stuck on a plane. My rights are just as important as theirs! I don't want to see your breasts! COVER UP.

Oh, for heaven's sake. Anybody who has EVER breastfed an older infant, or even many younger ones, knows that they're people with minds of their own. Most of them will NOT stand for being covered in a stuffy hot blanket. Nursing is hard work for the baby. Babies often end up sweaty *without* being covered, and they'd be soaked in short order if they *were* covered. And then there's the whole question of recycled, re-breathed air under the blanket. Breathing CO2-heavy air is awful. How many adults choose to sleep completely under blankets with their faces covered up?

I would say the flight attendant was within reason to OFFER a blanket, in case the mother wanted one. However, to DEMAND it is to display a woeful ignorance of the working partnership that is breastfeeding, and that includes respecting the needs of the child....not just to eat, of course, but to breathe, and to see, and not to get overheated under a dirty, unwashed airplane blanket.

I have yet to meet a single nursing mother who willfully displays her breasts. It's true, sometimes people get flashed, because babies can be cantankerous, and some of them will POP off at inconvenient moments to have a look around, or to take a breather, or just to see mom react. The correct response to this is sympathy, pity, and a polite looking-away, not disgust and condemnation. And it is certainly not to insist the mother "cover up", which does nothing to address the underlying concern.

Connie said: "...Children don't starve because of one plane flight, bottled food for one flight won't kill anyone."

No, a child won't starve. but he might scream through the whole flight, and wouldn't that be jolly fun for the whole cabin?

Also, not all babies will take a bottle. The ensuing fight, attempting to force a hard plastic nipple into baby's mouth (which would IMO border on abusive behavior, repeatedly forcing something undesired and of unpleasant texture into a child's mouth), would cause large amounts of screaming which would be....jolly fun for the whole cabin! Yeah, give me some o DAT.

Who is to say who is more right or wrong over the other? What happened to working together to solve a problem? There are many variables in this situation that only those involved know. 'Was it the bullet, the gun, or the person that pulled the trigger that killed?'

This doesn't seem to be about food, but about a passenger refusing the directions of a flight representative. It's that attitude that will get a person ejected. There must be cooperation with the ones in charge while in the air. As long as the request is reasonable (and just covering up is reasonable), then order must be maintained or others will push the boundries and create more harm than good.

Delta was absolutely wrong for kicking her off of the plane. The only reason why breastfeeding would be offensive is because America has come to sexualize women's breasts. They are not sexual objects; they provide balanced nutrients for their children. There is simply no excuse for kicking her off the plane for feeding her child. However, this would not be such a big problem if she simply covered herself up.

Very inappropriate behaviour Delta Airlines. Breastfeeding is a completely natural and appropriate way to not only feed your baby, but also to comfort them. Babies do not know how to pop their ears when the cabin pressure changes, but nursing will let that happen and ease the discomfort. Wouldnt you rather a mom breastfeed her child than have bottles of unknown substance on the plane and a baby crying their head off from the pressure changes and adding tension to the other passengers?

It would be one thing to kick a woman off for flashing her breasts at other passengers, but sitting feeding her child is completely different.

One commented the issue was about not obeying a flight attendant. What right did the attendant have to tell her to stop feeding her child? Were they in rough airspace where the child could get dropped or hurt? Some flight attendants get a bit uppity and bossy when they have neither need nor should they have right to be so. The mother wasnt causing a disturbance or danger to anyone, and should have been left to finish feeding her child.

I support Delta's decision to ask this nursing mother to cover her breast while nursing. Indecent exposure is an issue that nursing mothers readily flaunt and ignore. I've nursed my children many years ago, only in a discreet manner that would not make anyone feel uncomfortable. Too bad other women who just "flop them out", don't seem to respect other peoples feelings, thinking or rights.

Delta was wrong to kick the breast feeding mom and her family off the flight. Delta owes her an appology. It is sad that we have so sexualized a womans breasts that we forget that breast feeding is what breasts were designed for. Breast milk is the perfect food for babies and provides immunity as well. Congratulations to all breastfeeding moms for doing what is best for their babies.

Delta Airlines was right when they kicked the woman off the airplane for not covering the baby while she breastfed. I thought that was totally appropriate. Mother's have to learn to use common sense. The Mother wasn't told she couldn't breastfeed, she was asked to please cover the baby.

You are asking the wrong question. The woman was NOT kicked off the plane for breastfeeding. She was removed because she refused to cover her breast with a blanket while breastfeeding. As a former flight attendant, our airline (not Delta) had a rule that breastfeeding mothers must cover themselves and the infant while breastfeeding since some passengers (muslims; luring males; teens, etc)might be offended by a breast being bared in public. This is an airline rule and the flight attendant did as she was trained. The breastfeeding woman was wrong.

Thrown off an airplane for breast-feeding her baby??? I'd sue the airline - AND that flight attendant - to the ground. As others on here have pointed out, breast-feeding is one of the most natural acts on earth, and has been for millennia. People who are offended by such things as the sight of women's breasts truly need to get a grip (figuratively speaking) and realize that there is nothing even remotely wrong with or bad about the human body.

Debra G.

PS ~ Despite their apology - most likely merely a feeble attempt at "damage control" - I will never fly Delta again.

Delta had the right to kick her off the plane. It was a simple request by the flight attentent. Businesses have to right to refuse service to anyone who does not comply with their regulations. Who cares if it's natural or not to breast. There are people in the world one prefer not to see a womans breast hanging out of her shirt wheather if there is a baby attached to it or not. It's common politness to cover yourself in public. Besides wouldn't that constitute as indecent exposure.

To say she was "kicked" off is to incite. If the male flight attendant was distracted he was right to remove the distraction.If the mother felt above taking directions from a uniformed crew member she should drive to her destination.

As a mother & a former flight attendant this subject quickly caught my attention.

So what is my opinion? What is the big deal? Mothers, COVER YOUR BREAST FEEDING on a plane! This mother was not told she could not feed her child - if they had, I would be irrate & on her side - No, she was asked to respect the rights of others & cover herself (& her child which was attached in the act of breastfeeding). It wasn't that long ago that a mother was expected to feed her child in the plane's bathroom - very unsanitary, not to mention difficult - those days are gone thankgoodness, placing a blanket over your breast & child is much easier & still respectful to others - a trait, that as a mother, I personally try to demonstrate to my children all the time.

On a legal note - if respecting other's isn't important to you - it would be illegal for me to sit topless on the plane, it would be illegal for my husband to expose himself on the plane, why then is it suddenly ok for me to expose myself in public so that my daughter can feed. It isn't.

Choose which ever arguement you prefer, Delta was 100% correct & this mother (who could have easily avoided being kicked off) was wrong.

- Sara

Gee...and they make breast pumps...why? Oh, yeah. So maybe you don't have to "whip it out" in public??? It won't kill the kid to take breast milk out of a bottle now and then.

I think Delta was wrong. It seems to be perfectly ok to display women's nude or semi-nude breasts around for the purpose of selling something (like cars, beer or clothing), but let a breast be seen for the purpose for which it was created...and all hell breaks loose.
2nd point however was that the breastfeeding woman really can have more consideration for other passengers and use a blanket.
The whole thing is Stupid

Mothers have the right to breast feed anywhere anytime!! Public workers should not be allowed to make a natural act of nurturing into something that should be hidden as if it's a dirty thing. If you don't like to see it...then turn your head. If YOU are feeling disqust by this, then you had better be truthful about your hang ups. Breastfeeding is not dirty, it's wonderful and beautiful and to be left alone.

Ok, I have a question... If its ok for a mother to "plop out" her breast to feed their children in public, why do feminist protest my right to watch this natural process?

Mothers have the right to breast feed anywhere anytime!! Public workers should not be allowed to make a natural act of nurturing between mother and child, into something that should be hidden as if it's a dirty thing. If you don't like to see it...then turn your head. If YOU are feeling disgust by this natural act of mother hood, then you had better be truthful about your hang ups. Breastfeeding is not dirty, it's wonderful and beautiful and to be left alone.

Delta was compleatly out of line. Breastfeeding is compleatly natural. People do it in public everywhere. If he brest was exposed i can understand asking her to cover he brest up while feeding but to kick her off the plane is ludicis. I have never herd something so stupid. I will never fly Delta again. They are on my black list for life.

These breast feeding moms accuse others of not being sensitive to the mother's right to breast feed their babies. However, aren't these same mothers being just an insensitive to the rights of individuals who would not like such activity occurring so openly? Why couldn't the flight passenger just cover up? Seriously, if the purpose of breast feeding is to feed the baby with breast milk, there are ways to prepare for this. And if for some odd reason the mother is opposed to pumping, or if there is some regulation in place against having bottled milk on a flight, I don't understand how having her cover up would hamper her function to breastfeed. Sure, she may not be as comfortable covered up, but as a passenger, I would not be comfortable if she were not covered up. Why should Delta succumb to her?

-Robert

This is the United States of America and not Africa.

Usually, breast feeding moms are very modest at respecting others rights. Most of the time I see blankets thrown over to cover the naked breast where the baby is feeding.

We've had singers on stage exposing their breasts and now I guess some breast feeding moms think they need to take this exposure to the air?!? My point being that I can turn off the T.V. or leave the theatre but by opening the door of the plane I put my life and the lives of others at risk. Therefore, I cannot remove myself or my family from from being exposed.

I do not believe that Delta Airlines should have appologised to the nursing mother or her family. Delta acted correctly by first asking the woman to simply cover up.

The woman was not thrown off the airplane for breast feeding her baby. She was removed for refusing to obey the rules. She CHOSE to ignore the rights of others and continue to expose herself. By doing this she was saying that her rights outway the rights of everyone else on the plane.

- Mike

I agree with Sara Rance and Saera (quoted) and Sara Rance, above.

I think Delta was within their rights to deny service if the woman was /refuseing/ to cover up with a bad attitude. However, if other passengers were not offended and asking the stewardess to do somthing, she should have been left alone. Delta should not be liable, but the flight attendant /might/ be. If the flight attendant made every reasonable attempt to rectify the situation and was treated badly by the mother, than the stewardess had all the right in the world to make her take a later flight.
I am a young man, and I don't enjoy seeing people with breasts being displayed lewdly, but I don't make a fuss when someone is feeding their child, as long as they are at least /trying/ to stay a little decent.

Posted by: Saera at November 21, 2006 02:00 PM
I support Delta's decision to ask this nursing mother to cover her breast while nursing. Too bad other women who just "flop them out", don't seem to respect other peoples feelings, thinking or rights.

Great point! To add to it, if its legal to take photos of anyone in public (for instance walking along the street) & feminist support the right of any mother to flip out her breast & feed, why is it that if I look or worse yet take a photo, I am considered a pervert? I don't protest when when others take my photo on the beach without my top on.

I would rather NOT see breast feeding on an airplane, or in public,
I was breast fed, my children were breast fed, BUT I would rather NOT see it happening, The women was asked to stop or cover up, refused and was kicked off the flight, GOOD, someone looking out for the rights of others for a change, HOORA for DELTA!!!!

First off, GET IT RIGHT PEOPLE, she was kicked off the plane for refusing to cover herself while breastfeeding, not for breastfeeding!

Second, I support a woman's right to breastfeed anywhere she wants. I support a woman's right to go topless on a beach. I support a woman's right to dance naked at a strip club. I support a woman's right to sell her body for prostitution. But in each of these cases, if its against the law (or airline's regulations) you do not have the right to do it there. If it is that important to do that, protest like a proper citizen, with your vote or dollar. Don't get yourself kicked off a plane, go crying to the media or get all your hypocritical breastfeeding friends together to break the law at the airport.

Inotherwords, GROW UP LADY!

A woman's body is a thing of beauty. We should have the right to be topless in public, just as a man has. However, just as a restaurant has those signs stating "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service", an airline has the right to refuse service to a breastfeeding mom who refuses to coverup.

Three cheers for Delta! No cheers for the "hypocritical breastfeeding friends" (as Nina put it)

In the interest of public saftey I vote that we all should follow this woman's example & go one step further. Airlines should require everyone to be naked when flying. That way, if you need to breastfeed who cares, at least I know you are not caring a knife or bomb.

Just my way of showing how silly this whole thing is. (although I must admit, I do like the thought of naked flight stewardesses)

Being around someone who is breast feeding makes me uncomfortable even when it's someone I know. I'm not saying they had a right to kick her off the plane, but I feel like there is a certain respect to fellow passengers that needs to be upheld. I believe a blanket could have been used to block the mother and baby without actually covering the baby. No matter how natural breast feeding is, there are limits to exposure. Breasts are natural, yet it is still considered indecent exposure for women to go topless in public. Same goes for any other private body part. They're all natural, but it doesn't mean it's ok to expose them.

So, not to be sick. But if woman has the right to breastfeed openly on a plane, does this mean I have the right to urinate into a bottle without leaving my seat? Its basically the same thing.

As a mother I have the right to breastfeed in public. I have the right to ask you not to stare. But I also have the responsiblity to not to expose other people's children (& husbands) to indecent exposure, especially when it is so easy to do so with a blanket.

Wrong.
Funny thing, when I fly, I'm usually asked, "would you like a blanket?"
Did the stew on this flight say, "please cover up"?
Funny how requests and orders differ according to sex.
I have witnessed many Mothers nursing and believe me, it is not a sexual expression. There's a big difference between nursing an unaware infant who needs nourishment and an adult who knows where to properly relieve himself. You cannot compare apples and oranges.
An apology from the Stew is due. Next up is the requirement of airlines to provide lactating flight attendants to nurse hungry babies in flight.

Let's get back to the basics. Women that want to BREST feed should be able to but NOT subject the rest of us to watch! What's next..........SEX is also natural.............Do we allow that a well? My opinion is these WOMEN want to show off more then "I'm feeding my baby".

I don't see a problem with breast feeding; In light of the recent restrictions on carrying liquids, I'd even applaud the woman for her ingenuity. What I have a problem with is the widespread belief that authority has the right to give orders that it has no authority to give.

I once nearly got tossed off a plane by a steward who insisted that I return my seat to an upright position *at once* prior to takeoff. The problem was, the seat latch was broken, making it utterly impossible to return it to the upright and locked position. The steward had absolutely no interest in listening to me explain this fact, and literally shouted over my attempts to do so.

Sanity eventually prevailed in the form of the plane's co-pilot getting involved and simply *asking* me why I was refusing to comply. Given that disobeying an airline steward is a felony in such a situation, I shudder to think what could have happened had the co-pilot not gotten involved.

Just because an airline rep orders you to do something, does not necessarily make them right, or ensure that it is even *possible* to comply. And what happens if the airline orders you to do something that is an outright felony if you comply?

Why is it that only the ugly mothers are the ones who like to breastfeed in public? Seriously, I don't mean to be disrespectful but even on the news article, all those mothers in the Portland airport were ugly & I don't think it had anything to do with extra weight gained during the past 9 months. It just always seems like the ugly women who object to half naked beautiful women in magazines, movies & TV are the same ones demanding the right to expose themselves, breastfeed in public & then to top things off, yell at anyone man who might notice.

Delta Airlines was right. There are a lot of natural processes that are just fine as long as they are done appropriatly. Sex, breastfeeding, urinating, sneezing...all of these are natural acts that everyone does, however when people partake in these activities, they should do so in a way that does not offend others. I dont want to see sex in public, I don't want someone sneezing in my face and I dont want to see a woman flip out a breast to feed her baby. In these cases you should get a room, sneeze into your hand or arm and COVER UP WITH A BLANKET. Don't people learn manners anymore?

Ok I have to comment on two very "interesting" posts:

A) Victor (in response to my comment 2 above his)
"I have witnessed many Mothers nursing and believe me, it is not a sexual expression. There's a big difference between nursing an unaware infant who needs nourishment and an adult who knows where to properly relieve himself."

My Response: So you believe urinating is a sexual expression? (P.S. You have "witnessed"? Didn't anyone ever tell you its not polite to stare? :)

B) Bergman at November 21, 2006 03:44 PM
"In light of the recent restrictions on carrying liquids, I'd even applaud the woman for her ingenuity."

My Response: Ingenuity? What ingenuity? The only difference is that she skipped the middleman, the bottle.

I think wrong woman have to breastfeed its just like air for us if little ones dont have milk they could die

As a breastfeeding mother myself who finds this issue to be abhorrant - breasts are designed to feed children - I think there is a more simple answer. This plane was in Vermont. Vermont's law states that a woman is allowed to breastfeed (no limitations on being fully covered) anywhere that woman is allowed to be with a child. Therefore, no matter anyone's personal opinion, the LAW states she has the right. Period.

Eric, I maybe cursed at for saying this but you make a very good point. I am also mother & while I would not say I am a model, I'm not bad to look at (or atleast my husband seems to appreciate me) & while I have five kids, I would never even think of breast feeding them in public.

I think wrong because Delta Airlines can't just do that to somone it's natural to Breastfeed

I think Delta owes the family an apology. I also breastfeed my infant, and while I am discreet in public, my baby sometimes will not nurse when covered up (how would you like to eat with a towel on your head?). If I had to choose between having a screaming infant and nursing without a blanket on the plane, I'd choose the latter. Flying with kids is difficult enough already - what we don't need is more airline personnel with God complexes.

I find it embarrassing to see a woman breast feeding in the natural. Covered up is OK. She was offered a blanket to cover up and refused.
The airline was in the right.

Two more responses:

A)Inanna

"This plane was in Vermont. Vermont's law states that a woman is allowed to breastfeed (no limitations on being fully covered) anywhere that woman is allowed to be with a child. Therefore, no matter anyone's personal opinion, the LAW states she has the right. Period."

My Response: Finnally, someone pro-exposed breastfeeding who made the effort to argue the case using what is most relevant, the law! My hat is off to you! However, I would still say:

1. Delta only asked her to cover up (therefore not breaking the law as you stated it does not state where to cover up or not, or even if the airline does or does not have the right to ask her to cover up).

2. There is nothing wrong with being consiterate of others (& covering up).

B) Miranda

"I think wrong woman have to breastfeed its just like air for us if little ones dont have milk they could die"

My Response: Huh? Don't mean to be rude, but please consider using commas, periods, etc. As far the little ones needing milk. Once again, the mother was kicked off the plan for refusing to cover up, not for breastfeeding. The kid could have still had lunch, only with only the table cloth.

I too am a mother & yes I have had troubles feeding with a blanket over my breasts, but in those cases, theres nothing wrong with getting under the blanket with your breast & child. Delta was right.

What about my right as a mother to keep my son from being exposed to naked women until after he is a little older? Last year we went on a trip & after he saw two people being a little too affectionate it took several months to stop the subject from comming up at the worst times. As a mother, I would like this lady would have understood that. Shame on her for not covering up.

As a breastfeeding mom, it is difficult for my baby to get a good latch and maintain that latch when covering my baby with a blanket. The lady has a right to breastfeed however she needs to in order to feed her baby the healthiest food choice there is. Delta airlines employees need to respect that.

I'll just add on to what Nikki was pointing out, only this is with my husband. Don't get me wrong, he is a great guy, but I don't feel comfortable with a stranger sitting across the aisle breastfeeding. He is a man & men naturally find themselves staring at women's breasts, he can't help himself. As his wife, I am ok with this but I am not ok when a natural instinct to look causes him to get into a situation where the real offender (the uncovered breastfeeder) not only causes the issue (without reguard for others) but then will publicly humilate my husband because she caught him looking. Publicly breastfeeding moms, you can't have it bothways!

Whatever happened to manners? If the kid can't latch on or doesn't like the blanket, do what we used to do when I was breastfeeding my kids, use the airplane's bathroom. Its a bit difficult, but so is being a mom.

I originally came from Brazil, a country that is not as concerned about covering a woman's breasts. But even in my country, we try to be respectful of others. It seems to me, in America, it is not respectful to openly breastfeed in a plane. I don't necessarily agree with this, but it is the custom. So I would say, Delta was correct to ask her to cover up.

I think Delta did the right thing and I also believe
most people agree with them. It's not difficult to
at LEAST cover yourself up - there is no reason to
be tacky and distasteful.

Delta was within its rights to ask the woman and her family to leave. The woman was asked to cover her breast, and only after she refused was she removed from the aircraft. With a captive group, no one who wishes to remove themselves from that situation can walk away when they see a woman breast feeding.

If she can breastfeed in public without covering up, then I should be allowed to go topless. Afterall, its only natural.

Breastfeeding is important, but so are manners. Where were her manners? Doesn't she want to set a good example for her children?

Good for Delta - There is not reason not to be discrete. You can already breastfeed in public but
you don't have to make a big issue out of it and most moms I know agree! Give me a break!

This is a no-brainer. Use the towel or use the restroom. Don't sit there acting all high & mighty while you try to use the excuse of feeding your child to steal my man's eyes. I think one of the previous writers had it right, only the ugly mothers refuse to coverup & this is a way for them to get the public attention they can't get otherwise.

Are there ANY other countries besides ours that object to breastfeeding in public? What is the matter with us? We seem to have everything hanging out except what is supposed to be, such as nursing mother's breast.

Be polite. You can feed without being rude. I am a mother of 4 & you would never know that I had breastfeed my children in public until they were each 2yrs old. Why wouldn't you know, I was polite & discrete.

Either let us pose topless in men's magazines or keep your breasts covered feminist. Man I am sooooooooo sick & tired of these sorry a&%, European loving hypocrites. Its not a matter of whether its wrong or right its a matter of being respectful for others. At least when I pose nude, its not on a plan filled with children!

The stewardess was absolutely right. The woman was merely asked to cover herself and refused, the situation and the outcome was totally in her control but she decided to make an issue. There are several 'natural' activities that people with some sophistication don't feel compelled to expose to the public.

Get this right people. Delta is not a public place of gathering. It is private. It owns the airlpanes just as we own our homes. We make the rules for people who come to our homes just as they make them for their customers.
If she can't live by the rules, she should get out.

That woman did not have a right to be onboard that aircraft if she couldn't do what she was asked, to cover up during breast feeding or use the restroom.

Kick her off !

I am not sure about the posing nude thing but I agree with Susan. I too am sick & tired of everyone screaming about their individual rights to breastfeed in public, etc. What about my rights? I'll turn off the TV, leave the restaurant or whatever it takes to protect your rights & not have to be exposed or expose my children to your "freedom of speach & expression" but when I am on an airplane with my family, you need to be a little more considerate of my rights to keep my children from being exposed to something I do not want them exposed to yet.

Ok, plan & simple. If you have the right to expose yourself so little timmy can eat, then I have the right to take a photo & post it on the internet so I can make some $ & eat.

Grow up people, an airplane is not a democracy. Its a private vehical & the airlines have the right to put any rules in place they see fit, you in turn have the right to choose another airline. For myself, I think I WILL BE FLYING DELTA FROM NOW ON! HORRAY FOR DELTA!

Cover up, where are your manners?

Delta airlines are so wrong
because it is a natural thing
and the care of the children comes first. The Delta airlines should not kick her off! The Delta Airlines has stupid rules!!!

We totally support Delta Airline's. Have some consideration and dignity, cover up!

Delta had the right to kick her off if she wouldn't cover up. Delta would ask a person to leave if they got up to use the restroom and started to pull their pants down along the way. Those that say breast feeding is natural are right, but using the restroom is also. So why not just cover up and give us all a break.

This sounds so familiar! 23 years ago on TWA, I asked a passenger to cover up or move. She was in the front row of coach during boarding, her shirt and bra open and both her breasts totally exposed, infant suckling, it's body tucked under the right breast, so it sat on top of the child. Passengers stopped cold in first class at the spectacle, which is what I think she wanted to be. Many people complained. I personally think it is rude to expose any private part of your body in a public place where others are not expecting it, like a thong bathing suit at the beach.

Our passenger did finally cover herself when a F/A nurse on the flight told her how dirty airplanes are and offered her a F/C linen. The carpets have mold, fecal matter, etc. and the air is not filtered well enough to wash it of many airborne germs and viruses. Every time someone walked past she was exposing her breasts to infection as well as her child. We wont even discuss the learing eyes of the man rubbing himself and the discomfort of those sitting near him! The best place for a nursing mother is in a window seat away from passers by, with a light cover like a F/C linen or light blanket over her.

I'd like to know if the woman became belligerent? Was she or those in her party verbally or physically abusive or threatening. Did she interfere with other passengers or the crew's duties? These are crimes and would be good cause for her removal.

I nursed my child in public and often no one even knew she was there. I cherished that closeness and wouldn't want to share it with a bunch of strangers.

I appreciate that all these ladies were there to back up and support the nursing mom kicked off the Delta flight. I was only dissapointed that when I saw the video of their nurse-in they were all covered. I was hoping for a show. Come on really it wasn't about nursing it was about modesty and decency in public. Delta did nothing wrong except for discplining and not backing their own employee.

My wonderful wife breast-fed our two children until each was about one year old. She fed them many times in public. It would NEVER have occurred to her do so without first covering up discreetly with a blanket.

Many of the above comments seem to think the woman was not allowed to breast feed her child. All she was asked to do was cover up a bit. Delta was right on the mark.

Why is modesty a lost virtue?

Delta was right. All she had to do wasy use a towel over the baby, sorry, I dont see anything so harsh about that alternative....clearly some people with children think they are the center of the world...

If women weren't meant to nurse their babies, why else would they have breasts? Female mammals have breasts.
Someone on Delta had a dirty mind and I hope the young woman sues the airline for humiliating her in such a disgusting manner. Breast feeding is NOT porno, it's the natural way of feeding an infant mammal, be it a human baby, a kitten, puppy or any other warm blooded animal. Get your minds out of the gutter!

I don't believe Delta was in the wrong for asking the women nursing her baby to cover herself. We do have laws about "indescent exposure". I nursed my kids for their better health. It's a womens' perrogative; however, some ethics and modesty and "public" common sense should be used. Some folks are so self-absorbed at times.

I believe in breast feeding, but I also believe in being a little discrete about it. Although it is very natural, some people feel very uncomfortable being near a woman with her boob out of her blouse. Why not just cover up and make everyone happy, including the child that wants to be fed.

I don't know what all the fuss is about. Last week I flew (on Delta & then United) with my baby & he was hungry, but unlike this woman I was prepared. I brought an empty bottle & a breast pump, told the stewardess what I was upto, went to the restroom, filled the bottle, returned to my seat & fed my son. Sure I did get a couple of stares because of the bottle but I didn't offend anyone & since I let the stewardess know what was going on I didn't have a problem.

Someone else said this lady was using her ingenity, I say she wasn't even using her brain. It wasn't hard to find a method to please everyone, including my picky son.

Hey I love a breast, I support you for wanting to make sure your kid is breastfeed, but did you ever think of the germs on a plane? The air, floor, etc are covered with crap that even as an adult makes me sick. What about your baby?

If you have to feed them, bring a steralized pump & bottle like the gal above (Patty) did. Its not just polite, its safer for your kid.

Now if she was flying Hooters Air this would have never been a problem :)

Absolutely Wrong....it is Normal, Natura. Healthy. What a ridiculous double standard in this country......No Delta flying in this extended family.....I hope Delta gets hit with a deep pocket lawsuit.....bz

This is absolutely out of line. A womans baby, and her lactating breasts are HERS. Her comfort is her own. Anyone who agrees with her removal needs to look in the mirror. It is the mothers choice whether or not to put a blanket over their babies face, this can be traumatic to a child who needs the natural interaction with the mother during the act of breat feeding. Again, the mothers discretion, not the stewardess, other passengers or the airline! What does kicking the woman and her family off the plane tell her other children? Is this an apporpoiate message for our children? Welcome to America, Land of the Free..that is unless somebody else decides they want to control you! This is an issue of other peoples comfot level, which is their own problem, not the problem of a mother breastfeeding her baby on an airplane.

Breast feeding is not porn, nor is it socially acceptable in most of the United States, nor is it allowed (without cover) on the PRIVATE planes owned by Delta. These planes, much like someone's private house or car are ran according to the rules established by their owners (Delta). If you don't want to follow these rules, fly another airline.

Delta was WRONG! That is the puspose of breasts. Any person who can not accept this can LOOK THE OTHER WAY!

WRONG.Breasts were created for nursing not stuffing with silcone to buldge out of tops that is very offensive along with the butt cracks and pubic hairs we are forced to view everywhere.Get real Americans "morality of a thing of the past"
What's popular is vulgar and disgusting.

Reply to message bellow:

Just another example of "My rights are more important than yours." No one said she couldn't feed her child. No one denies that for some children the experience of the blanket might not be 100% ideal. No one said life was fair. An adult must balance the rights of one with the rights of the many - in otherwords, don't be a selfish brat, be polite!

Posted by: Julia Faulkner at November 21, 2006 05:51 PM

This is absolutely out of line. A womans baby, and her lactating breasts are HERS. Her comfort is her own. Anyone who agrees with her removal needs to look in the mirror. It is the mothers choice whether or not to put a blanket over their babies face, this can be traumatic to a child who needs the natural interaction with the mother during the act of breat feeding. Again, the mothers discretion, not the stewardess, other passengers or the airline! What does kicking the woman and her family off the plane tell her other children? Is this an apporpoiate message for our children? Welcome to America, Land of the Free..that is unless somebody else decides they want to control you! This is an issue of other peoples comfot level, which is their own problem, not the problem of a mother breastfeeding her baby on an airplane.

Reply to the message I placed below mine:

My privates where intended to make women pregnate & for urinating. Based on your logic, this is the ir purpose. Any person who can not accept this can LOOK THE OTHER WAY!

Grow up lady! No man (or woman) is an island unto themself.

Original message: Posted by: Sally at November 21, 2006 06:01 PM

Delta was WRONG! That is the puspose of breasts. Any person who can not accept this can LOOK THE OTHER WAY!

Comments like this is why people think America's best days are gone. Why young people have given up. I truely hope you do not actually believe this & if you do, you do not act on it. Yes we have rights, but we also have responsiblities.

Posted by: Susan at November 21, 2006 06:02 PM

Get real Americans "morality of a thing of the past"

I feel bad for your children if you truely believe these words. Not only is morality still important but without it, we cannot survive.

Posted by: Susan at November 21, 2006 06:02 PM
Get real Americans "morality of a thing of the past"

Delta overreacted in a big way but...a nursing mom should exercise modesty. There are those who will find
(public)breastfeeding offensive. Be courteous and keep a large scarf handy when you are not at home.

Delta overreacted in a big way but...a nursing mom should exercise modesty. There are those who will find
(public)breastfeeding offensive. Be courteous and keep a large scarf handy when you are not at home.

Breast feeding should be acknowledge as every mothers right. This flight attendant should be more concerned for the saftey of passengers, and take a class on discrimination before working with the public again.

Delta is wrong. You will rarely ever see a womans breast when she is feeding her baby, but I see womans breasts hanging out of their low-cut shirts all over the place !!!!
Should we make these woman cover their shirts with a blanket ??

A breast feeding mother should not be asked to cover up that's ridiculous, why don't they ask people to sneeze with a towel over their heads. If it makes someone uncomfortable they can look away, or go to therapy for some mental help.

Good for Delta !!! Yea, cover it up !

I have breastfed all five of my children, two of whom didn't stop breastfeeding until they were five years old. I can see both sides of the story, however many laws have been passed in many states that state that breastfeeding is not "public indecency". A lot of babies will not tolerate being covered with a blanket while nursing. A lot of babies will not tolerate bottle nipples. None of my children would. If a bottle isn't introduced to a baby early on (like before 8 weeks of age), they typically will not take a bottle no matter how hard you try.

However, have any of these nursing moms, specifically the one who was thrown off the plane heard of nursing clothes? My entire wardrobe for the last 16 years has been nothing but shirts specifically made for nursing discreetly. Yes, occasionally my shirt was played with by my kids while they were nursing, so people got flashed. For the most part though, no one knew I was breastfeeding, unless they were staring me down.

So, get a couple of nursing shirts. Nurse that way. Don't give your baby a bottle if you don't want to. Let the airline know that most states do have laws that allow breastfeeding in public, and most public places are defined as "where the public gathers". Well, if you're on a plane, the public is gathered there...even if you have to pay to be there. :)

Yes. You are normally required to do what airline personnel request. The simple request to put a blanket over the baby rather than breast feed her baby "in your face" should have been an easy thing for the mother to accommodate.

Of course that flight attendant was wrong. Even if someone was complaining that woman had a right to take care of her child.

Women can make a bottle of breastmilk to take on the flight.

Well it seems you hit on a hot topic. This is an issue near and dear to a lot of woman, and men for that matter. The medical evidence is in and it is overwhelming breastfeeding is important for the health of the baby and the mother. I believe Delta was in the wrong to remove the mother from the flight period. I am glad the attendent was reprimanded. The only way I can see the attendent being in the right is if the mother removed her shirt and bra completely exposing her breasts. I am glad to see families standing up for their babies because this really is an important social issue. Companies have become family friendly, and so should Delta.

We should all be appalled when a woman doesn't breastfeed. Woman who don't care enough about their babies to breastfeed should have to hide their formula bottles. Be proud of the healthy life you're giving your baby. Breast is best.

the airline personnel did nothing wrong and should have been promoted or given a raise. There are a lot of natural things humans don't do in public which is what separates us from the animals. Farting is one that offends people in public and I would ask you to go to the rest room please. would you protest at the airport. Get real ladies if you cant pump your breast at home and bring it in a bottle please cover it. I don't care to see it. Is putting a blanket over it so hard or are you just bored and have nothing better to do than protest at the airport and make a spectacle of yourselves, or did you just want to get on the news. Get a LIFE

The folks at Northwest must have been weaned at gunpoint!

Get a life, people. If you have a 'problem' with breastfeeding in public, figure out what is off about your disgust factor. We call that projection in the counseling field. Deal with your own shame issues.

Breastfeeding is a private bonding time between a mother & her child. It should not be displayed to everyone. Call me old fashion but if you must do it in public, respect it & coverup.

This is all so simple. Breastfeeding mothers can wear oversized blouses or blouses specifically designed for privacy breastfeeding, I know that is what I used on my kids.

I don't agree with those who said women shouldn't breastfeed in public but do as your mothers did, with some grace & dignity.

I think Delta was totally wrong in ejecting a mother for not covering up while breastfeeding. A baby covers most of the breast while nursing, and, with most breastfeeding mothers, it can be difficult to tell whether a baby is feeding or sleeping. Of course, as others have pointed out, babies often take a break or look around, but any mother I've seen has been as discreet as possible about it. Also, with airline seating as it is, it would be very difficult for anyone to notice what's going on, unless they're really making a point of looking.
Furthermore, to liken breastfeeding a baby to a woman or a man going topless, or to a man whipping out his penis, is really missing the point of the true function of breasts: to feed and nourish a baby in the most healthy way possible.
Additionally, expressing concern for someone's possible religious affiliation is to forget that in most countries in the world, mothers breastfeed their babies, and often do so for several years. And I think a religious person could be far more upset by the dress code of many young women than they would be of a mother doing the most natural and healthy thing for her baby.

I am all for public breast feeding, it is a natural act and process of life but just as mothers are demanding respect for breast feeding they should also reciprocate and give respect to those around them by being descrete. I do not believe they should hide or have go to a private room but they should throw a blanket over their shoulders out of respect to others comfort level just as they want it for their own. Compramise.

I'm a mom, I breastfeed, I coverup either using a small blanket or a nursing blouse. Its just good manners & as a mother its important we demonstrate those manners for our children.

As a breastfeeding mother I applaud Delta airlines. I applaud them because they recognize the importance of breastfeeding children & provided this mother with an option of covering up with a blanket. Now yes, some children do not like the blanket but as a mom its up to me to ALWAYS demonstrate to my children the importance of showing the same respect that I am requiesting of those around me. For those moms that do not see this open your eyes its 2006, not 1968. Its called a society, not your personal kingdom.

The negative comments must be coming from bottle babies. Everyone knows breastfed babies love the natural. A breast feeding a baby brings out the humanity in me. It takes you back to your roots. "Look, that was me at one time". What could be more natural?

DELTA AIRLINES WAS TOTALLY WRONG TOO FORCE A MOTHER WHO WAS FEEDING A LITTLE BABY.THE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE AND A CHILD HAS EVERY RIGHT TOO EAT OR BE FED WHEN HUNGRY WHERE EVER THEY ARE .WHY WAS DELTA SO COLD AND CRUEL WOULD THEY RATHER THE BABIES GET UNDERFED ?
MY LOVE AND SUPPORT GOES OUT TOO ALL LOVING MOTHERS AND THERE BABIES HAPPY THANKSGIVINGS TOO ALL YOU LOVING FAMILIES.AND EXTRA LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU ALL MILITARY PERSONEL WHO DO SO MUCH FOR OUR COUNTRY .
HAPPY THANKSGIVINGS TOO ALL

Wow, I'm ripping my hair out reading these replies. Only a few had it right. SHE WAS NOT KICKED OFF FOR BREAST FEEDING. SHE WAS KICKED OFF FOR REFUSING THE VALID REQUEST OF THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT. There are those that will say that the flight attendants request was not valid. Anonymous had a good point, this is just another example of "My rights are more important than yours." All of our rights are slowly being taken away. Deal with it, adapt and overcome, or go live under a rock. Divided, we are falling.

I didn't see the protest of breast feeding mothers, but if one of the posts was correct and they had themselves covered, doesn't that defeat the point of what they are protesting?

Opps, I forgot to add something. Until, I developed a mysterous nerve disorder from a anthrax vaccination still in experamental stages at time, I was signed up and ready to die for freedom.(So ready some of my things got shipped to Iraq before they told me I couldn't go.) Tho no longer in the service, I would still die for freedom. So don't get me wrong when I say to deal with rights slowly being taken away. It's selfish people that are causing rights to get stripped. Don't forget how many people have died and will die so that some one has the right to breast feed in public, and another has the right to ask them to cover up. One has the right to refuse, the other has the right to throw her off.

From what was reported, the woman's breast was not uncovered and her husband was between her and the rest of the plane. From experience, this means there is no view of the breast. The airlines was totally out of line on this one and I am glad to hear they have taken care of talking to the employees involved. Now they need to give the woman, her husband, and their baby a public apology and roundtrip tickets to anywhere.

This goes back to an age old problem of people not minding their own damm business. Listen the kid has got to eat and one that small says when I'm hungry I'm hungry

Breatfeed if that is your preference - just Cover the beast when feeding - have respect for others around you!!

Manners, manners, manners. Thats all I have to say.

"Doing what is natural" & doing what is in good taste...are not always the same. Basic modesty & respect for others is what it comes down to.
The mother had neither. If she had had either of the above, no one would have noticed what she was doing! I am all for the needs of the baby, but if she were asked to cover herself & would not, then she was just brazenly exposing herself & deserved what she got. I say A+ for the attendant who took a stand on decency--something we seem to have lost touch with in this "free" country of ours. One freedom ends when it infringes upon the freedom of others.

HOW DARE DELTA REPREMAND THE STEWARDESS! She should be rewarded for putting up with a VERY unreasonable passenger. I was on that flight & could not believe how rude, crude & insulting these people were to her. All she asked was for the mother to place a blanket or towel over the breast so that nobody could see. The stewardess was polite and very respectful. This mother set a TERRIBLE example for her children.

To borrow the words of Anonymous, this was just another case of "My rights are more important than yours." I don't know about anyone else, but I am getting a bit tired of this kind of attitude.

Lt. Kathy Cinclare

I agree with the Lt. This is "just another case of my rights are more important than yours." and I too am sick & tired of it.

All this lady had to do was try to cover up a little bit more. Is that really that much to ask? If she & other mothers are going to ask us not to stare, I think she can take the extremely difficult & oh so humiliating steps of placing a towel over her breast & feeding child. Lets face it people, like it or not, we are all on this planet together, we are all Americans. Lets start respecting others & looking like it.

Finally, some common sense!

I couldn't have said it better, "I agree with the Lt. This is 'just another case of my rights are more important than yours.' and I too am sick & tired of it."

Breastfeed your child, just do it with some dignity & respect for others before you demand others to respect your privacy in a public setting.

if you want to breast feed stay at home or put it in a bottle.people have little common sence today or respect for other people.please grow up.......

While i would be slightly uncomfortable being near someone breast feeding (as i'm very attracted to breasts), I feel that its a womans right to choose how she feed her baby... if its breast feeding then go for it... just try to be a tad respectful of others in the area (go to the back or something?)

The problem that extends to is that the Western World has a hangeup on nutity even partial nutity when it even comes to most natural act, breast feeding a infant. I am pretty sure thats' what God intended for a woman to do is just that!

But on the other hand, the western world doesn't have a problem with "partial birth abortions" and we do with breast feeding.

What is wrong with picture?

Delta shouldn't kicked her off the flight.

My wife and I just had our second child,so I feel that I can relate. if delta doesnt want mothers breastfeeding in public than they should provide some sort of privacy curtain for mothers, why not, arent we the P.C. nation...we bend over backwards for everyone else, why not mothers and children. They shouldnt have kicked her off the plane. Im already aware that someone at some point will bring up the restroom, my question to you is, do you eat in yours?

OK, so as ive continued reading some more of these arguments, im forced to ask.....how many of you have been on a plane? The seating is narrow and highbacked...the only people who would see anything would be the ones across from her and they would need to be looking directly at her....this is a silly discussion. Diversity in our culture is fine and well, but at what point do we say enough is enough and finally decide that the 5 or 6 people who always have something to whine and complain about are the ones making so many laws, that I get nervous in my own house. The lady was in the right..I dont care if you are a flight attendant, or Delta airlines Lawyer. Quit being so prudish, yes this country was founded by puritans, but, I highly doubt any of you on this blog can lay claim to such a haughty title.

It was totally wrong what the airline did to the poor mother who is naturally raising her baby.
Breast feeding should not be regarded as a threat to anyone. Who ever ordered her to leave due to being a mother ought to have their head check out.

That airline in generally are filled with not so nice stewards anyways. My experience traveling with them. I get the feeling that they really don't want to be nice or deal with you at all.

They lost the costumer service attitude a long time ago. They are not nice Stewards anywhere. Not one.

Offensive, adjective: characterized by attack; aggressive
Repulsive, adjective: causing repugnance
Repugnance, noun: intense aversion
Aversion, noun: a strong feeling of dislike
Bigot, noun: person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.

Offensive behavior in public:
-- Sneezing into the open air, thus sharing your illness with others.
-- Using a public toilet, then leaving the bathroom without washing your hands.
Has anyone ever been expelled from a restaurant or airplane for ANY of those things?

Repulsive behavior in public:
Hmm, this is a big category. Since people choose what they like and dislike, things in this category vary tremendously from one person to another. Let’s start with some things that are generally repulsive to “most people”:
-- Nose picking
-- Chewing with one’s mouth open
-- Scratching one’s self in public
-- Burping
-- Farting
-- Body odor
Has anyone ever been expelled from a restaurant or airplane for ANY of those things?

Now, let’s get to the so-called offense of breastfeeding in public. Can you imagine, in your wildest imaginings, how a mother could possibly harm someone else by breastfeeding her child in public? Okay, maybe an ignorant bigot who hates the very idea of a baby sucking on a breast sees the mother breastfeeding, is unable to look away and mind his own business, and subsequently has a heart attack, and falls down dead. But really, would that be the fault of the breastfeeding mother, or the fault to McDonald’s? It has to be one of those two options, right? Because everyone knows it could not possibly be the fault of the bigot -- for being a bigot to begin with.

Now, my point:

If someone is so ignorant of basic human biology that they have a strong dislike for the way that a human baby is NORMALLY FED – by drinking his mother’s milk from his mother’s mammary gland by sucking on her nipple – and would prefer for that baby to drink the milk from a cow’s breast, in a plastic bottle with a fake silicon nipple, then he ought at least to have the guts to admit that he finds it repulsive.

It’s time to stop letting ignorant bigots get away with foisting their problem on us by saying that WE are doing something offensive. What’s offensive is to threaten, scold, harass, expel someone for feeding a baby in the normal way. The anti-breastfeeding people are the offensive ones. We’re just repulsive -- to ignorant bigots.

And, ignorant bigoted Vivian, yes, urinating is natural, just like breastfeeding. But drinking milk is not the same as excreting wastes. Moron.

Tracy Dower

woman who breastfeed should be considerate of the people around them and cover up when they are in the presence of strangers. ( I never showed my breasts while feeding my children in a public place.)

Lets face it this story is not about feeding poor hungry children. It’s about morality. We all agree that breastfeeding is as natural as breathing, however some women, lacking a moral compass use this as an excuse to be an exhibitionist. It’s easy to drape a baby blanket over your shoulder when you feed in public. Perhaps if enough breasts were seen, you might think we would all become desensitized just like the onslaught of nudity we have to endure on television, magazines, Internet and even billboards. Get a clue, men look and some lust. America is a society in serious moral decline. Where do we draw the line? If you’re an atheist, your morality is relative. If you believe in God, you have a moral guidebook, the Bible. And guess what? That's where American values were formed. We were once "One Nation Under God" and we can be again, if we wake up.

this is what happens when laws are based on Moral Values but conservitive Christans like Lutherans and Methodost. At least when the lady was showing here breast she can actully flush out the Muslum Basterds that have screwed up this country's airline industry. 3/4 of this world has no propblem with this expect the Americans and middile easterns hell. We might as well start passing out Korans. if we cannot feel comfrotable with own or some one elses body. if you dont like what you see turn the other way.I dont like the way ugly people look, I can't tell them to cover thier head or tell them how offiensive thir face looks to me.....

This is what happened to my daughter 2 night ago on AIR TRAN:
Here is what she was using to cover herself: http://www.ellabellabee.com/
If you click on any of the fabric swatches or pictures you'll see the nursing cover.

Wednesday, December 6
Nightmare experience on my flight home
Last night I was on an AirTran flight 402 from Baltimore to Atlanta, an approximate 1 hour, 30 minutes. I sat in row 10F in the middle seat.

I boarded the plane, got settled in my seat (I had a whole row to myself) and played with my 8 month old daughter for a bit. When most of the people had boarded, and we were getting ready to go, I took out my nursing cover (one that I made which has a fabric strap behind my neck and a rigid neckline so it allows me to see her) and started to breastfeed her beneath it. I'm not wholly comfortable nursing in public in such a confined space with people around, so I use my cover all the time to help me be discreet, plus it helps keep Ella focused. Not even to mention the recent press about the lady who got kicked off a Delta/Freedom Air plane for breastfeeding.

A few minutes before takeoff, a flight attendant tapped me on the shoulder and told me to take off my nursing cover and to stop breastfeeding, because "holding a baby like that" on a plane is against the rules. I told her that I'd never heard that before, and that hadn't ever been my previous experience on the airline the three previous instances I've flown with them with my baby. I just nodded and continued to nurse E, because I knew she wasn't going to come back during takeoff. She needs to suck to help the pressure in her ears, and she was also quite hungry.

I thought that removing my cover had to do with them needing to see my hands or something, but the lady directly across the aisle from me was covered head to knees in a fur jacket, and the guy in front of her had an ominous looking hoodie jacket on that extended about a foot over his face. I didn't know what difference it made if my baby is covered or not when practically that entire lady's body was covered, and the other guy's face was covered.

A little while later after the seatbelt sign had turned off, a different flight attendant tapped me and said "Ma'am, you have to take off that "harness", it's against FAA rules and AirTran's rules." I said that I worked for the FAA for two years and had never heard that rule before, and she then said that it was AirTran's rule. I said "I am *breastfeeding* my baby underneath this cover, would it be different if I used a regular blanket instead?" I was willing to use it if it would make them happy.

I did show the FA that it was not a sling or harness by picking up the bottom. I told them it was just a blanket with a strap at the top.

She didn't answer, but went back, motioned to another attendant and came back a few minutes later and said to "Never mind, don't worry about it." However at this point I had several rows of people looking at us wondering what the heck was going on. It was so embarrassing.

So, I thought everything was over and done with, though I was upset.

Just before the captain announced we were to land, the first flight attendant tapped me yet again and said "Ma'am, you need to remove the "harness" for landing." I said "No thanks." At this point I'm thinking that there was miscommunication between the two attendants, since the second told me not to worry about it.

She said "You HAVE to remove your "harness" for landing, we already told you that." I replied that it wasn't a harness, it was a nursing blanket, and I'm breastfeeding my child. She said "You need to remove it." I was sick of the harassment, and I told her no.

She said "Ma'am, we CANNOT LAND THE PLANE (she made sure to say this nice and loudly so that others could hear) unless you take it off!"

I asked her if she was joking, and she said she wasn't, and that she was going to talk to the captain about it. My heart is pounding, I'm terribly upset now because I'm just trying to discreetly feed my daughter and help her poor ears.

The second flight attendant came back and told me that the captain said I must remove it because it was a safety issue, and that if we had a crash landing, my cover could "crush" my child. (I am not making this up.)

At this point I just totally gave up because I really didn't want to cause any problems for anyone else. People are looking at us, I took off my cover, put myself back together while trying not to burst into tears. They effectively made me stop nursing Ella.

As I left the plane, the two attendants made sure to say in a sing-songy voice "Have a great night, Ma'am!" Unfortunately I couldn't leave the jet way because I was waiting for my stroller to be given me, so I had to endure their stares, and those of all the other exiting passengers while waiting for it. I called Ian, and he could immediately sense there was something wrong, because I had tears in my voice.

I can honestly say this is the worst flight I've ever had, the worst customer service I've ever had, and one of the more humiliating experiences of my entire life.

Here's one more vote for Delta. Breast feeding should be a private matter.

Hi...i just wanna say about this whole issue is that i happen to be 100%against breastfeeding in public because i find this dirty behaviour to be revolting no differently than if someone were to urinate in public or have sex in public. Public breastfeeding is a primative behaviour which shows that we are not much different than Animals, we as a society needs to stop abandoning common sense that public breastfeeding is indecent behaviour and quit looking at this whole issue as womens rights political correctness Bull****. The trouble with our society is that its too liberal, we live in a liberal free society that teaches us as a new generation to be rude and impolite and to make it ok to be rude and impolite which is what public breastfeeding is. A liberal society is miseducating a new generation to socially accept this indecent, lowclass, primative behaviour to where we are becoming more like ignorant savages and plus lose a civilized society with no moral values. These liberal womens rights lactivist are doing everything they can to indoctrinate a new generation in the 21th century of the bad ways which we should look at as social mores. Lactivist are a poison to this country and they set a bad example for all breastfeeding stay-at-home-moms, the ideal traditional conservative breastfeeding mother, usually stays at home with her children to breastfeed, or to show some class by breastfeeding her baby in a restaurant bathroom to show some honor and respect for all restaurant customers. Any women who has class would do that, public breastfeeding needs to be banned in all 50 states to make America a decent more civilized country with good moral values since the pilgrims came out here. Public indecent exposure such as breastfeeding in public is eroding our society, which is contributing this moral breakdown in our society. A society who believes in manners and decency would and can make a difference by signing petitions to have laws passed to make public indecent exposure illegal such as public breastfeeding by getting involved in the Republican convention. Public breastfeeding is a ugly, shameful, dirty, sexually explicit act that makes all women look bad and makes the ideal traditional conservative breastfeeding mother look bad. Public indecent exposure is whats hurting the moral fabrics of America’s values , because it used to be at one time or a nother that breastfeeding was done behind closed doors and remained a mystery. People knew about breastfeeding back in the 1920’s, 1930’s, 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s era, it just wasnt veiwed out in public to push it in our face sort of thing which gave women a sense of dignity, decency and class. I dont have a problem at all with breastfeeding or nursing in public, i only support nursing in public, but only with the acception of a babybottle, just not THERE KIND of nursing in public of how Lactivist want it to be as an arrogant push-it-in-your-face-boobs sort of attitude. Like i already said before, lactivist dont set good examples for every breastfeeding women out there, they are bad role models for every idealistic conservative, traditional stay-at-home breastfeeding mother out there. Lactivist are hateful (make-trouble-for-you-people) bunch of scumbag militant groups that have really made a big emb