Interestingly enough, I copied a picture of The Naked Cowboy and the Clothes less Fringle (does have an apron on, both standing the July Kettle in Times Square, NYC) off Facebook yesterday, to accompany what was going to be a fun post today (including the YouTube link, which unfortunately no longer exists). The subject matter, however, has taken a significant turn making this post a little more serious than it was meant and/or ought to be.
It appears that DHQ has ordered the Corps Officer, Billy Francis, to remove the photos and the link because there were a few complaints. Oh my! How the Army culture has changed over the past Century in New York City. Diane Winston, in her book, Red Hot and Righteous, details a bit of that early Army cultural flair; a panache highly objectionable to a plethora of puritans during that day. Had HQ listened and the antics of those early pioneers quieted, the Army would not be the powerhouse that it is in America today.
Winston quotes an 1896 editorial in the War Cry “…we have commonly preferred to engage a secular place for our meetings…our greatest triumphs have been witnessed in theatres, music halls, rinks, breweries, saloons, stores and similar places.” Oh my! Theaters, breweries, saloons, wonder what the purists had to say about that? Had those in authority listened, where would we be today?
She further writes, “Similarly, its evangelical street workers invented ever more dramatic ploys…staged ‘trials’ of the devil…preached from coffins…and appeared as ‘specialty’ acts with names such as the Golden Minstrel, the Saved Cowboy, and the Converted Pugilist.”
Saved Cowboy, Converted Pugilist! And the cowboy’s not naked; he’s wearing SpongeBob Squarepants briefs and cowboy boots for goodness sake. Is that a tattoo of Christ I detect on his left shoulder? The truth is, if we continue to listen to the objectors, where will we be tomorrow? Where are we today? Not to worry, the objectors are far and few between because we’re playing it a little bit safer today. Now that’s the naked truth!
Stay tuned for a continuation of this theme in the next post.
JN
2 comments:
Given your familiarity with history, you must surely realize there is a contextual basis to historical events. Progressive change is engendered through advancement of the organization's mission, not a gimmicky video of a man who chooses to run around Times Square while practically naked. Drawing a missiological comparison between The Salvation Army's earlier development with a stunt planned by the Corps Officer and naked cowboy is seemingly illogical at best. It would be appropriate to accept and thank the naked cowboy for his donation to The Salvation Army, but advertising this 15 second interaction is irresponsible behavior by the officer and those who endorse or even encourage such a dubious event. Consider for a moment the impact of this type of picture were it to become a global representation of The Salvation Army in the United States; how might this picture be interpreted by other cultures who don't have as liberal a world view as is often found in the United States. Is the explanation "pas de deux" viable for anyone who questions this stunt? The video is still available on the Corps Officer's youtube account, so apparently your post isn't accurate or officers don't much care to support the evangelical mission as an Army, but rather as an individual.
The cowboy wasn't wearing much but he was not naked. You better not go to the beach anywhere or to a public pool. It may not have been what some of us would post but it sure did make a commotion did it not? I think my baggy swim trunks look pretty bad.Maybe we are jealous ? Over kill.
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