There is no better day to offer America a gift-I have always battled with the thoughts of whether the first cries of a new born brings equal joy to both mother and the medical team if the birth occurs in a hospital. One thing I am sure of though, is that in the miraculous moment, the natural thing that is done is to let the baby suckle its mother’s breast.
In industrialized nations and particularly more recently in the United States have become so clean that in the coming months of the baby’s growth, the mother is chastised for suckling her young in public. The reason for such negative reaction may never be clearly known. Probably for some, seeing a suckling baby triggers sexual urges rather than respect for life.
Africa has a lesson to share with the west in this sense. It is a lesson that goes beyond standing up for pregnant women or old men on public transport to profound respect for the entire being. While you clutch your litre of Coca-Cola and drive a woman crazy for feeding her hungry baby on the bus, a little illumination may enter your mind if you remember that you would probably not be alive without the primary nutrients and antibodies that has sustained you over the years until you grow hands large enough to clutch your soda and drive women into closets just to do what is natural-feeding.
Many think in their mind that it is an “uncivilized act” or that it is unhygienic-not for the child, but to them. In Africa, where civilization began, in other words where the human species were first suckled, women are still free to breast-feed their babies without glaring lustful eyes, the fear of being judged or disgustful looks from anyone. Since this gift still remains in Africa to be shared with the very clean west along with its infinite natural resources, I wonder why no one is asking African mothers the secret of their confidence.
Happy 4th of July and don’t forget to breast feed that child of yours proudly and openly!