Censorship enigma

Every now and then I feel the need for a hit of gossip. In these cases I make my way to the news stand in Kuta, Denpasar, where I can buy women magazines from various parts of the globe. Inevitably the story I really want to read is made impossible to comprehend because of the black stain from the spidol rendered with lack of artistry by a man (it must be a man) in the censor office. He is in charge of denipple-izing the world.

Now I live in Bali, and each day I see women's nipples and men's genitalia on show at bath time. Each day I confront my own, with which, despite the ravages of time, I am quite confrontable. Every now and then I bare my body for the tukang pijat (masseur), who as a man is suddenly consumed with raging lust. We often see nipples and bottoms at movie theaters on the screen. Bus loads of tourists from Sumatra make their way to Kuta to look at those on show at the beach.

Women who read women's magazines are no doubt equally familiar with their own anatomy and thus should not be shocked when shown a nipple or a bottom, particularly in the context of an article on health issues such as breast cancer or implants. Increasingly, fashion dictates that nipples are to be on show, which should send the censor's office into frenzied activity over the next few months.

Women are encouraged to breast feed, but the vehicle of this food is not to be shown in magazines -- but is OK in public places. So what I need to ask is, what is the use of these black squiggles that ruin such incredibly expensive magazines (usually sold at twice the price that they sell for in its country of origin)? A nipple, a bottom or even a flash of pubic hair, does not pornography or even erotica make.

MELODY KEMP

Ubud, Bali