Congratulations, world, you have finally grown up.

THAT was the appropriate, ethical, moral response. Take immediate action to help the starving person. This is unlike a "journalist" who would simply stand there, point a camera at the starving infant, take some notes, shake his/her head, and move on to the next shot. Mustn't "sully" themselves by offering immediate aid.

I mean this literally. This is what "journalists" are about. No ethics, no morals, nothing but themselves.

I love you, Selma, for your simple, decent act.

I wonder what she did for the starving adults, though.

First, what a nice thing for Ms. Hayak to do. Kudos.

Second, now I understand my frustration with Broadsheet. The only stories about women deemed worthy of attention are those that involve pop cultural references or celebrities. That explains why issues relevant to a broad swath of women are generally ignored.

Ridiculous. Ms Hayek clearly feels the need to be in the limelight. How about this: she could have bought the family goods and food and not been so utterly demonstrative in such a clearly egotistical way. Any humanitarian mission is equipped with available baby food, and Ms Hayek is welcome to increase that amount with her ample money rather than increasing her public noteriety with her own ample breast milk. All the more appalling is that she should know full well that the mother of the child couldn't say no. This is the height of the imperial arrogance.

of course I would. Women feeding other women's children used to be nothing out of the ordinary.

Of course, if I had Salma Hayek's money, there are more efficient ways to get people fed.

Ms Hayek is welcome to increase that amount with her ample money

For all you know, she already has donated millions.

This way she does something that people will react to more strongly and emphasizes her belief that breast milk is better for infants than bottle milk. In addition, she takes a shot at racism by unhesitatingly feeding a baby that looks very different from her.

This act achieves many things simply contributing money behind the scenes cannot do. And she was there in the first place to use her celebrity to call attention to the plight of those less fortunate. It wasn't egotistical, it was bringing all the power she has to bear on a problem she is concerned about.

Quote: Any humanitarian mission is equipped with available baby food, and Ms Hayek is welcome to increase that amount with her ample money

The baby was only one week old. What did you want her to do? Feed the baby pureed peaches? Breastmilk was by far the best thing for that baby.

And yes, breastmilk is far better for a newborn than formula.

I am so impressed with Salma Hayek!

This shows again what a real person she is; she hasn't forgotten the solidarity of the society of her Mexican childhood. It's clear in her acting.

when she saw the baby or heard it cry. Mine would have. It was an instinctive, generous, loving gesture.

I put up this poll: (linkback) Hero or Jerk? Salma Hayek breast-feeds an African baby [VOTE] - http://www.thriveorfail.com/b7315

Hear, hear. Well said.

I was never a big Princess Di worshipper, but this story reminded me of the time she deliberately took off her gloves before shaking the hand of a patient with AIDS. Of course it was a symbolic gesture, but an important, worthwhile one nevertheless.

I was moved by the video. I applaud both Ms. Hayek's act and her sharing the story of her great-grandmother before her, who was not a celebrity yet did the same thing when the opportunity to do so presented itself.

What's with the prevalence of nasty-gram cynicism about every damned thing, no matter how positive, these days? Sheesh! Let's celebrate humane acts wherever they occur, and whoever does them!

--werrit

Not to create flashbacks of high school English class, but this seems very reminiscent of the end of John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. In that scene the recent mother breast feeds a dying man.

And I thought I was cynical. I'm willing to bet that the mother of the baby didn't mind having someone feed her baby. I'm also willing to bet that the mother was provided formula to continue feeding her baby after Hayek left - hopefully enough that she didn't have to dilute it to make it last a bit longer (a big problem with formula feeding in 3rd world nations). I'm not a "breast is the only option" person - imo, any kind of nutritious food that will sustain a baby should be fed to the baby, regardless of whether it comes from a body or a bottle. But Hayek made an important point here, one that needed to be made - when her healthy, westen body fed a baby whose mother was not able to feed him.

A sensible and thoughtful celebrity? Someone who does the obvious correct thing despite the endless ankle-biters all around? I am impressed.

I would probably never encounter the same situation but Selma acted with proper moral instinct.

This is reminiscent of the Chinese police officer who impulsively breastfed eleven babies whose mothers were injured or killed following the earthquake and collapse of a hospital building in China last year.

...the cynic in me can't help but be aware of how much attention a Broadsheet story containing "Salma Hayek" and "breasts" will draw.

It certainly got my attention.

The one in the post didn't work for me. Here's another.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM7kKJ1NbQA

Seems pretty harmless overall.

What a good woman she is.

That is all.

...is that a one woman breast feeding another woman's baby would be considered news. Thanks for outgrowing some really dumb cultural conditioning, Selma.

Too bad I just can't think of one right now...

Oh well.

Thanks, Salma, for being who you are.

She usually works with a script. Maybe she's nervous speaking extemporaneously in front of a camera, like most of us, and especially in a foreign language.

As for the breastfeeding: The whole point of the trip is to draw attention to what's going on in Sierra Leone, so even the greatest cynic has to agree that she's succeeding beyond anyone's wildest dreams. And the baby got a full tummy of milk, so it's a win all around.