How many times have you heard or read that most nudists are people who should not be seen naked? The fact is that the vast majority of people simply don't look like Tom Cruise or Scarlett Johansson - they more closely resemble John Goodman or Kathy Bates. Truly, one of the most wonderful things about nudism is the way that people accept each other, no matter what they look like.As a society, we are getting to a point where our obsession on looks is beginning to obscure anything else that is truly important about a person. Today, the truly despicable Rush Limbaugh took politics to the most extreme, actually wondering out loud if Hillary Clinton simply looks to old to be President of the United States.
Everybody's trying to make themselves look different -- and in that situation, in that case, they think they're making themselves look better. It's just the way our culture has evolved. It's the way the country is. It's like almost an addiction that some people have to what I call the perfection that Hollywood presents of successful, beautiful, fun-loving people. So the question is this: Will this country want to actually watch a woman get older before their eyes on a daily basis?The photo of Hillary in the upper left corner of this post was run on The Drudge Report today with the caption "The toll of a campaign". Have we really sunk this low as a society? In 2004 the neocons managed to turn an American war hero, John Kerry, into a bungling, lying, flip-flopper, and now they are trying to plant the seed that this accomplished woman, a United States Senator, a former First Lady of the United States, a woman who was named one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America, is somehow unqualified simply because of her appearance.
At some point it would seem that the American people will begin rejecting the politics of appearance. I truly hope that as a society we are above this sort of personal attack, but perhaps that is a false hope, that perhaps we really have become a sexualized superficial society, where cruelty knows no bounds. If we let the Rush Limbaughs, Matt Drudges, Michell Malkins and Michael Savages dictate the terms of what is acceptable in society, then we are lost, because these hate merchants only seek to provoke and divide us against ourselves. Shame on them all.
Tags: nudism, naturism, nudist, nudists, naturist, naturists, nudity, nudes, bare, au naturel, nude, naked
4 comments:
You might be interested in The Onion's take on the situation. (video)
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/poll_bullshit_is_most_important
Completely missing the point. The clear point of Limbaugh's rant was the culture - that we put such a price on looks, how can someone who isn't good looking be a prez? As he said, there hasn't been a fat (or 'portly') prez in years, certainly not since the advent of photos and TV. Why? Fat people can't be good leaders?
Just like nudism shows, it doesn't matter. So, as to Hillary Clinton, will the culture accept her as prez if they catch photos of her not looking too good? As she ages, as presidents always seem to do at an accelerated rate?
To read Limbaugh's piece as if he doesn't think she should be prez because of her looks, or something along that line, shows one of two things: either you didn't read it, or you are intellectually dishonest.
"At some point it would seem that the American people will begin rejecting the politics of appearance" is exactly the point of Limbaugh's piece. So, whether you like it or not: you agree with Mr Limbaugh.
It was clearly an attack on Hillary, planting the seed in the minds of voters that she's an old hag, and who wants to see her get older by the minute. The dishonesty here is trying to blame the culture and not take responsibility as a commentator. Limbaugh did not mention the fact that John McCain looks like someone's funny grandpa, and that Fred Thompson looks like an old lazy basset hound. NO, Limbaugh knew exactly what he was doing, and that was shamelessly attacking an accomplished professional woman who is eminently qualified to be President by marginalizing her on the basis of her appearance.
BTW, I am not a Hillay supporter in this race, I just think it's heinous to attack people in this way.
I so enjoy your blog!
"The Politics of Appearance" is a good example of how obsessed we have become in our cultures these days. It is a sad shame that it exists but it seems to be growing moreso than lessening.
But no matter what people do to change their looks, they will eventually get old. No matter what they do to change, hide, or cover up, they will still get old. Maybe then when they are in their senior years will they begin to guide the younger people into not worrying so much about how they look.
Glad you are feeling well!
Sher
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