Body Freedom

Susan Paquot has updated a portion of the art board on Sunrise Beach and the theme is something of a political nature.

Body freedom is cultural and political movement which seeks the rights of women to be topless in an environment were it is permissable for men to be topless. In many cases this extends to the right not to wear any clothes at all in a suitable environment such as beaches.

In terms of western cultures, the United States seems to have the most parochial, or narrower view, than most of Europe.  Having lived in both I can attest to this.  It is not unusual to see a bare breasted woman leaving her beach towel to catch the ice cream van at the street in Spain, for example.  One town in the Netherlands has a beautiful lakeside park with a naturist area set aside and my understanding is that in Germany, in the summer, where there is a body of  water there will be nudists.    I also understand that all beaches with the exception of two in Denmark are clothing optional.

One can get into an endless conversation, or argument as the case my be,  about the persistent puritanical attitude of America.  Perhaps those of the far right, who claim to cherish freedom, should look at themselves through a 1933 Nazi edict banning public nudity:
One of the greatest dangers for our culture and morality is the so-called naked culture movement. It takes away women's natural shame and robs men of their respect for women, so destroying the conditions for real culture.
And that real natural shame is?

This just in:
Michigan State Rep. Lisa Brown, a Democrat from suburban Detroit, was banned from speaking on the floor because the Republicans who control the House say she violated decorum. Rep. Brown was speaking out against a bill that seeks to ban all abortions after 20 weeks when she said, "I'm flattered that you're all concerned about my vagina. But no means no." The comment caused an uproar, and Brown was silenced for "comparing the abortion legislation to rape."
The debate was about the rights of women and abortion.