Just an Observation

I was at the beach this weekend and noticed a rather interesting event. Apparently when you are between the ages of toddler to 6, your parents feel it is perfectly acceptable for you to change clothes in public. Out of your street clothes into your swim wear. What was interesting however was the reactions of the children to this event. The toddlers had no problems going from one outfit to another in front of the beach crowd. The four, five and six year old children had a different take on the matter. Apparently society s a whole seems to begin to instill "shame" of self at this young age. Some kids were crying, others were trying to cover themselves and still others refused because: "you told me not to be naked in front of others." Why are we so caught up with guns and violence, yet the human body is what we are ashamed of? Why is it we have children who express disgust at nakedness in art but if something is being blown up in a movie it's funny? It makes me sad.This, I believe, is the start for many for self-loathing, eating disorders, inferiority complexes and a general discomfort in your own skin. The mere fact that a six year old was reacting so strongly to being naked in public shows how harshly we embed the idea that being naked is bad. Do I want to see everyone in  the free world naked? No, that's not what I am saying. Do I want us to understand that our bodies are beautiful and nothing to be ashamed of and not disgusting, YES. THAT would be a great first step in creating a more well rounded individual without the current hang ups of contemporary society.