BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack

Subject: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Wesley S
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 10:00 AM

Talk about a mountain out of a molehill:

Time magazine story

Actress Salma Hayek has received flack for breastfeeding another womans baby. Nevermind that both the mother and baby were starving. I think she deserves a pat on the back for doing the right thing. Where do these taboos come from anyway? How silly can people be. When you find a starving child you feed it. End of story.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 10:03 AM

I saw that story. I'm still scratching my head over criticisms of her humane action that's ensued.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 10:06 AM

breastfeeding flack

Well she ought to feed BABIES, then, not flack. :~)

I refer her critics to Mowgli.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: meself
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 10:32 AM

Is she receiving flak? The Time story is supportive of her, although it does mention "online reactions" that are "squeamish" - which does not necessarily equate with disapproving.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 10:43 AM

She is receiving some flak; I didn't mean to imply that it was Time creating the flack, if that's what you inferred from my post.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Wesley S
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 10:44 AM

Local radio stations had folks calling in and calling her weird for doing this.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: KB in Iowa
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 10:50 AM

This is straight out of 'The Grapes of Wrath'

I guess no good deed goes unpunished.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 10:54 AM

Good for her! How could a lactating woman see a starving baby and not feed it?!

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 10:56 AM

Thanks for sharing the story, Wesley. It's a beautiful image and it is wonderful that she could do this.

I wouldn't have hesitated a moment in her place. And it is great that she is such a high-profile nursing mother, that her child is a year old and still nursing, all of these things are important messages.

I nursed both of mine until they were about 2 1/2. After the first year or so it drops back to just a few times a day, generally morning, naptime, and bedtime, you're not the sole source of food. But nursing into the toddler years does protect your children, and being able to nurse another child won't deprive her own child who should now be able to compensate on this occasion with another helping of oatmeal.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 11:20 AM

There really are some pretty strange people around.   (And I don't mean this lady.)

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: GUEST,Mr Yeahbut
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 11:26 AM

History lesson:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet_nurse

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 11:37 AM

I don't think the reaction has been because she was breastfeeding - it was that she was breastfeeding someone elses child. That is not as common and I think people are just reacting because they have not heard of it before. I would not demean anyone who is ignorant of the facts. What she did was help educate people, and the natural reaction is a healthy sign that people are discussing this and it brings more attention to the issue of hunger.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 11:39 AM

I suspect that throughout time this process of "cross nursing" has always been part of the human framework. What nursing mother HASN'T been somewhere without her child, say, in a grocery store, heard another infant start the familiar hunger cry, and had to press her forearms against her nipples to suppress the tingle of a letdown? We're wired to feed babies. If you nursed for a long time that tingle still happens even long after the nursing has stopped.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Teribus
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 11:42 AM

"I don't think the reaction has been because she was breastfeeding - it was that she was breastfeeding someone elses child. That is not as common and I think people are just reacting because they have not heard of it before."

Anybody ever heard of the term "Wet-Nurse" - the practice used to be quite common and sought after for a number of very good, logical reasons.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 11:48 AM

As you said Teribus, the practice USED TO BE quite common. No, not everybody is familiar with the term "wet-nurse" these days.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Megan L
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 11:52 AM

Heck there is a whole generation that didny ken breasts had milk in them it came frae a bottle wie a wee rubber sooker on the end.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 11:59 AM

Breastmilk:
It is sterile
It is wholesome
It comes at the right temperature
It comes in the containers fathers prefer!

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: olddude
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 11:59 AM

My goodness what is the world coming to ... and another persons baby. Well I am no doctor but I would think mothers milk is the same regardless of the woman ya know.   Any act of kindness anymore is met with some type of rock throwing ...


I really think the press or whatever that does the criticism thinks breasts are just for looking at ... the whole world is nuts. It is like OH MY GOSH she is breast feeding her baby in public ... So what. In this world there is nothing as important as a baby. Kids are all we have in this life that makes any sense to me

Good grief what has this world come to

Good Grief

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Amos
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 12:02 PM

Mother's milk is certainly NOT the same regardless of the woman, but it is generally good wholesome food for human infants in any case, assuming the mother is relatively healthy and toxin-free.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: pdq
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 12:05 PM

Since I have never heard of Salma Hayek, I did a Google image search.

Looks like most of the pictures have her breasts prominently dislayed.

This is just a publicity stunt. It worked.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 12:14 PM

"This is just a publicity stunt. It worked. "

It is, and it should be.

If you are inferring she did this for her own gain, I think you are dead wrong. She was there in her role as an ambassador for UNICEF. If a celebrity can use their status to make positive change and help people, they deserve credit. It is a shame that cynical folks always look for the negative. No wonder the world is fucked up.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: pdq
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 12:26 PM

Putting your own spin on things again, Ronnie-o?

I don't know who said it, but a famous actress said "bad publicity is better than none".

Actually, I think she is a nice looking lady. Never heard of her before this PR trick. Hope she uses it to good advantage. Nothing wrong with hepling herself, the poor, the people of her country, her parents, et al...

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 12:31 PM

No PDQ, it seems you are the one putting a spin on things. You are to cynical!! Why is it that whenever anyone puts a question to you you have to blame them for "spinning"? Get some mirrors!!

You finally hit the nail on the head in your last sentence - she IS helping others in addition to herself. She did not take the job with UNICEF because she needed publicity. I realize you do not know who she is, but she is not starving for movie roles or business. This was not a publicity stunt to promote a film.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: GUEST,Pseudolus at Work
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:02 PM

pdq, you said that you never heard of her before so you looked at some pics on the internet and on that information alone you have determined what she is like, what her motives were and that she is all about the boobs. Well, if that's all you need, what are your posts saying about you?

Frank

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: pdq
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:12 PM

Her publicity photos show that she is indeed selling boobs.

Nice ones, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: olddude
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:14 PM

She is certainly easy on the eyes, a beautiful girl but she is a very very talented actress who is one of the highest paid. She certainly doesn't need the press, She gets it anywhere anytime. I think she is just trying to make a difference and God Bless her for doing so

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Big Mick
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:15 PM

pdq is demonstrating, yet again, how despicable his/her views are. And I won't be rethinking that position, I can assure you.

Of course she is using her celebrity, pdq. That is what decent folks of celebrity do. They realize that their celebrity will bring attention to an issue. She could just do the Paris Hilton thing..... then I suppose you wouldn't attack. There are plenty of celebrities who do distasteful things to get attention. Imagine the gall of this Hayek woman .... feeding a starving child .... who does she think she is????????

Selma Hayek, in this one action, has gone from a movie person to a great role model as far as I am concerned. Good for her, and shame on those that would snipe at her. And while you are at it, pdq, instead of looking at her breasts, take a look at the face of the child and the mother. But I guess if you did you would just see lazy people trying to undermine what's right in your head.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: olddude
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:27 PM

Big Mick
I don't think PDQ is a bad person, he is just not thinking through this one. Too many of the celebrities do destructive things for publicity and it can be easy for a person to label everything a celebrity does as "publicity stunt"

This was a wonderful act by her and I thank God for celebrities like her that use their status for good

I think PDQ was giving a typical knee jerk reaction like normally occurs with a Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction. this is far from that case.

I never like Angelina Jole, now she is one of my favourite celebrities, she went from a strange disturbed person to someone that really goes out of her way to use her status for good. God Bless any of them that will do that

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: pdq
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:32 PM

If she did not want you to look at her tits, she would not put them on display so much. Google her with "images" search. See what I saw.

She may be a fine peson but she needs to decide if she is "cheesecake" or Mother Teresa.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:36 PM

I think it is too easy to call her a "celebrity".   Anyone who has seen "Frida" knows that she is a skilled actress. Watch her on "30 Rock" while you can - she is playing a wonderful role as Alec Baldwin's girlfriend.

Harry Chapin was a wonderful musician who used his fame for good. He would always say that he would do a concert one night for himself and the next night the concert was for the other guy.   He cared about his career but he also spent considerable time helping others.   Selma Hayek is following in the footsteps of artists like him - and Danny Kaye who did an incredible job of promoting UNICEF and their programs. Now Selma Hayek is working in a similar role with UNICEF.   

It would have been easy to turn the camera off when she was breastfeeding, but I truly believe she knew that seeing the images would get people talking about a situation (in Sierra Leone) as well as breastfeeding - subjects that are not glamorous newspieces.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:38 PM

"She may be a fine peson but she needs to decide if she is "cheesecake" or Mother Teresa. "

Who do you think you are???? Why on earth does she have to be anyone but Selma Hayek? Why should she hide herself? Let her do it her own way, she doesn't need your worthless opinion to guide her.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Wesley S
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:47 PM

She may be a fine peson but she needs to decide if she is "cheesecake" or Mother Teresa.

Who says she has to be just one or the other? Methinks you are just trolling and having fun with the "liberals" again.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:49 PM

PDQ is one of them conservatives?   Well that explains a lot!   My apologies PDQ, I did not realize you had a handicap.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: pdq
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:52 PM

What a concept!

Mother Teresa with Sarah Palin's hair, Anita Bryant's chin, and Linda Ronstat's mammaries.

That should get them donations rolling in!

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: olddude
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:52 PM

PDQ's glass is half empty I guess or just having a bad day

If so, I hope you feel better

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:56 PM

Squeamishness should not be confused with moral judgment.

Have you ever contemplated giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a stranger?

Would you doubt that people who do THAT are doing something heroic?

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: PoppaGator
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:57 PM

The fact that pdq never heard of Selma Hayek before says as much about his lack of awareness as anything else. And of course, that's not the only aspect of he's revealed to us here that smacks of ignorance.

The bond between mother and infant while breastfeeding is pretty intimate. I was interested to read that various organizations that promote and support breastfeeding in general, and also support providing one woman's breast milk to another woman's child ("crossfeeding"), are unanimous in emphasizing that they assume that a pump and a bottle be involved when such crossfeeding takes place. No one wants to endorse actual physical contact between lactating women and babies not their own.

I've got to think that racism is an additional factor in some people's negative reaction to this. Not only did Ms Hayek feed someone else's baby; she was feeding a black baby!

Of course when the shoe was on the other foot (bad metaphor, I know), society as a whole competely endorsed the nursing of white babies by black slave/servant wetnurses. If society-as-a-whole is feeling some guilt about that particular aspect of the past, it's probably a good thing ~ but it should not blind us to the virtue and practicality of this wholly humanitarian incident.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: pdq
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 02:12 PM

Wow! It took 37 posts before someone yelled racism!

The usual suspects must be slipping.

BTW, I am libertarian more than conservative, and I have no problem with this lady using all her assets to whatever advantage she wants. That is a libertarian concept, I believe.

For those folks who see no humor in this thread, just remember: "wherever you go, well, there you are".

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 02:14 PM

That initial photo that ran on the Time website, with her comfortably seated and the child nursing has now been replaced by a screen shot with her burping the child. Looks like they buckled under to those who have to grouse about something.

The only one entitled to actually say anything about this episode, positive or negative, is the child's mother. That brief clip didn't say anything about her ability to feed her child or if she was even there. But let's see if the tabloids can come up with some case for turning this event into something other than a beautiful moment.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 02:23 PM

I think what she did was quite wonderful. I am always for using a scarf or something for modesty, but some people are more comfortable than others. Her own baby was weaning she said and is not going to come up short. I would be concerned about germs, anywhere, but especially in a very depressed area, but that would be my only concern. I am sure it will all be OK. I think there probably are taboos in many areas of this that we don't understand, but break through them and go straight to the charitable act...

mg

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: frogprince
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 05:24 PM

I wondered about the fact that the picture just showed her holding, or burping the baby. It has to take a small, sad mind to take offense at the sight of a baby nursing. I'm not about to hold it against all the mothers who conceal the process carefully, considering all the conditioning and social pressure they've grown up with. I know just one young mother lately who, at least around home with family and friends, nurses quite openly. I can't imagine anyone who knows her thinking of her as a crude or undesireable person.

Anyhow, "good on you", Selma Hayek.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 05:40 PM

Selma Hayek did her acting and turned to producing, probably because it gives her more time with her baby. She produces the comedy drama Ugly Betty. A quite funny exposé of the whole size zero, maybe its mabelline, fashionista culture.

She don't need no stinking publicity. She is just good people.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: pdq
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 06:01 PM

Sorry, this lady does appear to be shy and modest...

                                                                                     see here

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Big Mick
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 06:03 PM

You are just really bothered by breasts, eh pdq?

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 06:25 PM

What's wrong with nudity, PDQ? Or is it just breasts that have you acting like such a boob?

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: pdq
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 06:26 PM

Very nice..er..face.

From that picture, I can see her in a re-make of Cleopatra.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 06:32 PM

The video was removed. You can see it (with a commercial) over on the ABC site.

This link goes there. The child she is patting is not the same child she is nursing. A lot of bits were edited together on that clip.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: PoppaGator
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 06:56 PM

My bad ~ I really hate to leave myself open to plausble accusations of being a knee-jerker.

But really: can anyone possibly argue that there is NOT an inescapable racial subtext to the subject of wet-nursing?

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 07:05 PM

I'd say it is more likely to be a social and economic divide. It has been known and referred to across cultures and across the years. I first read about it in English literature. I've read of it referred to in high courts in China. The American version may have been largely racial, but it isn't the only version.

Subject: RE: BS: Salma Hayek breastfeeding flack
From: EBarnacle
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 08:08 PM

PG got there first but I was thinking the same thought. If the races had been reversed or had both women been of the same race, there probably would not have been the same uproar.

Having been the father of a breastfed child, it was a pleasure to watch and mother and child seemed to enjoy themselves, too. It felt good for all concerned, no one was harmed and it made a point about social acceptance. As a PR moment, it had all the right elements, including controversy.