80 of 100
One of the wonders of Burning Man is that a woman can invite contact in this way and find that she is treated with respect, and even shy reluctance, by other participants. I watched as several passing men and women cautiously confirmed her desire to be touched and then gave her genuinely comforting contact, usually accompanied by a heartfelt hug and kind words of encouragement. Contrast this with the groping (or worse) that she would receive at a rock concert or a spring break bacchanal, which is the mental image many people have of Burning Man. But Burning Man is different—somehow it creates a self-policing and self-perpetuating atmosphere of benevolence that brings out the best of people in response to an invitation like this.

Order Prints
Visit my home page at Burnmonkey.com for photos of
Burning Man and other regional events.
©2006 by Philosopher