Stories about people taking offense at the sight of a breastfeeding mother come up from time to time, and each time they do I get a bit more embarrassed for the twits who obviously have no idea why hooters adorn the chests of those of the female persuasion.

This one out of Florida is no exception, but with a little tweak of circumstance that gives it that much more a tinge of moronohood ... it took place at an elementary school and teachers where the offended perpetrators of boobiphobia.

Alicia Norris was enjoying lunch with her daughter while visiting her at Rio Vista Elementary School, and thought nothing of the fact that she was nursing her 19-month-old son Tahoma while sitting at a picnic table outside.

That is, until a teacher approached her and told her she could not breastfeed her baby on school property.

Apparently, the principal had complaints from some teachers voicing "concerns" over small children being exposed to the act of lactation, so backed up the demands Ms. Norris cease and desist, and perhaps give her kid a cheeseburger and fries. (Okay, I made up the last part.)

Oh, paaaaleeeease!

The state of Florida actually has a law on its books that covers the issue: "A mother may breastfeed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breast-feeding."

Which I take to mean that unless a mom has surreptitiously and illegally wedged herself into, say, the floor of the Florida State Legislature or the foyer of the governor's mansion to whip out a boob and nurse a hungry baby, she's okay ... obvious nipple, or not.

And what's with the nipple thing? Why is it that a flash of that slightly darker-tinged flesh can cause such discomfort? After all, everyone has them; even men have nipples, fercryinoutloud, and usually two apiece, so the titillation seems overblown, so to speak.

It's an almost uniquely American hang-up, this fascination-bordering-on-horror of girly chestal appendages, as most of the rest of the world tends to look on breasts as ... well ... normal. Heck, even the sometimes uptight Brits have no problem with the boobs-for-food concept.

In my part of the world, not only do mothers feed babies whenever and wherever they happen to need feeding, tourists routinely avoid tan lines by not bothering with the tops of bikinis, and it's only when there are American visitors in port that any ogling happens of either mothers or sunbathers.

The fact that American moms are shamed into hiding what is by nature ... and natural it is! ... one of the most beautiful acts humans can perform is sad, and a bit on the wacky side -- as if a bunch of 12-year-old boys got together and made up rules that were then accepted by the general population as sensible.

Sheeesh. Grow up, already.