Messages

1

NAG Campaigns. / Body Freedom March

« on: November 12, 2020, 08:30:17 PM »

Naturist pride.

The concept of 'Pride' isn't original. Past and current events in London and around the country include S&M Pride,  Gay Pride,  and Sexual Freedom Pride,  all of which promote their own ideas,  partly political and partly as a way of uniting and advancing the morale of those already involved.
An annual 'Nude Pride' event in the form of a parade or social gathering would be a trailblazer for being the first public world event to promote and celebrate nudity- what we are and ever shall be.

Like all causes,  the Naturist movement has had it's share of in fighting,  personality clashes and rivalry over the decades.  'Nude Pride ' could  not only serve as a way to offset such problems, but also clarify commonly held misconceptions on the legalities of Naturism, de escalate tensions, highlighting Naturist similarities as opposed to differences. Naturism,  after all, goes back as far, if not further than Gay Liberation and should get the recognition it rightfully deserves.

It would be an omission for me not include the phenomenon of the Naked Bike Rides as an analogy here. They are firmly established annual events in the UK and Worldwide. Although they involve nudity, their main objective is to highlight ecological issues. The Naked Bike Rides would have been unthinkable in the UK moral climate of just a couple of decades ago.  Now, however,It has become a fun event,  popular with locals and tourists alike,  and so importantly decreased stigmas wrongly associated with Naturism. It was the first event to successfully promote public nudity. 

 It's  my belief that a 'Nudity or Naturist Pride' celebration of Naturism could enhance the success achieved by the bike rides. I'm aware such an event takes much organising, but once established,  more people, including advertisers, would wish to nail their colours to the mast.

2

Hate Crimes Archive. / Re: Hate Crime Project Search Results

« on: November 12, 2020, 08:28:28 PM »

Hate crime laws and Naturism- a balanced view.

I took to the idea of writing this essay as a balanced analysis between protection of individual expression and highlighting the dangers of  State controls that seek to limit freedom of expression.

In a true democracy Naturists, like everyone, should  be able to go about their activities as consenting adults without fear of police and public harassment. I am obviously supportive  of the idea of preventing abuse against Naturists in principle and practicality.  It doesn't stop there- a problem with any kind of prevention is it allows the State a green light to legislate further restrictions on liberty- a knee jerk reaction,  if you will. I've been monitoring the UK Government's recent miserable record- every current Bill being pushed in the Commons is about restricting freedom of expression,  as opposed to allowing and advancing democracy.  Paradoxically, unconsciously even , broad minded Naturists wouldn't want to contribute to such a scenario which may well create further resentment in the population.

Preventing hate is well and good,  so long as it doesn't reach the point where  constructive criticism in itself becomes a crime.  I witnessed first hand on last year's Clacton ride,   the beginnings of physical violence against the riders.  Fortunately it was averted and I felt we deescalated a potentially volatile situation.  It provides evidence that physical violence is always going to be far more damaging to health than the occasional expletive. This doesn't,  however,  justify virulent abuse of riders that can easily move into physical threats. Ir depends on what one interprets as 'Hate', and what one defines as 'crime.'To my mind,  Naturism is about the individual's right to be themselves,  while accepting there'll always be some objections.  If two opposing forces can co exist side by side,  that's 'Democracy At  Work.'

As an advocate  of freedom of speech and expression, I believe that nothing should be beyond criticism to a point where the very notion of objection becomes criminality.  'Freedom of speech and expression ' in themselves, should be protected by law.  Such would allow all and sundry to go about their lives without State intrusion and intimidation.   Believers of freedom should always be aware of the dangers of impending absolute State control. Every repressive law restricting freedom is a precursor for yet another repressive Bill.  To reiterate,  once again,  a written constitution including an First Amendment similar to that of the United States would protect liberties being eroded by the State.

It would be an irony of the high order if Naturism-  often described as the Canary in the coal mine of free expression- were to sleepwalk into a situation where protecting their own rights contributed to a State preventing the rights of others.