Certainly there are more important events and concerns to which one ought currently to devote one's attention. However, sometimes insight into the mind and spirit of others will come from attention to the smallest of details. Consider the following bit from BBC News South Asia:

'Dress code for quake aid workers'

The authorities in the Pakistani town of Mansehra say they are drawing up guidelines for aid workers helping victims of last year's earthquake.

They want to ensure their dress and behavior does not offend sensibilities in North West Frontier Province.

Some Muslim clerics accused women working for international aid organizations — including Pakistani women — of dressing improperly.

They were also alleged to have danced with men and consumed banned alcohol.

Would be interesting to know precisely what constitutes immodest dress for quake aid workers. And, by golly, dancing with men and consuming alcohol will certainly rankle the most liberal of Muslim clerics.

Though located in the Muslim archipelago of Indonesia/Malaysia, there must be no supervisory clerics on the Survivor Island of Pulau Tiga. Otherwise, the show's rating would certainly suffer from religiously—imposed over—dressing despite the tropical climate. How fortunate for CBS considering the recent history of their news department.

Dennis Sevakis 08 05 06