Previous | WC Home | WC Index | AGA Home | Next

[The water cooler - What Eastsiders are talking about - By Ann Garretson]

"Should the state allow nude beaches in state parks?"
(asked at the Pony Express in Juanita on 04-16-98; published in the EJ on 04-26-98)


[pt.]Jimmy Frank, Singer-artist, Kirkland
[blue rule]
"Yes. Americans, unlike Europeans, are generally afraid of sexuality and it's a healthy thing."

[pt.]Jack Frasl, Small business owner, Kirkland
[blue rule]
"Sure, in designated areas. As long as people aren't bothering anybody, it's okay. We're so conservative here. I travel and I find wherever you go -- Australia, Bali -- no matter how conservative the culture, the international beaches are at least topless."

[pt.]Bonnie Johnson, Cashier, Monroe
[blue rule]
"I'm kind of mixed on that. People who'd like to do that should have the right to make a choice. But I also feel that there are a lot of families that go to the beach and have young children and would be very concerned to have nude people present."

[pt.]Dan Curry, Cashier, Kirkland
[blue rule]
"I believe they definitely should. I feel that this country has a bad attitude toward sex. Although I do agree sex between partners should be kept private, people should be able to talk about sex freely and if they choose not to wear clothes, that's their choice. I'm not really "P.C." about this -- if children see naked people, they don't care. Children run around naked all the time... The image of the perfect body causes people grief and they should be able to enjoy their bodies and be naked if they want to be."

[pt.]Margaret Ames, Self-employed, Kirkland
[blue rule]
"I don't really care. I've been to nude beaches around the world and it doesn't matter to me."

[pt.]Margaret Jack, Nutrition consultant, Kirkland
[blue rule]
"I don't know -- but I tend to think no because I'm a parent of teenagers and I don't want to see lots of nude people running around at all the state parks. And in terms of a law, I'm opposed to it because I don't think people need to have a nude beach."

 

[blue rule]

© 1998 by the Bellevue, WA-based Eastside Journal (née Journal American) newspaper.

If you'd like to comment on this Q, you can e-mail EJ Editorial Page Editor Craig Groshart by clicking here. Please be sure to include the following in your message:

  1. The title you see at the top of this page.
  2. The question to which you're responding(!).
  3. Your name, home (aka snail mail) address and daytime phone number.

Thanks for stopping by and reading "The water cooler"!

Previous | WC Home | WC Index | AGA Home | Next