At SUNY-Geneseo: Make Naked Peace Signs, Not War

Actually, if you look into free speech, and the obscenity clauses, you will find some interesting things:

1973, there was a ruling in the supreme court Miller V California, establishing a 3 tiered obscenity clarification between what is obscene, and unprotected, and what is not obscene thus protected under first amendment. Sexual conduct is not allowed, as this would be considered obscene. In new york, sexual conduct means genital contact, masturbation, homosexuality, or sexual intercourse. This does not include being naked, and more importantly using your naked body, as a tool for political expression. Yes, there are laws against public nudity, but since it is clearly part of a political demonstration, it is protected under first amendment laws, as it passes the obscenity screening.

nudity in this case was one of the essential parts of our demonstration. Why Naked, then, in a call for peace?? The naked body is a very natural and beautiful thing. Peace, as well is a very Natural, and Beautiful thing. Our bodies were then used, as a tool connecting these concepts, to express our call for peace in a political art installment.

I write letter to my politicians. I march in protests. I smile at strangers. I hold signs on street corners. I drop peace banners.

My message has fallen deaf upon our politicians. People have closed their windows, on protest march routes. Strangers turn away and frown. [?] My Peace Banners are taken down.

I still hold 100% pride in this work of mine. I dont think that simply being naked is a way for change. We were more than naked. We were using our bodies as tools to call for peace. Too many people look solely at the fact that we were naked, because it is socially against the norms; the public cant handle it.

car wreck attention grabbing ways of social change seem to be what works. Rosa Parks sat on that bus seat. My Naked body was on the green.

So, did i solve world peace? No. If nothing more, Dialogue has happened, and people are talking about peace. and i am happy about that.

two days from now, members at Geneseo will strip down for peace, again. Campus administrators have said that they are unsure if it will be considered protected speech this year, or not. This was said, days after anti homosexual protesters were given permission to stand on the green slandering homosexuals, calling the Quran a terrorist plan book, and looking students in the eyes telling them that they are going to hell for the people that they are. this caused intimidation, fear, unrest and feelings of disrespect, and hate among students, staff and other college community members. This was protected by free speech? Yet, now it is being questioned as to weather or not the college will acknowledge our action as free speech or not.

Nudity is not the focus of our piece. Merly a tool, as a paintbrush is the painters tool, and the tooth brush the dentists tool. my naked body is my tool.

Wake up America, we need PEACE!

WORLD PEACE.

-John Whelehan

John Whelehan of NY 9:41PM October 06, 2008