Nudity’s in beholder mind

By OYUNGA PALA

There was a lot of brouhaha generated recently over a Vaseline billboard that displays media personality Sheila Mwanyigah, showing what some people thought was too much some skin.  I finally stumbled upon the controversial billboard two weeks ago, and as I drove past it, I craned my neck and was generally pleased with what I saw. Some nudity was on display, but it was laid out tastefully. I failed to see the moral danger that some have alluded to. There is space for a little artistic expression in packaging a product for consumer advertising and people need to stop being so hang up over their prejudices. We see what is in our minds.

Blurted

 This hue and cry by the moral police brings to mind a story I read years ago about two Buddhist monks. They came from a strict order that practiced severe celibacy and shunned contact with women. One day, the two monks from this order stumbled upon a beautiful woman by a riverside. The woman was unsure of the strength of the current and was afraid to cross the shallow river on her own. Without much hesitation, one of the monks scooped her up and walked her across the river. He laid her down on the opposite bank and she parted after thanking him for his courtesy. The two monks then continued with their onward journey to their monastery. After walking in silence for six kilometres, the offended monk finally blurted out, “How could you carry that woman?” It is against our teachings?” His colleague simply smiled in reply. “I left her by the river bank six kilometres away. Are you still carrying her?” They are more serious things to worry about in this country, like how only 6% of the country’s past years’ public expenditure can be accounted for.