"It was OK, that everyone understood it had to be done, and there would be no problem."

Damned board. Hit "Tab" and it posts your topic.

Now, there are a lot of things which have to be done and aren't done in public. The breastfeeding woman would undoubtedly object to the guy hauling out his wang and peeing into an empty wine glass, though we all pee and it has to be done.

The "has to be done" idea fails. How about changing diapers on a restaurant table? Has to be done, right?

People get up, leave the table and head for private areas to change diapers and pee because it bothers a significant number of other people. It's considerate. If breastfeeding bothers a significant number of other people, maybe it would be considerate to do that in private. If it "shouldn't" bother them, who is to make that judgment? If it does, it does.

As I said, I don't give a rabbit-assed damn. Let Mom pull 'em out and make a milkshake first, I don't care. And I think it's one of those things which isn't a morality issue, it's a consideration issue. If it's going to bother some people if I say "fuck" in public I won't do it, even though I think I have the right to express myself anyway I want to.

Breastfeeding in public makes a statement about the mother, nothing else. And times are changing for the better, as evidenced by being able to have this conversation.