Pajamas Media

90 Comments

1. Osama:

Arafat made it famous? Maybe to the fey Left, but it is a STANDARD item of attire in Jordan, Iraq and the Gulf. The fact is it has been hijacked by these morons.

Mar 5, 2009 - 1:49 am 2. eurabitopian:

Here in Al Andaluz (Spain) the sporting of Jihadi tea towels is spreading like a rash. They come in multiple colours (which is probably haram) and are suicidally popular with gays (definitely haram).

I love to see these bright young luvvies visiting my local kebab shop expecting to gain some kudos due to their terrorist neckwear. Only problem, the owner is a Christian Lebanese.

I dread to think what they get in veggie falafel kebabs.

Mar 5, 2009 - 3:01 am 3. Ken Besig:

Arabs routinely wear a keffiyeh in Israel and the Arab world because it is both comfortable and useful given the extremes in the weather here. When someone in the West wears one, however, it is a political statement supportive of Islamic terrorism against Israel and an indication of the anti Semitism of the wearer.

Mar 5, 2009 - 3:10 am 4. suztours:

It’s only the black & white keffiyah which is associated with the PLO. The solid white or red & white is part of typical Bedouin attire, especially of the Saud family and that of the Hashemites of Jordan (the Jordanian Legion wear the red & white as part of the uniform). In this part of the world, symbols are everything, so wearing the black & white illustrates support for terrorism while wearing the red & white or solid white is perfectly acceptable as a fashion accessory.

While “profiling” is considered illegal in the United States, this should not preclude Americans from learning about the symbols used for particular reasons in other countries, especially those where Americans often travel or do business!

suzanne pomeranz
jerusalem, israel

Mar 5, 2009 - 3:33 am 5. Craig:

Political statement. Period. End of Arafat story.

Mar 5, 2009 - 3:39 am 6. Charles R. Williams:

I have a red and white keffiyeh – called a shemagh – with a agal and the skull cap that goes under it all. It is a gift from my Saudi students. I do not consider it a political statement at all but an expression of their affection and appreciation. Unfortunately, there will be few occasions when I can wear it, but I would be proud to wear it on these occasions.

The black and white keffiyeh is characteristic of Palestine. One should view Americans wearing it as either a kind of silly radical chic or an expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people which does not imply any endorsement of terrorism. I have friends, colleagues and students who are Palestinian. These are people whom I respect without endorsing their views on Israel.

Mar 5, 2009 - 3:57 am 7. James S.:

I think you are going the wrong way with this. Don’t let them keep it as a symbol. Make sure as many people as possible wear one no matter thier beliefs. Dilute it as a symbol. Take it away from them. make it no more of a political symbol than Wrangler jeans or a Gucci purse. Boycoting has the potential to amplify the symbol. Let them try to stop it being diluted!

Mar 5, 2009 - 4:08 am 8. Grantman:

Osama, you’re right, they have hijacked standard attire, however, to Reut’s point, Arafat made it “famous” in the West. Reut’s not talking about Jordanians wearing it; she’s talking about impressionable students (and dim bulbs like Dean) wearing it without knowing how its meaning has changed by the politicization of the garment.

Mar 5, 2009 - 4:14 am 9. Shef Rogers:

So now a basic piece of Arab clothing is equivalent to a swastika? This site publishes some truly sick stuff from the Israeli right wing.

Mar 5, 2009 - 4:15 am 10. Marie Claude:

Once upon a time,the keffiyeh was said to be distinctive, wealthy people wore it

Mar 5, 2009 - 4:20 am 11. vb:

Marie Claude–So did supporters of Baader-Meinhof.

Mar 5, 2009 - 4:32 am 12. David:

Best Place To Buy a Keffiyeh? A Couple Miles From Ground Zero. http://posthumousluger.com/?p=139

Mar 5, 2009 - 5:44 am 13. MarkD:

It’s as cool as a Che T shirt. It provides warning that the wearer is ignorant or amoral. What’s not to like about this trend?

Mar 5, 2009 - 5:58 am 14. mk:

Now I don’t really care if some teenager wants to wear the keffiyeh. But I gotta tell you, that after spending time in Israel and points around there, it makes me cross on the other side of the street.

I truly doubt that the brain dead moron who serves me coffee at Starbucks is going to go all suicide bomb-y on my arse, but it makes me flinch just a little bit.

Of course, I explained it to one of them once and she basically said that she thought it was, like, totally awesome and junk and didn’t realize it was something one wears when one screams “itbach al-yahud”.

Mar 5, 2009 - 6:11 am 15. Laura:

Most people are ignorant of the realities of the Middle East, they believe what they read and see in the MSM. The kids are wearing them because they are trendy. When I see Arab adults wearing them, that concerns me. They know exactly what it is.

Mar 5, 2009 - 6:50 am 16. Deborah:

“Jihadi tea towel!” I love it and so much easier to say than keffiyeh. When I see someone wearing a jihadi tea towel, I automatically discredit them, no matter what. Total zero. Ditto for anything with “Che” on it.

There’s some great head-gear here, especially at 3:31.
http://www.navy.mil/media/OtherMedia/YearInReview/yir08/start_here.html

Mar 5, 2009 - 7:35 am 17. one of my own:

I feel the same way about sleeveless plaid shirts . . . attire of the enemy . . . evidence of violent tendencies . . . a warning of impending beer farts . . . worn to self-identify with other members of the Sloth & Dumb Club. Except for Larry the Cable Guy, of course. He tells a really funny joke about, oh what was it . . . hang on . . . oh, yeah . . . Get er Done! I love that. Get er done!

Mar 5, 2009 - 7:38 am 18. trangbang68:

Indeed its a statement of politically and morally obtuse young people. In their morally equivalent world; Jews bad, Palestinians good. Its all part of the dumbing down of the West.
What they fail to realize is their embracing of the symbols of Jihad put them on the same ground as methed out skinheads in Idaho wearing swastikas.
I marveled while living down South at the insensitivity of folks flying the stars and bars.(Yeah I know it’s all about heritage). If your symbol offends large groups of others why insist on flying it. The hip cats wearing keffiyahs fail to grasp how the culture they celebrate would rejoice to slit their throats.
Gays wearing the Hitler in Headscarves gear is appropriate as Arafat was known to fly off to Europe for some action.

Mar 5, 2009 - 7:39 am 19. Blackwater:

It’s a political statement. The fashion, music and entertainment industry in general always does this. They glorify whoever our enemy is in the name of “greater understanding”. They’d say that they don’t want whoever our enemy is said to be by our government to be overly demonized. A lot of it is probably flat out support for our enemies with the extremist types due to politically and intellectually ingrained self-hatred.

I used to be into the hardcore underground hiphop and punk rock scene. They totally glorify the monsters of the world and at the same time demonize our own governmnet and country. They think terrorists are “real ganagstas” and way more “legit” than even their own “gangstas”. “Cuz yo they got dem real bombs and machine guns goin’ off in their hood”. I’m not kidding. I specifically heard crap like that a lot.

They flat out admire islamist terrorist organizations like hamas and hezbollah. Also a lot of times these organizations causes are presented to them in racisl terms. Like hamas is scene as 50s and 60s era civil rights activist organizations fighting for “justice” against the “racist zionists”. They protray the Israel/islamist conflict in racial terms like South African apartheid. As fair skinned people once again abusing brown skinned people.

That resonates with urban black youth AND even surburban white youth (and adults even) who have been brainwashed into that crap of irrational hatred towards white people. Being unpatriotic is glamorized in the liberal movement. Not to mention a lot of these urban fashion and music artists are muslims who usually have anti-Israel and pro-islamists agendas in my experience.

Mar 5, 2009 - 7:57 am 20. Bugs:

Larry the Cable Guy doesn’t murder innocent people.

Mar 5, 2009 - 7:58 am 21. therealist:

I saw my wife wearing one and told her she looked like a Jihadi. She said that everyone’s wearing them now. I made a passionate argument that its disrespectful to those whose lives have been affected by terrorism and she agreed. But she may still be wearing it – I’m not sure if principles won out over fashion or vice versa.

Mar 5, 2009 - 8:04 am 22. Pee Wee Herman, Community Organizer:

Or as we used to call them in the Magic Kingdom, “rag and a fanbelt”. The fanbelt doesn’t seem to be chic in the west, though.

Mar 5, 2009 - 8:23 am 23. one of my own:

20 Bugs: Neither does Rachel Ray, but that didn’t stop the Right from boycotting Dunkin Donuts. Game over, Play again?

Mar 5, 2009 - 8:33 am 24. fred:

Marxists, cultural Marxists, and post-modernists – they are all given over to lying and deception. Just as the Muslims practice taqiyya. Yes, they wear this, many quite unthinkingly, in solidarity with killers and Jew haters.

Scum, the lot of ‘em!

Mar 5, 2009 - 8:49 am 25. Karin:

Sometimes a scarf is just a scarf. Sometimes it is not. I used to be married to an Arab immigrant (a good kind). He brought a couple of them over here, and we wore them as useful scarves during snow storms.
After 9/11, we took them and buried them waaayy in the back of the closet. This was out of decent respect.

Mar 5, 2009 - 8:49 am 26. Pam:

I bought one in Greenwich Village back when I was in college (late 1980s). I knew nothing of its political significance at the time and wore it frequently for a number of years. They were considered trendy with the “alternative” set at the time.

Now, of course, I know better. I recently came across it when I was cleaning out a closet and promptly threw it in the trash.

Mar 5, 2009 - 8:56 am 27. fred:

“one of your own” needs to be dropped into Gaza where the jihad boys from that hood would bestow on him a real need for PreparationH.

Mar 5, 2009 - 9:04 am 28. Pat J:

God this is a silly article.

Mar 5, 2009 - 10:00 am 29. MIke Reynolds:

The problem I have with people wearing the scarf is NOT that it is Arab attire.
It is that it’s billed as a “peace scarf” or “anti-war” scarf. For a long time now, the Left has been particularly vicious/foolish/self-indulgent about calling itself “peace-loving.” What next? a Peace Army to annihilate the (Zionist) “enemies of peace?”
What makes it even worse is that many of the older adherents to this philosophy profess to be so tender-hearted that they won’t even allow their kids toy guns. (But, mo-o-omm! we’re only playing Freedom Fighters versus Zionists!” “Oh. Well, OK, then.”)

Mar 5, 2009 - 10:05 am 30. AC:

I am also a Mid Easterner. My parents are originally from the Middle East. I agree with Reut and the article. Middle Eastern clothing isn’t offensive, but the keffiyeh is because it represents a terror movement. Why wear something that symbolizes Palestinian terror? It makes no sense just like Che shirts and the Mao backpacks people love to show off. I see many people at my high school wear keffiyehs. Some just think it looks cool and others wear it because they are anti-Israel. Personally, I’d prefer to wear a scarf that is less controversial.

Mar 5, 2009 - 10:14 am 31. Delia:

Why not just wear an American Flag scarf with trompe-l’oeil burns on it? -About the same meaning. Liberals hate America, they might as well wear it loud and proud.

Mar 5, 2009 - 10:21 am 32. deguello:

I like the keffyeh;it’s an aethetically pleasing,practical headgear. In fact, a “culture” where prematurely sexualized 12 year olds,can prance in Brittany Spears slut outfits,5 year olds get dressed like tarts for beauty contests,and viable children are chopped up,in late-term abortions,should be able to tolerate Muslim headgear.

Mar 5, 2009 - 10:32 am 33. Blackwell:

Let ‘em wear it: it’ll drive the fanatics who hate the US up the wall at this latest display of irreverance.

Mar 5, 2009 - 10:40 am 34. Peter the Bubblehead:

28. Pat J wrote:
God this is a silly article.

Peter writes: You notice when an PJM article is anti-terrorist or anti-lefty, PatJ always finds it silly or pointless.

I really think PatJ needs to spend less time on PJM and more time with his buddies at HuffPo and KosKidz, where things aren’t quite so silly.

sarc…

Mar 5, 2009 - 10:49 am 35. AC:

From the article: “While an individual has every right to wear a garment, people need to be aware that symbols — such as the swastika, Klan robe, or keffiyeh — can never be removed from their meanings. It is difficult to separate the political statement of Palestinian terror from this particular garment.”

EXACTLY. If you wear a keffiyeh people will either think you’re ignorant or that you support the PLO movement which talks very clearly about their goal of killing Jews. There is nothing chic about something that represents murderers. It’s the same as a Klan robe or even the swastika. Both were not originally symbols of hateful movements but they were adopted by them and now have an evil meaning. The author is clear that the issue is not Middle Eastern clothing as she herself a Sefardi-Mizrahi. The issue is that the black and white keffiyeh is a symbol of terror.

The second commentator (#2) who states he is Lebanese understands this point too. It seems only ignorant people can’t grasp it. I’m a Middle Easterner and I think people who wear the Arafat keffiyeh look very stupid.

Mar 5, 2009 - 11:25 am 36. Laura:

#32 That is probably the most ignorant and rediculous comment ever posted on this blog.

Mar 5, 2009 - 11:34 am 37. Izersozay:

It’s really sad to see anyone defending a person who wears this in America or anywhere else in the CIVILIZED world. This is not about islam or arabs, its about a modern day symbol of hate, intolerance and terror, which is sadly overlooked by the fools who sell and wear this item. Yes, it may be an acceptable clothing item in the arab world, but for Westerners wearing it is a showing of acceptance of all the evil things it represents. I find it appalling to even hear it is a trend, and it clearly shows the lack of morality and intelligence the people who buy and sell these have! Just as it would be politically incorrect and immoral to sell pro bin laden items, its just as vile to sell this item for any purpose. Anyone with the audacity to buy and wear one of these should be prepared to be outcast as a clear idiot or terrorist sympathizer… either way I would not want to be anywhere near someone with such low class.

Mar 5, 2009 - 11:34 am 38. Craig:

32. deguello:
I like the keffyeh;it’s an aethetically pleasing,practical headgear. In fact, a “culture” where prematurely sexualized 12 year olds,can prance in Brittany Spears slut outfits,5 year olds get dressed like tarts for beauty contests,and viable children are chopped up,in late-term abortions,should be able to tolerate Muslim headgear.

That’s a liberal’s culture, not a conservative’s. So no- I don’t ‘tolerate’ the other examples either.

Mar 5, 2009 - 11:38 am 39. Marc Malone:

#38 Craig – That was clearly sardonic on deguello’s part. She’s conservative, like you.

Mar 5, 2009 - 12:42 pm 40. Zev:

How about designing a keffiyeh with the Confederate battle flag or the Stars and Bars on it? I’ve already seen them with the Star of David on it in glorious blue and white.

Mar 5, 2009 - 12:47 pm 41. Self-hating Boomer:

36, you’re new here, aren’t you?

Mar 5, 2009 - 12:49 pm 42. Delia:

I have to stand up for deguello’s post too. It was definitely meant to be facetious. I’ve made the mistake of taking some comments too seriously on their face myself though so I can understand if you don’t follow a person’s post much how things can get misconstrued.

lol

Mar 5, 2009 - 12:52 pm 43. naftali:

Political statement, fashion statement, political statement, fashion statement–It’s Two Scarves in One!

The way to tell is to ask the wearer how they like the weather. Simple question, but it will tell you whether the person is vapid (fashion statement) or smart enough to think they’re making a political statement.

If you ask either about history–they’re both lost.

But if you ask the manufacturer what they are, the answer will be that they are a gold mine.

Which reminds me of an old joke about two beggars on the street in some European country, one is wearing a prominent Magen David, the other is wearing a prominent crucifix. The joke is so old you all can finish it yourselves.

Mar 5, 2009 - 12:58 pm 44. Monty:

Why can I buy one of these offensive scarves, but I can’t buy toilet paper with Osama bin Laden printed on it?

Mar 5, 2009 - 1:41 pm 45. hawkeye:

not to worry, the high contrast black and white, is not good camo, and hence can provide a very nice sight picture

Mar 5, 2009 - 1:56 pm 46. stevent12x:

I bought one it muted colors because it looks good and it’s comfortable. Do I support terrorism now?

Mar 5, 2009 - 1:58 pm 47. Cercatore:

Delia,

We don’t hate America. We don’t even hate idiots like you, because we believe in tolerance, we tolerate you . The most accurate comment was from Pat J. What a bunch of silly crap.

Mar 5, 2009 - 3:46 pm 48. Jacqui:

Living and working in Jordan I wear this scarf as a practical matter to stay warm in the winter. When I went to visit my family in Israel I wore it because it was winter and I was then treated like a terrorist by the Israeli goons’ security at the airport. It was insulting and shocking. Israelis are so horribly racist and ignorant about Arabs. They have a pathological hatred of them and are committing genocide in Gaza and violating every ethical standard of human rights in the West Bank – including their own ethics. As an American I now have become anti-Zionist after seeing what an apartheid militaristic nation Israel has turned into – far removed from the utopian ideas of its early days. Of course we ignore the fact that the founding of Israel resulted from terrorist activities and a lethal extermination of Palestinians and systematic destruction of their villages and cities, using classic ethnic cleansing methods. After Gaza, wearing the black and white scarf is a statement of conscience.

Mar 5, 2009 - 3:57 pm 49. JP49:

Jacqui: You view is so out of sinc with the true history of Israel and the Palestinians (which are actually Jordanians). There was never a Palestinian people, there were Trans-Jordanians. Your hatred is leaking through in your writing. A tiny state such as Israel seems to give the Arabs such heartburn. They just can’t give up on having everyone believe it was always theirs and that Israelis are such beasts. I put to you that the true beasts are the Arabs like yourself full of hatred and lies.

Mar 5, 2009 - 4:20 pm 50. Jack:

Wow, I’m a democrat and I’m supposed to get worked up over this stuff. I read a non-fiction book that talked about a guy in muslim garb (he was muslim) walked into his college cafeteria on 9-11 and was approached by a bunch of kids. Contrary to his concerns, they were concerned about him and how he must feel…he was not trying to make a point by wearing his normal, daily clothes, but his worry turned to relief and he felt much more American.

People who wear swastikas nowadays are trying to intimidate or make a point. People who wear middle eastern garb are not necessarily doing the same…it isn’t the same thing. We need to learn what to react to and what to realize is just cultural…it isn’t always about freedom of speech, sometimes it’s about people being who they are.

Keep in mind, some Americans go into fits when they see bikini’s with American flag patterns as they feel it’s a desecration of the flag, while the person wearing it probably feels patriotic. It’s the intent, not the act (and it’s hard to judge intent from across the room).

Jack

Mar 5, 2009 - 4:20 pm 51. O.G. American:

I am a civilized, peace loving U.S. citizen, descended from settlers of the original 13 colonies. There is NO ONE on earth more American than myself. That being said, I firmly believe that stuff like this is a good barometer of how ignorant our young have become. With every generation, we get more and more lame as a country.
I don’t have any prejudice against anyone…..except idiots. You little ‘tards who think you are being fashionable because you see others wearing any crap like that….just remember that they don’t stop bullets. Get off your young,moronic asses and run,do not walk,to the nearest U.S Army recruiter…..they can help you get a proper perspective on how the world really works.

Mar 5, 2009 - 4:21 pm 52. AC:

Jack the Democrat: Maybe you didn’t read carefully because the article clearly says that it’s a certain keffiyeh with a certain pattern that is an issue. Not keffiyehs in general. People who wear these keffiyeh, as pointed out in the article, support terror against Israelis. The MSA students who wear keffiyehs, for example, support terrorism against Jews (they are often antisemitic students who do not know any better).

Jacqui: If you’re honest with yourself you know that Muslims are extremely racist people. It’s not Jews killing blacks in Darfur– it’s Muslims killing blacks. I have been to Jordan once. It was enough for me. Women are treated like objects there. And there was never a Palestinian nation. There was no concept of statehood. Most Jews in Israel, furthermore, are descended from Jews who are Middle Eastern. If the airport security stop people with keffiyehs, they are clearly doing their jobs because it’s people in that garb who blow themselves up among women and children at pizzerias.

Mar 5, 2009 - 6:56 pm 53. John Galt:

Arafat was an Egyptian however, most of his followers were Jordanians and they and their descendents are occupiers in Israel to this day.

Mar 5, 2009 - 7:44 pm 54. John Galt:

In the sixties women removed and burned their bras as a political statement.

Going braless in the sixties was definitely a political statement espeically if the woman that did it was well endowed.

Mar 5, 2009 - 7:47 pm 55. Jack:

#52 AC – If you know for a fact that everytime you see someone wearing that pattern that they know they are starting a fatwah, then by all means, burn them at the stake (go shoot them on sight…or won’t you?). You won’t because you don’t know, and you aren’t willing to pay the price of being wrong. So, ergo, them wearing something isn’t a kill on sight order.

All I’m saying is that not everyone who wears that pattern is necessarily trying to start a war. And so what if they wear that because they are mad…who freaking cares???? The task is find the bombers, not the ppl who want to show their solidarity with bombers. I doubt they are one and the same.

If you have the guts to kill someone on sight for wearing the wrong colors/patterns/knick knacks, then go do it and end up in prison. Otherwise, you inherently know you are not a fan of everyone pre-judging people based on what they are wearing. I’m clearly not asking you to prove your racism/over-ractionism, but since you wouldn’t call the police every time you saw someone in that pattern, you have admitted that the pattern, in and of itself, is not a sign of a terrorist (unless you had a recent McNugget issue…).

Jack

Mar 5, 2009 - 8:25 pm 56. Delia:

47. Cercatore:

“Delia,

We don’t hate America. We don’t even hate idiots like you, because we believe in tolerance, we tolerate you . The most accurate comment was from Pat J. What a bunch of silly crap.”
~

Liberals only ‘tolerate’ their own rhetoric. Others need not apply and the ‘bullying’ begins therein.

What you fail to realize is that Conservatives truly DO tolerate your ilk…FAR TOO MUCH for my liking. I think it’s time for Repubs to be as unforgiving, unyielding and unbending as you ’supposed’ Libs have been.

The pansy-assed, lily-livered, perfectly mani-pedi Metrosexual dems couldn’t lock-n-load if they TRIED. You wouldn’t dig your hands in the dirt for fear of ‘germs’ and messing up your ‘nails’… Me? I’m beautiful and still young looking AND FEELING but I’ve dug a ditch or two…I’ve put putty into nail holes, know how to use a nail gun and a REAL gun and I’m still healthy as a horse because I don’t sit on my pansy ass. I just got asked for my i.d. yesterday and I’m 42 years YOUNG.

I’m a believer in LIBERTY.

You’re too easy to take to task though…

So I’ll leave you with this:

“… in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying.

—Adolf Hitler , Mein Kampf, vol. I, ch. X”

Mar 5, 2009 - 8:48 pm 57. Matt Cooper:

Way to go Delia!

And for the record I think this article is 100% accurate. People who wear keffiyehs (sorry the “anti-war woven scarf”) are either ignorant or support the cause of “Palestinian” terror. What is a Palestinian? An unwanted Jordanian?

Go ahead and wear a scarf reminiscent of that frog Yasser Arafat. People who were them after they’ve been told what they represent just look like low-class idiots.

Mar 5, 2009 - 9:46 pm 58. Delia:

57. Matt Cooper,

The Lib clothing designers most surely have a hand in this…it’s a subtle way of churning out the ‘mantra’ without having to say…a…single…thing.

The suckered souls who ‘buy in’ are not to blame always…but the blatant IGNORANCE is pathetic just the same.

I’m considering wearing a see-thru ‘burka’ buck nekkid in all my god given glory. I might get arrested but… What a statement eh? hehe

Mar 5, 2009 - 11:13 pm 59. Charlie Martin:

Reut, it’s a scarf. Being sensitive to symbolism is all well and good, but not every patterned scarf is a kaffiyeh.

Mar 6, 2009 - 8:22 am 60. Jeb:

I love it. Keep it up. Boycott any business represented by anyone who wears a patterned scarf. Solidarity!

Mar 6, 2009 - 9:06 am 61. Matt Cooper:

58. Delia,

The masses are often asses. I can understand a 20-something-year-old not knowing what the keffiyeh represents and wearing it. They look stupid but not all of them are wearing it intentionally so they can look like a PLO terrorist. What I can’t understand is the defense of the “anti war woven scarf” once people knows what it represents (see comment 59, Charles Martin). Sure, it’s JUST a black and white scarf. And a swastika is just a Hindu symbol. And the KKK regalia is just historically symbolic of Spanish Roman Catholics. GEEZ, I mean, why are people being so sensitive? The PLO ONLY killed a few thousand Jews here and there. NOTHING to be offended about!

60. Jeb,

Not sure if you’re being facetious. The article didn’t talk about boycotting anyone. It very clearly states people have a right to wear what they want. Though people need to know what it is they are wearing. Historically speaking, Arabic clothing is not even Muslim. There were other Semitic people living in the East who wore such clothing (and still do). This includes Jews who were there before the Muslim and Christians. Reut said that the issue isn’t Arab or Middle Eastern clothing. The issue is that the black and white keffiyeh is in a different class. Why do you think Arabs at anti-Israel and anti-Jewish rallies wear the same pattern scarf? Because they look chic??? Uh… no. And let me tell you, Lebanese Christians, Copts and Middle Eastern Jews think people who wear the ‘Arafat keffiyeh’ look like total morons. Especially women who wear it since its traditionally a symbol of Arab masculinity.

Mar 6, 2009 - 9:52 am 62. deguello:

#38 CRAIG: liberal culture(I use the word loosely) IS the dominant culture, If conservatives, both religious ,and secular,showed the contempt for liberal secularism that Muslims do, and openly dressed in keeping with their beliefs,maybe liberalism wouldn’t be as dominant.

Mar 6, 2009 - 9:59 am 63. deguello:

#37 Iserzosay:I beg to differ, but a world where money is made by sexualizing 10 tear olds; infanticide(late term abortion;) is enshrined in the constitution;Madonna is a pop icon,and EMINEM is considered a”genius”( Frank Rich NY TIMES),can be called many things: but “civilized is not among them. The muslim people should be consulted as to how they have succesfully defended their traditions against Western degeneracy.Conservatives are too obtuse to see that Muslim immigrants could be thir best ally in the ongoing culture war.

Mar 6, 2009 - 10:06 am 64. Lauren:

If you want to hear something extra-gross, how about the fact that Israeli (Jewish) teenagers are wearing them now too?
It’s fairly ridiculous to me that teenagers here could be that clueless and/or desperate to immitate American fashion — but their parents???
Granted I’ve mainly seen them on Ethiopian kids, who might really not get it… but it takes all my self control not to say something.

Mar 6, 2009 - 10:31 am 65. Matt Cooper:

#63: There may be performers like Madonna and Britney Spears who don’t set a good example for girls in the US and Europe. But at least it’s unacceptable to marry off an 8 year old girl in the US. Abortion is legal in Islam, too. A lot of other sick and twisted things are also legal under Islamic law. Exactly what kind of association do you want to develop with Muslim immigrants? Should they teach us the benefits of stoning women and slicing off women’s genitals?

Sounds promising.

Mar 6, 2009 - 10:36 am 66. Delia:

63. deguello,

You can’t be SERIOUS.

zomg!

Mar 6, 2009 - 11:57 am 67. Oscar the Grump:

Come on folks, if they want to wear a diaper on their heads they should be allowed,

Mar 6, 2009 - 3:47 pm 68. Nina Carlotti:

Wow, this article goes way, way over the line into pure racism. I’m shocked, and I don’t shock easily.

Mar 6, 2009 - 6:46 pm 69. Delia:

68. Nina Carlotti:

“Wow, this article goes way, way over the line into pure racism. I’m shocked, and I don’t shock easily.”
~

Really, Nina? I guess you’ve skipped over many articles about the TRUE horros of ISLAM. -And, I guess you like many other blind 0bots skipped over the blatant racist, America hating Pastor 0bama had for twenty years?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk3LXvVlsI4

Of course, zero threw good ol’ Rev W. under the bust when it suited him and then shucked and jived the ‘people’ votin’ for him that he never LISTENED to his preacher for that TWENTY YEARS?

I’m sorry, folks. -But, I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em and the lot of you who voted for Our Muslim Usurper are just plain RETARDED.

Mar 6, 2009 - 9:38 pm 70. Delia:

Ignore my last post’s typos. I had some Saki with my Sashimi…I’m tipsyyyy.. *giggle*

Mar 6, 2009 - 9:51 pm 71. JHM:

Has anybody else noticed that Quartermaster-General B. Bernanke von Ludendorff wears his facial hair à la Arafat? Perhaps one can guess where he’s sendin’ all that money off too so nontransparently!

Happy days.

Mar 7, 2009 - 8:05 am 72. Sylvie:

Don’t know exactly what it is but I wouldn’t wear it if you paid me. Don’t fancy anything Arab, they do not have good taste. I dance ballet which is refined but not belly-dancing which is not, and wearng a keffiyeh is a statement, either you are a Sympathiser or an idiot.

Mar 7, 2009 - 12:30 pm 73. Matt Cooper:

# 68, Nina Carlotti:

Wow, you must be really stupid if anything in the article seems remotely racist to you. The article clearly says that the issue is a specific type of keffiyeh which is worn by specific terrorists. The author even goes on to say that she has no issue with Middle Eastern clothing as she herself is a Middle Easterner. Lady, get a clue.

Mar 7, 2009 - 2:59 pm 74. OneBusFromHeaven:

How about a keffiyeh on the Statue of Liberty ?

Mar 7, 2009 - 5:48 pm 75. OneBusFromHeaven:

Unbelivable…what’s next ? black burka ?

Mar 7, 2009 - 5:52 pm 76. Theophilus:

The meaning of a symbol is determined by its use, and nothing else. If you find the popular conception of a symbol’s meaning to be reprehensible, you are not powerless to do anything about this. Wear the symbol as you wish, and you will contribute to it coming to mean what you want it to mean. As long as you have the thoughts and words to back up your statement, you can make any pattern or piece of cloth stand in for any message, or no message at all. After all, if the swastika can be transformed from a representation of the evolution and involution of the universe into shorthand for genocide, there’s no reason whatever association the keffiyeh has with violent nationalism cannot be shattered.

Mar 8, 2009 - 11:10 am 77. Judy, NYC:

taking a leaf from peta, splash pigs blood all over the wearer with the scarf.

we have an undereducated populace now, most of whom have never even read a serious novel or engaged in serious factual debate. they have voted in a president who told these people “plagerism is no big deal”, lying is no big deal, cursing america is no big deal, and by implication in everything he does, democracy and our western civilization is no big deal.

jew hatred is always the sign of a backward society in decay. and a clear indication of rot.. no american president would declare this a christian/moslem nation, as he did in his inaugural, or give a billion dollars to the jihad. that he does not speak out against the vile arab scum but continually placates them and looks to hold their hands, and yet let our own american industries fail, and our charities, shows very clearly that he despises our culture.

when charities fail, the arts will fold up and individual non-governmental initiatives, and we will have nothing. just this horrific presence of these monstrous uncivilized mobs trampling on what we value.

i expect this pipsqueek will soon be wearing the scarf. only this time, in public.

Mar 8, 2009 - 1:50 pm 78. a:

Ms. Cohen, I am disgusted that such an illogical, simplistic argument can persuade some of your readers. Furthermore, I am saddened that a simple garment – a thin layer of cloth – measures the depth of your definition of a terrorist. Given your zionist-perspective, you should be HAPPY urbanOutfitters are selling kufeyya – their and other vendors use of Chinese labor brings the prices down and in turn is putting Palestinian scarf-makers out of business.

Mar 9, 2009 - 7:55 am 79. gary fouse:

Some time ago, I wrote an essay on fousesquawk about youths wearing Che Guevara t-shirts in the US without really knowing the background of Che. (He was a bloodthirsty executioner once Castro took over.)

When I see the Keffiya today on college campuses and demonstrations, I take it as a political statement. On the UCI campus, I don’t see it on regular days. It seems to only come out during the anti-Israeli bashes-both on campuses and on the street protests.

When I see it in the US and Europe, realizing that it is part of Palestinian dress, I still take it as a political statement.

Mar 9, 2009 - 4:53 pm 80. Matt Cooper:

#78, a:

That’s the smartest thing your side has said so far. At least Urban Outfitters is taking business away from your terrorist-supporting relatives who are occupying Jewish land in the West Bank and Gaza. I suppose that when the Dutch printed cartoons of your prophet a couple years back you also felt the same? As I recall the reaction of moderate Muslims around the world was to torch cars and riot outside of embassies. It’s just a cartoon in a newspaper after all!

Your scarf is a trademark of a terrorist movement which is why terrorists and their supporters wear it. Ms. Cohen, thanks for your article.

Mar 9, 2009 - 8:01 pm 81. DoubleTapper:

Jews all over the world are fighting back by wearing our own version of the kafiya.

Check it out here!

DoubleTapper
DoubleTapper@gmail.com
DoubleTapper, blogging on Guns Politics Defense from Israel

Mar 10, 2009 - 4:27 am 82. deguello:

#65 66, I am perfectly serious, stoning womenn or men indiscriminately, no , but stoning and suppressing liberals,rappers,feminazis,wall street plutocrats and other living tumors? It bears thinking.The west is not worth defending;it’s worth destroying in its present form.The irony is that before the muslims get enough power, it will have already done the job for them through cultural suicide.Matt,give the devolution of Western jurisprudence, in a few years ,pedophilia will probablybe legal in western nations,have you ever heard of NAMBLA? All that needs to be done, is to demonstrate that tons of money can be made from it ,especially taxes, and a future liberal supreme court will legalize it.Making money is the ONLY permitted value in the west.As for Burkhas,they are preferable to the madonna /Spears slut wear affected by our western teenagers.Muslims can teach us how to resist Western prostitutionalization of everything by demented greed. Incidentally,is anyone aware that US,British, and Australian special forces operators wear keffiyehs?Fianally,why is everyone here so fearful of Islam? Didn’t our former cretin in chief,inform all and sundry, that “Islam is a religion of peace”? This bit of wisdom was then eagerly repeated by bien pensant elites.Like I said the West,in its present form, is not worth defending.

Mar 10, 2009 - 6:26 pm 83. deguello:

#65 Matt Cooper: Islam prohibits abortions, it didn’t,Obama would not be president today.

Mar 12, 2009 - 2:58 pm 84. Khairiya:

I’m against Israel. I wear the Keffiyeh proudly, back and white, not for a fashion statement, but for the support of Palestine – the land stolen by the Israelis.

Apr 7, 2009 - 5:49 pm 85. Aisha:

I am also against Israel and wear the keffiyeh often. This article is completely biased against Palestine. If people want to wear the keffiyeh or any other political item of clothing, they should be able to without websites like these calling the people they are supporting “terrorists”. I understand that everyone has their own opinion but you could back up your insults with some reasons or facts.

May 4, 2009 - 11:28 am 86. Aisha:

By the way Islam prohibits abortions unless the pregnancy is a danger to the mother’s health or if the mother has been raped

May 4, 2009 - 11:30 am 87. Jewish Power:

I am Jewish. I visited Israel and many other places in the Middle East. In Israel I felt like an outsider and a terrorist in the way I was questioned on entry and exit. Frankly why do they ask such stupid questions like why does your father live in Canada or why did your grandmother come from California? WTF!

When I visited Arab countries like Lebanon, Jordan, UAE and Egypt; I was welcomed with a big smile and a “Enjoy your stay with us!”.

As far as I am concerned, Israel is the new Nazi state and all you right wingers here who support it just proves I am correct.

God Bless America and God Bless the Middle East!

May 19, 2009 - 8:09 am 88. Salvatore:

I too am an owner of the red/white Jordanian shemagh, black/white keffiyeh( Not with the Palestinian diamond shaped black pattern like Afrat), desert tan/ black shemagh, white ghutra, complete with two pairs of black agal head cord, classical gold agal, a set of thobe dress, and a red tarboosh brimless cap. I wear them not because I am making a political statement, but because I take keen interests in Arabic cultures and the aspects of the religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam that occurred in the Levant and gulf of Arabia.I think it looks good on me when I wear it with a modern suit or with the thobe dress or I would simply wear it for the weather when it is cold, hot, windy, rainy or snowy outside and it does wonder too! I’ve taken the times to educate myself on the subject of the cultures and religious history. I have also taken the time to learn the Arabic language so I could use that skill one day when I get to visit the mid-east. My next goal somewhere in my life is to also learn Hebrew. I have made plenty of friends who are from Egypt, Morocco, Yemen, Palestine, Turkey and Pakistan and most of them are Muslim. I do not hate Jews nor do I hate anybody based on their creeds, beliefs and ethnicity, I do hate the hip-hop trendy edgy people, but I tolerate them.

Noticeable people who have worn the Keffiyah :

Thomas Edward Lawrence (of Arabia)

Freya Stark

U.K forces in Northern Africa during World War 2

U.K forces in Afghanistan

U.S forces in Afghanistan and Iraq

Europeans, mostly British anthropologists and Archaeologists who are or have conducted field works in the mid east.

So there you have it.

May 27, 2009 - 6:43 am 89. Matt:

# 87 Someone questioned you so you feel like a terrorist? It’s called airport security checks. You base calling the only country that supports human rights in the Middle East a “Nazi” state because you were asked where you’re from? I doubt you’re a Jew. Probably just some anti-Israel Moslem with too much time on their hands.

# 89 You couldn’t have made friends from “Palestine”- that was never a country but a territory controlled by the Turks and later the Brits in modern history. In ancient history it was a Jewish kingdom, then fell under Roman rule. The “Palestinians” are ethnic Jordanians and Egyptians that neither Islamic country will take in.

Oct 27, 2009 - 10:22 pm 90. Zach:

That was interesting. I didn’t know that the colors of the keffiyeh had any “meaning”, for a lack of a better word.

As for people wearing them in the US, those that don them like bandanas, no matter what they say it’s purely for fashion. And that’s fine. So many people that see themselves as being smarter or “deeper” or more enlightned than others seem to be ashamed of finding pleasure in pointless things. But who cares? Clothes and fashion can be fun, they can liven things up a bit.

Sid Vicious wore a swastika. People copied him and probably said it was a “protest” or whatever other pretentious feel-goodery they feigned to feel blameless, to show people that they “get it” or to feel like they were “doing something”. Really though? They just liked the rise they got out of people for wearing it and that’s fine. People just sound foolish when they deny it’s for fashion and try to shroud, with some affected snobbery, something that would of been fine if they just admitted they liked how it looked.

Nov 17, 2009 - 3:01 am

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