[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Florida Men Strip for Peace

[Margaret E. Kosal]

http://falloutshelternews.com/MenForPeace.htm

>http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2002/12/1555258.php
>Florida Men Strip for Peace
>by FSN • Saturday December 28, 2002 at 08:52 AM
>
>
>Inspired by the brave women of Marine County, California, who created an
>image of the word "Peace," with their nude bodies, Florida men gathered to
>create their own male statement for peace.
>
>On December 21,2002, near Gainesville, Florida, 22 men posed naked to send a
>stunning Peace message to the American people and the war administration.
>Braving the cold, these men from Fort Myers to Gainesville, gathered
>together on a hillside to do the unthinkable: To Bare it all for Peace.
>
>Deeply troubled by the looming war against Iraq, these serious peace
>advocates determined to express their heartfelt desire for peace, by
>crafting the word "PEACE" and the Peace Sign with their nude bodies. These
>images were captured on film by renowned photojournalist and nature
>photographer, John Moran.
>
>The statement of this photo moment was enriched by the fact that many of the
>men who came together to create these images were previously unknown to each
>other. They were bound together by only one thing; their united desire to
>stop the American war machine. " What we did was outrageous, because war is
>outrageous," exclaimed Bob Ellenberg. "All the peace loving people in the
>world need to see what we have done." This depth of passion was echoed by
>Frank Gubasta, who said, "I'd die for a better/peaceful world for my sons to
>grow up in." These men intended for their act to be a dramatic statement and
>they want the chance to express themselves about war and peace. A candidate
>for Tampa City Council, Kelly Benjamin, says, "I'd love to talk with anyone
>about peaceful alternatives to this stupid war."
>
>As the photo session took place, the act took on a somber aspect. One of the
>participants, Jim Cameron, describes the scene as the men moved to take up
>their assigned positions. "As we walked in a broken group through the tall
>grass, I was deeply touched at the sight of everyone against the hills,
>trees, sunlight and blue sky. The group was composed of young college
>students, old hippies, alternative culture folks and Viet Nam vets. But the
>sight of everyone wading through the tall grass was so archetypical and I
>guess reminiscent of the tragedy of war." Once the men were posed for the
>photograph, Mark Kamleiter, an attorney and peace activist, was struck by
>the same symbolism. "These bodies, pale and white, laid out, exposed on the
>ground resembled, symbolically, the dead that the pending war with Iraq will
>most certainly produce."
>
>This peace action was organized by Diane Cardin-Kamleiter and Linda Pollini,
>two Green Party peace activists. It sprang from a growing sense of urgency
>as this country rushes to war. Despite at large peace demonstrations around
>the country, the media has largely ignored the steadily growing peace
>movement. Even the most conservative polls show that almost half of the
>citizens in this county do not want a war with Iraq, yet the mainstream
>media has neglected serious treatment of the anti-war sentiment in this
>country.
>
>Peace activists have been left wondering what will it take to make the press
>stop, look and listen to their earnest peace message. Maybe the media can
>ignore 200,000 demonstrating in Washington, D.C., but would they be able to
>ignore a group of naked men, willing to set aside their modesty in order to
>get their message out? Once the idea was seized upon there was no stopping
>it.
>
>What is sought from this daring act? That all those who see these
>photographs stop and reflect on their meaning and hear the message of Peace.
>
>falloutshelternews.com/MenForPeace.htm