I have nothing against nudity, especially if there is no specific law that states nudity is illegal. As far as I could figure, the only laws that may affect anyone's right to wear (or in this case, not wear) anything they please would be the laws regarding public indecency. But this is where the problems lie – everyone likes putting in their own two cents with regards to the definition of public indecency. Often, this would include things like urinating in public, or “playing with one's self” in a public bathroom. But other times people will fly off the handle about certain things that baffle me.
Does anyone remember that one incident where a picture of a woman breastfeeding her child caused an outrage and was referred to by many as “disgusting”? I was so very surprised at the negative reaction to the picture, considering the fact that I am sure that most of us were breastfed by our own mothers – there is nothing indecent about a woman pulling out here breast to feed a baby. In fact, I am of the opinion that there is nothing wrong at all with being naked, so long as there is no malice behind the nudity.
I have to wonder why we as a society had to become so prudish about the idea of being naked, and why naked should necessarily equate to sex. I know HOW we came to be this way – religion had a big role in demonizing our own bodies, so much so that we have become ashamed of everything we were born with. This is precisely why I have utmost respect for people who indulge in “clothing optional” affairs, especially people who go to nudist beaches. I honestly think that they are genuinely marveling in just being themselves, without the fetters of clothing and the dictates of society. There is nothing malicious in their nudity. They are only comfortable that way, and they are not at all propositioning anyone by the state of their undress. There is no need to make a big deal out of it.
There is, I stress, nothing wrong with full-frontal nudity provided that the naked person in question does nothing inappropriate or anything that may make anyone feel uncomfortable (save for being naked; I understand that seeing someone with no clothes on may disturb people, but unless the person is touching himself or acting suspiciously, it really shouldn't bother anyone at all). But since I also think that there should be some due consideration for the people who feel iffy about topless or naked people, I'm perfectly content with the idea of having “clothing optional” places for people who feel constricted by their clothes and have no other agenda save for being nude and becoming comfortable in their own skin (so to speak).
This brings me to my final point: I find it disturbing that nowadays, nudists and the like are being marginalized in the sense that more and more of their “spaces” – like clothing-optional beaches – are being taken away from them because “people are complaining”. Again, there is nothing perverse about liking to be nude, and they have done nothing at all to offend you save for being unclothed. They don't actively bother you, so it really would be nice for you to not actively bother them. They are not in your face about you preferring to have clothes on, so there would be no reason to be in their face. Let the “clothing optional” crowd keep their beaches and spots, please. It would be appreciated if not enough controversy is stirred up to prompt governments to completely ban being comfortable without clothes on.
There is freedom in letting it all hang out, and letting it all hang out close to nature, out in the air, should not be thought of as disgusting; rather, it should be inspiring.
Elea Almazora, contributor to
BonnyDoonBeach.Com
Elea Almazora currently works as a contributor to many information-based websites, writing about many subjects ranging from culture to sciences.
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