Facing Facts

Here's an interesting dilemma to ponder:  are pictures of women breastfeeding posted on the Internet obscene?

That's exactly the issue confronting the very popular social networking site, Facebook.  And it's been brought to the front burner courtesy of some California moms.  It seems that one mother posted a pic of herself breastfeeding.  Facebook took it down and banned her from the site on the grounds that the picture was obscene (showing part of a nipple or areola).

When another nursing mom, Kelli Roman, found that out, she was mad.  So she protested by posting a picture of herself breastfeeding.  Facebook took that down.  Now she and thousands of others have banded together to form a group.  On December 27th they staged a "nurse-in" outside Facebook's headquarters and concurrently organized an online event having people post pictures of themselves nursing their children.

I'm not really sure where I fall on the issue.  Truly, I think that lactivists could find a better way to prove their point.  And, I applaud Facebook for trying to be vigilant when it comes to obscene material.  BUT, I also don't think that a picture of a woman breastfeeding should be considered obscene.  Afterall, many states now have laws mandating a woman's right to breastfeed in public without it being considered obscene.  If it's okay to do it in public, what's "more public" about showing it on the Internet?  I also think there are plenty of other things on Facebook that could be considered more obscene, like when people post pictures of themselves or others drunk at parties, in compromising poses, with little clothing on.

What do you think?  Voice your opinion by taking the poll down below.