When ignorance about breastfeeding coincides with an irrational fear of terrorists, what do you get?
A very nasty scene at a ritzy New York Country Club, that’s what!
This is exactly what Belgian diplomat Tom Neijens and his wife Roseline Remans discovered when they stopped by the Metropolis Country Club in White Plains, New York on June 8, 2013 and inquired about having lunch.
Club employees permitted the family to dine on the terrace despite the fact that they weren’t members, whereupon Remans began to discreetly breastfeed her daughter Luka at the table.
Neijens, first secretary of the Belgium Mission to the UN, told the New York Post that a female employee of the club quickly interrupted Roseline’s perfectly legal and proper feeding of her baby with this sharp rebuke:
“Please leave immediately, you are disturbing the members!”
When Neijens protested and said it would only take a few minutes, the female staffer insisted that Remans finish in the restroom.
Understandably incredulous at the blatant ignorance on display at such a high end establishment, Mr. Neijens inquired why a baby would be asked to have lunch in the restroom when adults are not.
The Greenburgh Police Department arrived minutes later with Detective Scott Harding apparently yelling, “Close the doors!” with two other diners ordered to leave the terrace.
Mr. Neijens described the chaotic scene as something straight out of a Western movie with the officer walking around like John Wayne with “one hand on his gun, one hand on his Taser.”
The officer warned the couple that they were trespassing despite the fact that country club staff had given them specific permission to dine. He also said that some fearful members thought Mr. Neijens’ black backpack indicated they were terrorists.
Most laughable if not actually true, is what the officer came out with next when a tearful Ms. Remans asked why terrorists would breastfeed at a ritzy club:
“In Sri Lanka, babies are used by terrorists.”
Well, you learn something new every day, don’t you?
Attention all breastfeeding mothers. Your milk engorged breasts are actually considered weapons of mass destruction by law enforcement authorities. That liquid is NOT food for your baby. It is actually highly explosive material that could detonate at any time, sparking a chain of events identified by the media as bona fide terrorist activity.
Detective Harding quickly backed off his ridiculous posturing when Mr. Neijens revealed his State Department issued identification.
He dismissed his over the top behavior by explaining that the club had received terrorist threats in the past.
Despite the fact that they were doing nothing illegal or improper and possessed proper identification, the couple was still escorted off the premises via the back door.
A few days later, Mr Neijens sent an e-mail demanding an apology from Country Club general manager Tracy Fraus and assistant general manager Audra Vaccari.
“I am deeply worried about your staff if they cannot distinguish between a European couple looking for a quiet place to breast-feed a baby and suicide terrorists carrying a backpack.”
Lt. B.J. Ryan, a spokesman for the Greenburgh Police Department, labeled the incident as a simple “cultural misunderstanding.”
Ahem. On behalf of breastfeeding mothers everywhere, I beg to differ.
Breasts are not “cultural” and there is no “misunderstanding” their true purpose. They are the universal instrument for optimal feeding of babies.
Not “boob grenades”.
Hard to believe the terrorism handbook didn’t cover this point properly.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Sources:
Belgian diplomat booted from golf club, treated “like terrorists” over wife’s breastfeeding
Couple “treated like terrorists” over breastfeeding and backpack at ritzy restaurant
If people respected the rights of free association in this country, the members of that country club would have been free to post whether they allowed breastfeeding on their premises and the couple, and anyone else, would have been free to choose another establishment to patronize. THAT would have been havng a civil discussion about the issue of breastfeeding. Instead, far too many ignorant Americans believe that the law is the proper too for “socially engineering” their neighbor’s attitudes.
It makes me so sad that these few people make all of NY and America look bad. We are always seeing those few people who over react or do dumb things because it is more entertaining than the 90% of people that still have common sense. I am from upstate NY and this behavior is appalling and almost everyone I know would be appalled by it.
to clarify I mean the behavior by the club and the police
How many people reading this article still think that 9-11 and all the others acts were legitimate? Your ability to be conned has led us to this point.
By officially debunking the official stories, we’ll put this whole ‘war on terror’ scam to bed.
I take exception with some comments stating the situation, lack of breastfeeding tolerance is caused by religion or puritanical beliefs. I have very strong Christian beliefs. I have nursed three girls a total of five years. I nursed everywhere. I was never reprimanded or approached in public. This story is about very sad stupidity. I hope the couple takes legal action against the country club and police. The whole situation is ridiculously sad.
You certainly look scary. You guys seriously need to be locked away. Imagine the shock of the Booby Trap that you unleashed on the unsuspecting diners. Seriously though guys that’s just wrong how you were treated and if you can afford it I would pursue a damages case.
Please define “European”
Quote: “I am deeply worried about your staff if they cannot distinguish between a European couple looking for a quiet place to breast-feed a baby and suicide terrorists carrying a backpack.”
If i had a time machine I would go to england and deal with the Puritan sect accordingly. As you can see we are still dealing with the ripples of a group using morality religion an complete denial as a template for social mores and laws. A group so completely removed from nature as to be absurd and ridiculous every day. This is yet another policy born of cowardice on so many levels. Isolated in fear yet rationalized closer to God. good grief charlie brown
Honestly, it is gross. I don’t want to see it in public And its insulting to have to stare at a grown woman’s inflated tit. We have too many children on the planet as it is. If you insist on having one, leave it at home if you are going out for a nice lunch in an ADULT environment.
And this was a diplomat from Belgium? What was he going to do? Detonate a backpack full of waffles? Haha ..no wonder Americans are hated all over the world.