Breastfeeding Brouhaha

Can't say I understand all the upset over an Applebee's restaurant in Tennessee that booted a nursing mother:

For starters, I can't understand why the restaurant cared. I know dozens of women who breastfeed, or who have breastfed, in recent years. To a one, they are all discreet, even those who manage the task without the benefit of a blanket. If you feel like you're seeing too much skin, or you're offended, you're looking too hard. Yes, moms should try to be discreet -- and in my experience, they almost uniformly are -- but then the rest of us shouldn't be ogling or staring, either.

I also can't understand the outraged, public response. I imagine that if my family were booted from an Applebee's for breastfeeding, we'd kick the dust off of our shoes and probably never come back, but that would be the end of it. We'd never think to stage a national protest. It may be inane for a "family friendly" restaurant to antagonize families, but, well, that's Applebee's problem. We'd take our business where it's welcome and leave it at that.

And finally, I can't understand how, in a culture where millions tune in to watch Britney Spears dance in her underwear, the sight of some minuscule portion of a nursing mom's breast can arouse such puritanical contempt. For crying out loud, the dresses at any Hollywood awards ceremony show a lot more! Apparently it's OK for a woman to expose her breast to make a fashion statement -- but not to feed a baby. Go figure.