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| Fifth Column |
| Baring their anti-war feelings Fighting in Iraq is indecent, not their nakedness, they say |
| 2005-07-01 |
| They've got a picture of one of them. Believe me, lady. That's indecent...nice pit hair. A dozen anti-war activists from Mendocino County took their tops off at high noon in San Francisco's Union Square shopping district Thursday, using what they said was their best weapon to get the public's attention. Within seconds, a motorized cable car packed with tourists stopped in front of Macy's so the out-of-towners could get a better look. "Whoa, get out your cameras and cover your children's eyes," said the driver. "Remember, folks, this is San Francisco," he said. "We let it all hang out here." Oh, boy! Hippie freaks! Members of the Breasts Not Bombs contingent, which included seven women, three men and two young girls, said the war in Iraq is indecent, not their nakedness. "Boobies never hurt anyone," said Sherry Glaser, size 40DDD. Whoa! I'll bet yours could kill somebody! After more than two years of opposition to the war, protesters are having a hard time grabbing headlines, said Sheba Love, size 40D. "We're kinda at our wits' end, so it's come to this," Wits end or tits end? Love said. "But it blows me away that all we have to do is bare our skin and we can cause such a snit." The au naturel protest drew more of a snicker than a snit. They smiled for a crowd of about 50 tourists who took out digital cameras and cell phones to make instant souvenirs. "Hey! Explain this to me!" said an agog visitor from Florida, approaching San Francisco police Sgt. Carl T., who was assigned to keep an eye on the crowd and who really has only a letter for a last name. "It's not illegal," the sergeant told the woman. In San Francisco, very little is... "All right!" she said, giving him a high-five. Technically, the sergeant explained, nudity can be considered misdemeanor indecent exposure if the person in their birthday suit has an intention to titillate. Because the protest is political, not sensual or lewd, it really doesn't count, he said. And then he went to feed some homeless guys and hand out condoms... Many San Franciscans eating their lunch in the Union Square park shook their heads and kept on eating or reading. "God, I hate this city!" said one, rushing away. Must be a breeder! Kill him! Several tourists said the protest irked them not because of the adults, but because Glaser's 9-year-old daughter and the girl's 10-year-old friend, were also bare-chested. The girls brought their half-naked dolls to the protest, too. "I took a picture but made sure the girls weren't in the frame," said Matt Bigos of Boston, in town for his brother's wedding. "You can't put that kind of picture on your computer these days ... you'll get busted. I really don't think it's right they have little girls without shirts." Hey, man! Don't pass judgement on me, you fascist! Breasts Not Bombs said they are trying to make people uncomfortable to get their anti-war message across and to also desensitize people to nudity. The group was formed a year ago, after two of Glaser's friends were made to don their shirts after dancing topless at a Mendocino Park Fourth of July party. That sparked a conversation about indecency and cultural shock values. "We felt breasts are not indecent, but war, and our political leadership, was," said Margaret Howe, who has never had her bust measured. Look at me! Look at me! The group has taken its nude anti-war message to a handful of Mendocino locales and to the offices of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat newspaper. So far, only one official complaint has been filed with police against their group. Union Square was their largest and busiest venue yet. They've even aired a music video on Free Speech TV, with clips from their various demonstrations and set to the tune "I Wanna Be Naked." Free Speech TV. Nope, not part of my cable package. Although they are not the same activists who strip nude and form peace symbols or spell out NO WAR with their bodies, they said they share the same message. "I think what they are doing is great!" said Lindsay Clark, who was selling hot dogs and soft pretzels on the sidewalk outside the entrance to Macy's. "There are a lot of ignorant people around here who could stand to see this," she said. Thank you, Ms. Hot Dog and Pretzel vendor. I'll nominate you for Sandy O'Connor's seat. Rene Palacios, whose job is to wear a bright red jacket and provide sidewalk "customer service" to Union Square tourists for the Gray Line Tours bus company, spent the lunch hour explaining to newcomers that these types of things happen frequently in San Francisco. "This is exactly why San Francisco is a great place to be!" he said, laughing. "These unexpected things just happen in an instant, and you never see it coming." Why don't they just dump acid in the water supply. It's not like anyone could tell the difference. The nipple display certainly surprised Chuck Pollock, who has been panhandling around Union Square for the last decade. But he got into the spirit, lifting his T-shirt for passers-by to make them laugh and drop a few coins in his cup. "I only see the news about once a month when I save enough to get a hotel room," he said. "What's going on? Is Bush still at war?" he asked. Is he the mayor? |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #22 I'm a deadhead and still don't like SF people with attitudes |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-07-01 22:33 |
| #21 beautiful town, some people suck |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-07-01 22:32 |
| #20 You'd be surprised at the SF tourist biz. They are still coming, I am sometimes puzzled at how many. SF has major hotel space and at the moment it seems like the town is pretty full up. |
| Posted by: buwaya 2005-07-01 22:28 |
| #19 It wasn't that warm. 60's. |
| Posted by: buwaya 2005-07-01 22:26 |
| #18 Granny's on Parade. |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-07-01 20:19 |
| #17 I have never been to SF. I am surprised that they have a tourist industry. I imagine that those interested in naked boobies are more likely to visist Las Vegas where the aroma of urine and rotting produce is probably isolated to restrooms and dumpsters. ... I would expect that the naked folks would be more attractive as well. Too bad about the gay guy getting chomped by his tiger, though. I bet that was a great show. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2005-07-01 20:13 |
| #16 DB, the ones who you would like to see nekkid all work in nudie bars making lots of money. Or so I've heard. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2005-07-01 19:40 |
| #15 I'm reminded of the Country Music song, "I don't Look Nekkid Antmore". I don't think they really care what happens in the world, they are only exhibitionists. Bad ones at that. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2005-07-01 19:38 |
| #14 Why don't they hold this same "demonstration" closer to Iraq, where the fighting actually is? Maybe the West Bank? Or better yet "Saudi" Arabia. :-D |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2005-07-01 19:36 |
| #13 realization has little place in their worldview, RC |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-07-01 18:35 |
| #12 I wonder if they realize the people we're fighting would stone them to death for wearing much, much more clothing than that. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-07-01 18:20 |
| #11 I take it it wasn't a foggy summer's day in Baghdad by the Bay. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-07-01 17:33 |
| #10 Why is it that people who insist on getting nekkid in public are never the kind you want to see getting nekkid in the first place? |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2005-07-01 16:59 |
| #9 "said Sheba Love, size 40D." With that name and that - er - presence, any bets what her occupation was? "We felt breasts ..." heh-heh-heh, heh-heh, heh-heh-heh. She said "felt breasts". /Beavis (or is it Butthead?) |
| Posted by: Xbalanke 2005-07-01 16:44 |
| #8 Wits end. Short trip. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-07-01 16:43 |
| #7 Several tourists said the protest irked them not because of the adults, but because Glaser's 9-year-old daughter and the girl's 10-year-old friend, were also bare-chested. The girls are members of the group's youth brigade, "Breasts Nor Bombs". |
| Posted by: BH 2005-07-01 16:13 |
| #6 These are the genuine article, hippies from Mendocino. You don't see them too often in SF anymore. |
| Posted by: buwaya 2005-07-01 16:07 |
| #5 It's not a question of decency..... more like, um, esthetics? |
| Posted by: Sneng Glosh4889 2005-07-01 15:44 |
| #4 "Boobies never hurt anyone," said Sherry Glaser, size 40DDD. Sherry's lower back might have a differing opinion ... |
| Posted by: ExtremeModerate 2005-07-01 15:36 |
| #3 Submit on the left, Preview on the right Submit on the left, Preview on the right Submit on the left, Preview on the right |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-07-01 15:34 |
| #2 havin yore yung dawters do nood protests is indesent. >:( |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2005-07-01 15:29 |
| #1 Ahhhhh, California..... |
| Posted by: Bobby 2005-07-01 15:20 |