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Barefoot professor in Virginia preaches shoelessness
Washington Post ^ | October 17, 2010 | Daniel de Vise

Posted on 10/18/2010 2:30:37 PM PDT by FTJM

Daniel Howell, a biology professor at Virginia's Liberty University, is on a "crusade to challenge America's cultural addiction to shoes", according to a feature in the Richmond Times-Dispatch that has hit the wires.

Howell "likens the shoe to a cast that immobilizes an otherwise healthy foot and prevents it from functioning as nature intended," the article says.

His argument doesn't always go over well in restaurants. So he carries a letter from the state health department that says bare feet in a restaurant is not a health code violation.

Howell teaches biology at Liberty and is required to wear shoes in the classroom. He took to barefoot walking by way of barefoot running, a practice that is, by contrast, well within the bounds of social acceptability.

He is author of "The Barefoot Book: 50 Great Reasons to Kick Off Your Shoes".

(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: barefoot; napl
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1 posted on 10/18/2010 2:30:40 PM PDT by FTJM
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To: FTJM

Yeah. Nails and broken glass might cut the feet, but they’ll heal, if they don’t get infected.


2 posted on 10/18/2010 2:32:35 PM PDT by RoadTest (Religion is a substitute for the relationship God wants with you.)
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To: FTJM

Because the lord knows that shoes are the worst thing ever, its the biggest crisis we have right now.


3 posted on 10/18/2010 2:33:19 PM PDT by GeronL (http://libertyfic.proboards.com <--- My Fiction/ Science Fiction Board)
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To: FTJM

I’m in Virginia - but always wear sandals except when the snow gets above 2 inches. Barefoot is a little tough...


4 posted on 10/18/2010 2:33:31 PM PDT by 103198
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To: FTJM
to challenge America's cultural addiction to shoes

Notice how it's America's addiction.

I thought that people were wearing shoes in a whole lot of places, a long time before America was invented.

But somehow, it's America's fault.

5 posted on 10/18/2010 2:37:07 PM PDT by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: FTJM

He’d be run out of town if Craddock-Terry were still in business.


6 posted on 10/18/2010 2:37:52 PM PDT by Hunton Peck ("Pork: The Other White Meat!" De facto motto of the late Robert Byrd)
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To: Frantzie
Ok. So now here's a question!

If a VETERAN goes into a "no shirt no shoes" restaurant barefoot, should they seat him anyway? =)

7 posted on 10/18/2010 2:40:57 PM PDT by sam_paine (X .................................)
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To: FTJM

“Howell “likens the shoe to a cast that immobilizes an otherwise healthy foot and prevents it from functioning as nature intended,” the article says.”

Not entirely untrue, which is why I like sheepskin boots and moccasins, which are way better for walking across gravel or accidentally stepping in a pile of Obama.


8 posted on 10/18/2010 2:41:51 PM PDT by Psalm 144
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To: FTJM

I’m all for that! Shorts, flip-flops and tank tops work for me!


9 posted on 10/18/2010 2:45:41 PM PDT by CodeToad (Islam needs to be banned in the US and treated as a criminal enterprise.)
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To: FTJM

I guess the idiot never heard of hookworm.


10 posted on 10/18/2010 2:49:20 PM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: Psalm 144

http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3856655


11 posted on 10/18/2010 2:50:02 PM PDT by ameribbean expat
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To: FTJM
Howell "likens the shoe to a cast that immobilizes an otherwise healthy foot and prevents it from functioning as nature intended," the article says.

Yet when Paul talks about putting on the whole armor of God, he speaks of having your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel. Also, John the Baptist when speaking about Jesus said "I am unworthy to untie the laces of His shoes". So both Jesus and Paul seemed to find some value in shoes for the protection of feet.

12 posted on 10/18/2010 2:52:52 PM PDT by VRWCmember (Jesus called us to be Salt and Light, not Vinegar and Water.)
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To: FTJM
If you don't have a shoe, how can you throw one at Bush?
13 posted on 10/18/2010 2:54:20 PM PDT by Leo Farnsworth (I'm really not Leo Farnsworth.)
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To: FTJM
Exodus 12:11 - "Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste - it is the LORD'S Passover."

God's commandment to the Hebrews in Egypt as they prepared for their Passover feast was to be ready to depart quickly for their journey, which included already having their shoes on their feet.

14 posted on 10/18/2010 2:59:52 PM PDT by VRWCmember (Jesus called us to be Salt and Light, not Vinegar and Water.)
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To: FTJM

Yeah, he can come on up hiking through the sharp rocks and cactus where I live.


15 posted on 10/18/2010 3:02:17 PM PDT by Inyo-Mono (Had God not driven man from the Garden of Eden the Sierra Club surely would have.)
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To: FTJM

Moses and Joshua, whom God chose to lead His people, wore shoes. God only told them to remove their shoes when the place they were standing was Holy. At no other time than when they were standing on Holy Ground did God ever instruct anyone to remove their shoes.


16 posted on 10/18/2010 3:02:47 PM PDT by VRWCmember (Jesus called us to be Salt and Light, not Vinegar and Water.)
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To: FTJM
Howell teaches biology at Liberty and is required to wear shoes in the classroom. He took to barefoot walking by way of barefoot running, a practice that is, by contrast, well within the bounds of social acceptability.

Yes, Howell tells us how to solve the problems of the world, problems he avoided by becoming a professor. I seriously doubt that he would go barefoot in a New York taxi cab, or, similarly, a well used outhouse.

17 posted on 10/18/2010 3:04:20 PM PDT by olezip
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To: FTJM
The article doesn't allude to the prof's politics, but I suspect that he's just another kooky hippie leftist. He's not content with just doing something different and going about his business. He has to preach at people that EVERYBODY should be doing it!

They're not content to simply mind their own business, drive their Priuses, forego deodorant, avoid eating meat, live in their eco-huts, etc. etc. etc. Seriously, why do the hippies think they have to compel everyone else to do things their way?

18 posted on 10/18/2010 3:07:01 PM PDT by GenXFreedomFighter (If you disagree with me, you're a big fat racist, sexist meanie who eats babies.)
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To: FTJM

We have an addiction to oil and to shoes. What’s next? Indoor plumbing?


19 posted on 10/18/2010 3:08:34 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: FTJM
A kooky suggestion today, a serious one tomorrow, a demand the next, and after that, Obama takes over the shoe industry and shuts it down. That's how the liberal mind works.

I've said it before and now is a good time to repeat it: The bastards want us all to walk to work everyday on dirt paths in our bare feet.

20 posted on 10/18/2010 3:09:05 PM PDT by LibWhacker (America awake!)
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