Pockets, Applause, UA Fort Smith

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Pockets

By Micheal Robert Werley

Why is it that not being ashamed of one's nudity is considered to be disrespectful to oneself and to others?

The Human body is the most artistic expression of the Master's hand in the beauty of Creation. When the Almighty put pen to paper to design Human form, the purest artistry was wrought upon that page. Mimicking that day has been the goal of every artist since.

All the great masters of the Visual Arts have set brush to canvas and given us wonders to behold clothed in human flesh - unclothed flesh. To this day, those who wish to follow these Masters' footsteps are asked, nay, required to capture the human nude on paper. This practice is one of the very foundations of Visual Art. To those in this field, the Human form is an inspiration to capture with their pen, not an object of their lust. Why is this not true for the rest of us? What is so wrong with our society that seeing an unclothed person is considered base and vile? Why should a naked woman be leered at and cat-called? Why should a nude man be jeered at? ...and cat-called?

You say nudity is offensive?

What is so offensive about my member that I must keep it hidden away behind chaffing denim and binding cotton? Is it so abhorrent to look upon that merely seeing it would bring pain to the observer? I think not. Oh, I will admit that it is funny looking, but no more than any other man's.

Perhaps the religious aspect of it?

But...weren't Adam and Eve running around the Garden covered by nothing more than sunshine? It wasn't until after they stole from the Tree of Knowledge that there was any problem with their dress -or lack thereof. God made us in His image; why would He want us to hide that Image.

It's a moral issue, is it?

You say that I am immoral for wanting to walk around nakers; I say you're a prude for not. Morals are defined by the way you are raised, yet some of us grow beyond those boundaries. Look at me (yes, i am wearing clothes; i'm in public, so don't worry about seeing anything...impressive.) for an example. My parents are major prudes, yet there are only two reasons I wear any clothes at all during the summer: the law and pockets (and, honestly, i don't really need the pockets.)

What?!? You say it's not natural?

(snicker, snicker, guffaw) Gimme a second here. (snort, titter, snort)

Children are born (at least mine was) wearing naught but their skin. Until they are taught that it is wrong - not merely taboo, but WRONG - to be so, nudity is their preferred state. Natural? Personally, I have never - NEVER - seen a deer wearing trousers and a sport coat.

Oh, nudity encourages perverts.

If nudity wasn't taboo, the perverts would be S.O.L. If seeing an unclad woman in a park was commonplace, that bared flesh would draw no more attention than denim or cotton which so restricts my…self. Nudity is not perverted; perverts ogle clothed women, too. I should know; I am a pervert. But that has nothing to do with nudity.

God made Man and Woman; they made clothes. I would much rather look at God's work than at what people do. Have you seen some of the CRAP at fashion shows?

Slowly, society is opening its mind to the lack of impropriety of nudity. One day, it will, hopefully, be okay to leave your pockets at home. So, if (God willing) I am still alive fifty years from now, smile at me when you see me at the park. The suit I will be wearing may have a few wrinkles, but I'll still enjoy wearing it. After all I got it as a birthday present.

...from God.

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