More than 120 Americans met in on private property 30 miles west of
Portland, Oregon to form the Chinese symbol for "peace" with their
clothed - and then nude - bodies.
What did it look like? See for yourself by visiting
http://www.explorers-club.com/peace where you will find photos
taken by designer Daniel Dancer.
Participants came from all walks of life and ranged from their late
teens through fifties, some with relatives in the military currently
serving in Iraq, some with friends who were in New York City on 9/11,
some with military experience themselves. While each person's reasons
for participating were individual, all agreed that engaging in this
communal meditation and reaffirmation on the value of peace during
conflict was of great importance. One young woman burst out, "We have
to do this!" before joining more than 100 men and women already
assembled in the field. Her sentiments were echoed by all involved.
Although rained out the week before, the Sunday gathering received
weather blessings and went off without a hitch. Participants in a
nearby "bikers and rednecks for Bush" party gathered on the roadside to
ask questions, speculate, and ultimately express admiration for the
group members' willingness to face the cool early spring temperatures.
No incidents occurred and, although a banner reading "Support Our
Troops" was not successfully unfurled, Nude for Peace participants who
heard about it later expressed support and concern for those serving in
the Gulf and a hope that the war would end soon with a minimum of
military and civilian casualties.
Upon completion of the design, several Nude for Peace participants
adjourned to share soup and bread while further discussing the Gulf War
and its possible long-term affects upon the country and world.