Young adult: Did you know that the Criminal Code of Canada says you can’t be nude in a public place?
Parent: That sounds reasonable.
Young adult: Except that the Penticton council is thinking of allowing nudists to use a portion of a public beach in a residential area. The public beach has never been a nudist beach, so why would they do that?
Parent: I think the correct term is naturist, and the council was just trying to be nice, you know, trying to please everyone. The naturists also told them that it would be good for the economy.
Young adult: So it is OK to break the law if it makes you money? The decision is not pleasing the locals! The naturists want the whole sandy beach and are suggesting that the locals move to the rocky, dog beach. If they think it is so great, why don’t they move there? At least they wouldn’t be in front of homes.
Parent: That’s true. It would be even better if the naturists could find a secluded beach elsewhere.
Young adult: And what about the lawsuit that the local residents are planning because their properties would be difficult to sell? Is it fair to the taxpayers of Penticton to have to pay a lot of money so that a minority can break the law and be nude in a public place? Is it OK to break the law if you are a special interest group?
Parent: I don’t think the council really intended to endorse breaking the law.
Young adult: Hmmm ... If laws aren’t that important, maybe I can have a few more drinks and drive then?
Parent: What! Don’t do that!
Young adult: Well if I get stopped, I can just tell the officer that I like to socialize this way, my friends and I monitor ourselves and liquor sales are good for the economy.
Parent: Yikes! I don’t really understand this. The council needs to rethink this decision! Perhaps they should try to get the criminal code changed, so that it is in favour of public nudity, before they alter a public family beach.
Anita Mosher
Penticton