Cover Up Season

The heat is on and all around the world people are being asked to “cover up” or are being accused of a “cover up”.

Not a very nice command or accusation to receive. One way or the other, however, it will happen, that’s life.

Last week Venetian authorities deployed “Decency Stewards” in their elegant St Mark’s Square to ensure half-naked tourists with a penchant for littering do not destroy their “drawing room of Europe”.

Back home in Dubai a topless young woman on a public beach in Jumeirah sparked a cultural sensitivity controversy which luckily did not result in drastic action.

In Malaysia, international pop groups wearing skimpy outfits and others are being told to cover up or be blacklisted.

Although a few among us would laugh at the antics of governments in trying to get people to cover up for moral, cultural or social reasons, medical researchers are saying that the order to cover up is no laughing matter.

Swiss researchers have found that although our bodies need Vitamin D from the sun’s rays we should get it in a matter of ten minutes a day or less.

At other times, we should cover up to protect ourselves from dangerous UV rays and the melanomas they cause because flimsy clothing cannot do the job and neither can sunscreen.

Politicians around the world are also getting flak for “cover ups”. Bush and his coterie are being harangued over Iraq, Blair over terrorism and the Gujarat government for murder.

So what does one do in a season of “cover ups”?

The only solution I can think of right now is that we send polyester abayas to all those half-dressed individuals who are offending sensibilities.

Those Swiss researchers should wear denim jeans and shirts to the beach so they can practise what they preach.

And oh yes, plenty of wool to politicians; they’ll need it again when the truth is out.

Write in and tell us if we should swap it all around.

editor@alnisrmedia.com

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