The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Yes, Virginia

12.4.02 @ 12:01AM

(Page 2 of 2)

57 TAX BREAK FLAVORS
Re: Editor's Note, Kerry On:

A "tax break for the rich" that Senator Kerry derided on "Meet The Press" Sunday. From the Sacramento Bee: "H.J. Heinz announced Friday (Nov. 22) that a plan to spin-off brands such as StarKist Tuna and 9-Lives cat food to Del Monte Foods will be tax-free to the companies and their shareholders. The Internal Revenue Service's decision capped a regulatory review that was the final hurdle for the companies to complete the estimated $2.5 billion deal, which includes transferring $1.1 billion in debt to Del Monte."
-- Anthony Rohl
California

CONSERVATISM STRIPPED BARE
Regarding "Born to Lose" by R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr., I am in general agreement. Perhaps President Reagan had the best saying when at the 1984 Republican Convention he stated, "Did I leave the Democratic Party, or did the Democratic Party leave me?"

However, it was disappointing that Mr. Tyrrell painted nudists as a bunch of leftists and nudism being a public health menace.

The terms naturism and nudism are both basically the same thing meaning social clothes-free/nude recreation void of open sexual activity as a central theme. This is not to be confused with natur*al*ism which is activities like bird watching although many naturists are also naturalists.

Naturists believe mere nudity is wholesome, healthy, and is neither sensational nor shameful. While clothing can be useful such as when it's cold, nudity is considered more sensually pleasant and comfortable in many situations. Those naturists that no longer deal with cold, clammy, miserable swimsuits full of irritating sand likely know this quite well!

Naturists make up males and females of all ages, physical shapes/appearances, racial and ethnic backgrounds, political and ideological views, income brackets, and most religions. While there are probably more Democrats and liberals in nudism, you will find many Republican and/or conservative nudists as well judging from those I've met, those that post on naturist message boards, and from informal polls (I'm not that knowledgeable, but I wouldn't be surprised if the extreme environmental and animal rights groups are almost totally left-wing, and socialism by its nature is left of center). Toddlers and kids are often natural naturists as many parents have found out and studies suggest kids raised as nudists may have higher self-esteem, lower body shame and far lower teen pregnancy rates than textile kids. Few naturists have "perfect" bodies and anyway are much more interested in inside personalities than outside body shapes. Many Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Pagans, etc. feel naturism is compatible with their faiths.

There are communities that apparently don't think naturism is a public health menace. There exists clothing-optional beaches at Haulover Beach, FL, Gunnison Beach, NJ, North Baker Beach, CA, etc. Voters in Wilmington, Vermont, after first banning nudity, have returned The Ledges to being a naturist beach again. In addition, it is becoming somewhat common for family-oriented naturist resorts to be admitted by the local Chamber of Commerce.

A 2000 Roper poll by the Naturist Education Foundation (part of The Naturist Society) showed significantly higher acceptance of naturism compared to a similar poll in 1983 (see). Nudists generally don't want to offend so acceptance of naturist beaches and resorts is largely tied to society at large accepting naturism. This is a goal of both the American Association for Nude Recreation and The Naturist Society.

While nudists may be a small part of the population, it's hoped that conservatism is not trying to leave nudists behind (no pun intended) as often one of the few differences between moral/political conservatives and nudists is the dress code.
-- George Martin
Kentucky Campus Nude Recreation

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Education, Religion, Environment, Law, Iraq, Russia, NATO, Socialism, Conservatism