by Kway Png
The Ministry of Health has rejected a substitute design for a
controversial poster issued in support of World Breastfeeding
Week.
Meanwhile, demand for the original poster, which shows an expat
woman leaning over two babies with her engorged breasts, is
surging, with requests coming from a wide variety of organizations,
especially old folks homes and SAF units.
The Ministry of Health rejected a substitute design suggested by
the Morally Outraged Rightwingers Resisting Openly Nursing
Singaporeans (MORRONS), substituting papayas instead of breasts.
(See graphic above.)
According to MOH spokesman Dr. Jayan Nair, While perhaps less
jarring than the old poster, we believe this design might lead to
confusion. We cant risk mothers mistakenly thinking that feeding
their babies papaya milk instead of breast milk is
acceptable.
MORRONS, however, railed against the Ministry decision. Said
MORRONS spokesman Mr. Boey Sai Kwah, First, with R(A) movies, you
could see naked breasts in the cinemas. With this breastfeeding
campaign, we will now see naked breasts in the streets! How can
like that? What new depth will we sink to next? Maybe in time to
come, people might even be able to walk around naked in their own
homes! Surely, society will collapse then!
Mr. Boey also defended the papaya design. We believe that if
people see women openly breastfeeding, they will begin to have
sexual thoughts, and that will not be normal.
With papayas, he said, people would be less inclined to harbour
fruity thoughts.
Most of the general public polled by this reporter, however,
disagreed with Mr. Boey.
When I see a woman breastfeeding, said Mr. Mohd. Minuman bin
Susu. The only thought that comes to my mind is, mmm, maybe Ill
go and buy a nice, cold milkshake!
People also criticized MORRONS design as being
unrepresentative.
At best, Singaporean womens breasts are more like pears than
papayas, said Mr. Quah Tay Teck. To tell you the truth, theyre
not even like fruit. Theyre more like fried eggs.
In view of the rejection, the old poster design will remain. In
fact, there are signs that it is even popular.
Said Dr. Nair, Were getting requests for the poster from all
over, but most especially from SAF units. Its nice that our
fighting forces are so supportive of breastfeeding.
According to MINDEF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel See Nee Per,
Weve found that for some strange reason, the poster has boosted
morale in the camps greatly. Maybe its a hint to add more dairy
into cookhouse rations.
The posters are also apparently popular amongst elderly men.
For instance, Mr. Lim Peh, the 93 year old columnist for
TalkingCock.com, has put up a copy in his bathroom.
When asked why he would want one when there was no one in his
family who is lactating, he replied, Aiyah, I just like to keep
abreast of social issues, mah.