JMorgan

Last updated 01:00, Thursday, 24 May 2007

IT NEVER ceases to amaze it that page three lovelies are still an acceptable part of our culture but breast-feeding can cause controversy.

Can nursing mothers really be seen as so offensive that they need to be “moved on’’ by the police, yet no-one seems particularly bothered by men’s magazines on display for kids to see.

Contrary to the myths, breast-feeding mums are very discreet and it is very rare that anyone would actually see anything which may “offend.’’

Although I couldn’t care less, and neither should any mums-to-be, if someone is visibly shaken by the sight of a woman feeling a baby with her own milk.

In a world where children are abducted, terrorists lurk around every corner and teenagers are shot in their own beds, do some people actually find the sight of a mother quietly breast-feeding in public a step too far?

Personally, I can’t think of a more reassuring and contented scene than a mother grabbing a quiet moment to feed her baby while sitting on a park bench on a warm summer’s afternoon.

I can, however, think of several sights in a park that I would consider far more worthy of being moved on by the police. These include big, fat hairy men who sunbathe in the park half-naked and dog owners who let their pets off the lead only for the beasts to chase down terrified toddlers, environmentally-friendly cyclists and anyone with a groin.

Since I am also rapidly approaching middle-age, I think on principle I’m also supposed to object to groups of young folks who gather in the park wearing black, feeling alienated and who are perceived to be up to no good.

Instead I quite warm to them since one of them successfully retrieved my son’s ball from a tree and who at least scare away those people who wish to make public breast-feeding a criminal offence.