The Uncut Diamond

The Uncut Diamond

I was intrigued to read on the on the Blog for the INA website firstly how modern-day clothes instead of helping modern day sports people; by the nature of the materials they use are in fact a hindrance. Especially when you consider how the athletes from Greek and Roman times competed naked. Equally, that around Cork they believe that they have found the first sauna in the world from the Bronze Age. Which then leads to me to reflect that this confirms a belief that has been steadily growing the more one discovers about naturism. In its own way naturism is an ‘uncut diamond;’ in that as we patiently cut and so create each particular prism it provides us with so many shades of colour.

The first streams of light emerge from the beginning of time when Adam and Eve first inhabited our planet earth. During the course of time whether you view this prism directly or indirectly through naturism how it diffuses to that of religion, commerce to create the appropriate clothing for our requirements throughout the world. This then cascades in creating social structures by the quality and nature of the clothing we wear; whether it be for our ordinary lives at work and or at home, let alone for the state, military, and religious purposes. Through the study of anatomy it has and still does assist us with medicine and surgery; so that we may help the human body recover from illness and or operations. By understanding how our bodies work through patient study it has contributed to us having a better of understanding as to how we apply engineering to our everyday ‘wants and needs.’ As we have acquired wealth, power and privilege as time has progressed. This has meant the creation and the evolution of law to protect and even increase our possessions and how justice is used for this purpose. It then flows into history, geography, business, economics, etc as to how mankind has behaved in the past and present with one another; with the consequence that of global warming affecting everyone of us on this planet, both for the present and especially in the future.

And so it was that when I read the blog about the International Naturist Federation meeting in the naturist resort of Zipolite in Mexico that a bell rang in my mind. The more I reflected upon this sound, the louder it became. It was not about whether the INF should meet to discuss and decide the future path of naturism. Such decisions would need to be made somewhere on this planet. It was rather through one particular prism as to what does it say about naturism. In that a number of naturists have flown halfway around the world for this meeting to be naked; but that not a ‘million’ miles away from where they were meeting where ordinary men, women and children struggling to find any clothes at all to wear, let alone to put food on the table. Has naturism become something only for the ‘wealthy’ on this planet to participate in? Is it now some sort of mark of progress to show how a region/state has economically progressed over the centuries? Is this some sort of mark of achievement that whereas previously their forefathers and mothers saw the landed gentry flaunt their wealth and power; whilst they struggled to provide any clothing whatever the state of the climate, let alone find any food and clean water, culminating in a desperate desire to migrate anywhere in the world for a better life? Is this a circle simply re-occurring, with migrants continuously seeking to cross whatever seas or land before them to find a better life?

Now it would be tempting to declare what the answer(s) to this conundrum should be. However, it strikes me that as I mentioned earlier that naturism/nakedness whichever is the most appropriate word seems to me a fascinating subject that requires immense study. The problem is that throughout all the ages in which Universities, etc have conducted research none to my knowledge have viewed it directly through the ‘uncut diamond’ of naturism. Now I am perfectly willing to be corrected on this point.

If I may tackle this point from another perspective. If I were wishing to learn more about playing a particular instrument; becoming an artist, sportsperson; etc even if only as an amateur. Then I would need to pass/achieve various grades to receive an initial school certificate of some kind before proceeding onto graduation for a degree; even a Doctorate on the subject. As one progressed along this journey; whether one was able to physically undertake some or all of the tasks or not. One would be able to explain to family, friends, and colleagues as to what you were striving to do and why. Equally, the organisation(s) providing this education/training would be of the highest calibre to maintain and enhance the reputation/standards of playing that particular instrument; drawing; etc. For example; it may well be, as with Beethoven, later in life that although he may have been deaf, his musical training still enabled him to be involved in creating and performing music at the highest level.

And so I wonder whether this may be the way for naturism to become more known and appreciated by the wider world. Rather than it being possibly perceived as being something from a ‘Carry On’ film of laying around naked doing nothing; or very little at least. That by studying the subject; even if one never actually participated in being naked individually and or collectively. It would give them and the wider world a greater appreciation of what the true history of naturism is all about. Consequently, answers could and should be found as how naturists, whether they have any ascetic religious faith or not, can become engaged with the wider community in contributing what clothes/possessions/wealth that they do not need to those in more unfortunate economic and social circumstances. If we only need to wear clothes as and when necessary, what economic resources could and should be released to assist those less fortunate to ourselves on this planet suffering directly and or indirectly from that of global warming.

In simple terms, if we have a universal mindset; then we can explore, observe, appreciate, and so inspire our fellow man and woman to our mutual benefit so that we become part of a virtuous ever-expanding circle. Otherwise, if our mindset is on the particular, the parochial. Then through continuous protest we cause division and insularity to the point of self-righteous complacency and so enter a vicious ever decreasing circle.

Dr John McDermott