Friday, January 29, 2010

When Going Nude Was The Way To Go



I do not remember what my reason(s) was/were then but I never told my friends that men in our village, it does not matter what age, wore nothing but loin cloths, like the teen age boy in the above photo. The cloth functioned more as a protection rather than  serve as a cover. Could it be that was I ashamed of my own people or was I just afraid they would be judged by my friends based on what they were taught to believe were the makings of a civilized people? I knew that if Eva had seen this photo then, she would be kneeling in the confessional box the first opportunity she got asking forgiveness for allowing her eyes to look at an indecent photograph and for associating with someone who kept photos of naked men.

Whether I was ashamed or afraid, one thing was sure. I did not know it then but the system was doing a good job educating me away from my own people.

8 comments:

  1. I'm glad to see you posting again Gma Julia.

    Knowledge truly is power. When I was a kid my brother and I would look at national geographic magazines a wonder why tribal women walked around bare chested and others didn't. Thankfully we grew up with parents who encouraged us to research the answer. Still today we question women who covers themselves up more than those who let it all hang out. ;)

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  2. Genial brief and this fill someone in on helped me alot in my college assignement. Thanks you for your information.

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  3. i'm so sorry to know that. education was never meant to do away with our own culture. as you may know, we have a general culture and a subculture, most especially if the country is an archipelago.

    i sensed ardent Catholicism there, and I'd like to make it on record that being one made me feel guilty all the time, for whatever reason.

    i hope you can feel your way again back to your roots...

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  4. Covering the body in fig-leaf clothing is the first stage of cloaking a free and open mind to channel it into the purposes of others.
    We have no need for clothes most times of year out here in the rainforest.
    See http://hermetic.blog.com

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  5. I don't think you were ashamed - more the latter after reading some of your other posts!

    Its good to see you writing again!

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  6. I suspect that you are a wise and good person by nature Julia - and have become even more so with the passing of years!
    For many others though - such as myself - generosity of nature does not appear to be inherent and self enlightenment comes only slowly, with age and learning.
    Born 'white British', with words such as 'Colonialism, British Empire and Commonwealth', ringing in my newborn ears, I and others of my generation, were shamelessly encouraged to consider ourselves 'superiour' in the world.
    Fortunately though, wisdom comes with experience - and I have in later years often been ashamed of my ethnicity, national culture and history.
    Insight into and refusal to accept and practice British behaviours and attitudes, that disgust(ed) and shame(ed) me, came gradually (but still only after the arrogance/ignorance of youth), along with the realisation that ultimately, we must all take responsibility for our own thoughts and deeds in this world. And it is these that we are measured by.
    I am still 'white British' by birth and upbringing, but hopefully (oh I do hope so!) in old age, a much better 'Me'!

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  7. Very shorts, simple and easy to understand, bet some more comments from your side would be great

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  8. Hoping to see your writing again...

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