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On My Soapbox: Breastfeeding and Gay Marriage

I’m off to my mother in law’s for the weekend for a graduation and Mother’s Day.

But before I go,

Two things:

Number One THIS:

*courtesy of Time Magazine*

Now. Really.

I mean REALLY Time magazine?

I understand the point was to get our attention, but DAMN!

You hear so much about the Mommy wars out there and this is just fueling the fire.

Yes, attachment parenting is a controversial thing in some circles.

Breastfeeding past the age of one is controversial in the US, let alone breastfeeding when your child is 3 years old and standing on a chair to get to your breast on the cover of a national magazine……

While I personally did not want to breastfeed past the age of 1( and Pookah put a stop to it himself at 11 months) I have no issues with women who want to.

What really really REALLY gets me is that this photo on the front cover of this magazine is deliberately provocative. They may say they are trying to start a dialogue, but based on the comments I see, this is just another battle in a long war on who is right, who is wrong, and who is a good parent and who is not.

Number Two:

I usually don’t get political or religious, but in case you DIDN’T know, I am team Obama and a Christian.

Now, I’m not one of those “I will follow behind the president in whatever he says or do” variety.

And I’m not a uber liberal Christian either.

No, I have a brain, and I use it.

There are plenty of things I disagree on with my President.

But his latest stance on gays being allowed to be married is not one of them.

Before I had gay friends, I might not have agreed. But life is an evolution, and hopefully your thoughts and beliefs are too.

I don’t believe in judging others.

PERIOD.

Oh sure, I have thoughts, I disagree, and sometimes I can’t help myself, I judge.

But I am also a Christain, so I always remember Matthew 7:

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Basically, the pot can’t call the kettle black…

What if Pookah is gay? What if he decides in the future that he wants to shout his love from the rooftop and marry? Will I cast down my own child?

I don’t think so.

But both of these topics today are issues that we have no right to judge others on. Of course, there is nothing wrong with saying you disagree with the idea of gay marriage, or that you would NEVER breastfeed a three year old.

But everyone has the right to chose what’s right for them.

Respect that.

Whitney

Monday 14th of May 2012

Great post, I saw the interview on the Today Show with the mom. I am very old school, that was too much. I agree that people should have the right to marry whomever they want and I also am a Christian and believe in not judging. It's one of the things we should work on as Christians. It's tough, but I try my best not to judge.

TheProDiva

Sunday 13th of May 2012

I swear we are on the same wavelength! First, the pic on the cover was a bit too much for me. I even said to someone that I thought it was photoshopped because it was a bit much. I didn't even bother reading the article because the cover made me uncomfortable. Not because I am adverse to women breastfeeding, but because its a bit jarring to see a child who appears to be school age with a boob in his mouth. The issue is appropriate, but who cares if you can't get past the cover.

As for the gay marriage issue, I have just about as many gay friends as I do straight friends. And at the end of the day, I honestly believe that it is none of my damn business. I support marriage for those who are in love and mature enough to understand its sanctity. One's sexual orientation does not make me waver from this position. I believe in living and letting live...and I am both a liberal and a Christian. I am quite proud of our President for holding his ground. And to those who have such a strong opinion against gay marriage, I encourage them to worry about themselves.

Because I wish to refrain from clogging up your comments with my position on both of these issues from the standpoint of an attorney, I'll shut up now...

Happy Mother's Day!!

BossyGirl

Sunday 13th of May 2012

I love this! Yes, even though I'm Christian I try NOT to judge ANYONE!

thedoseofreality

Saturday 12th of May 2012

Fantastic post. Came over from SITS as soon as I saw the title of your post because I knew I would like it. I wrote about Time also, but not about the picture at all, actually. My beef is with the headline. And the timing. And the headline. Anyway, great job here, I loved it!

BarefootMedStudent

Saturday 12th of May 2012

Excellent post! I'm a firm proponent of breastfeeding, but up to that age? No, no, and no. I'll have to read the article, but just... no. And asking if someone is mom enough is a horrible war to start.

Great stance on gay marriage too. I agree.

Visiting via SITS Sharefest :)