The result, of course, was that it worked. People did indeed take notice, she was on the front page of the Vancouver Sun. But is she only going to be remembered as a half naked woman? Maybe. But it doesn't matter. Because she WILL be remembered, and her story, her cause DID make the front page of the Vancouver Sun, and people SAW her nekkid ass out there and they READ the story. Too many capitalizations, I know. But the point is, the story is out there now. And before it wasn't. And if the lady hadn't taken off her clothes, it still wouldn't be. It doesn't really matter about the future. It matters about the present. And even if the future were important, she would be remembered as a half naked woman. But at least she would be remembered.
What does this say about our society? Are we all so shallow that we need a pair of breasts staring us in the face before we notice the important issues? The thing is, sex sells. It always has and it always will. Why is this? Because sex is taboo. The Puritan influence has been strong on North America, and indeed the world, these last few centuries. Not only is it discouraged to talk about sex, it is discouraged to even think about it. This is starting to disappear, witness things such as the Vagina Monologues. But the attitude is so deeply entrenched in our way of thinking, that it will take a long long time to rid ourselves of it. In other cultures, older civilizations, they acknowledged the importance that sex and sensuality has on human beings. And indeed, the sex drive within all of us is strong. It is also repressed. Women who like sex are called nymphomaniacs or sluts or other demeaning names. Men who like sex are just men. And in fact, the unending desire for sex has become somewhat of a stereotype for men, and men are.....shall we say disapproved of by society for such actions.
There's a lot more to it than this, and maybe one day when I'm less tired I'll tackle it. For now, remember the image of a woman clad only in her undies riding a horse and saving some trees.