Bill Maher: Petty and Parochial
September 20, 2007 by Amy Spangler | 3 questions or comments
credits: iStockphoto
This particular rule was the result of a “nurse-in” following an incident involving a mother at an Appleby’s restaurant. The mother was asked not to leave but to cover up while breastfeeding, and, according to Maher, “The wait staff got tired of hearing, I’ll have what that kid’s having.”
I’m guessing Maher borrowed that line from the movie When Harry Met Sally.
Sadly, Maher’s commentary didn’t stop there. He went on to describe breastfeeding a baby as an intimate act: “I don’t want to watch strangers performing intimate acts. At least not for free. It cheapens it. But breastfeeding activists - yes, breastfeeding activists, called ‘lactivists’ - say this is a human right and appropriate everywhere, because it’s natural. Well, so is masturbating, but I generally don’t do that at Appleby’s. Not in the main dining area, anyway. Next thing, women will be wanting to give birth in the waterfall at the mall!”
Maher described mothers breastfeeding in public as “being too lazy to either plan ahead or cover up.” Then went on to add, “This isn’t really about women taking their breasts out in public, as much as I’d like it to be. It’s about how petty and parochial our causes have become, how activism has become narcissism. And, by the way, there is a place where breasts and food do go together. It’s called Hooters.”
Urban Mamas was among those outraged by Maher’s commentary - Bill Maher: I think I hate you. As for me, I found his commentary to be both sad and sickening. Bill Maher is intelligent, articulate, and for the most part entertaining - an intellectual comic. Instead of using his high-profile position to advance social agendas that are neither petty or parochial, he chose to denigrate women by targeting those characteristics that make women unique - birth and breastfeeding - characteristics without which Maher (and his ancestors) would not be here today.
Maher succeeded only in showing his ignorance of parenting in general and breastfeeding in particular. I can only guess at his personal experience with breastfeeding or lack thereof.
It is time for everyone to GET OVER IT.
It is time for everyone to recognize that breasts are no longer just for sex - never have been - never will be.
It is time to recognize that breasts can be appreciated for their function as well as their form.
It is time for individuals like Maher to lead the way in establishing a culture where breastfeeding is seen for exactly what it is - the NORMAL way to feed a baby - ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.
The fact remains, Maher is an entertainer, and entertainers are paid to be controversial, knowing that controversy generates viewers, and viewers generate sponsors, and sponsors generate revenue. How ironic that the narcissistic, self-serving behavior Maher reportedly abhors is the very behavior he himself exhibits.
I think I’ll send him a Hooter Hider.
Soo, I hope someday people will ask what are Hooter Hiders! I was in a fabric store yesterday and 2 new moms were getting various fabrics to make some. Unfortunately not to send to Bill. While waiting in line with their car seats, I drew out a pattern for them to make a sling, much more useful!
Ahhh, skin-to-skin, so much better than babies in a bucket. I believe parents today want to parent well, but many don’t know how. So many young families are isolated from extended families that the transfer of information from one generation to the next has been lost.
I was very surprised when Bill Maher put this in his rules. He is normally so right on with his no BS agenda and his ideals usually skew libertarian. He is way off base with this one. He is attacking one of the simplest forms of connection between baby and mom and a right that he usually so adamantly protects.