Jihadi Chic?

[maleficone]

Call me a fashion victim, but I bought a kaffiyeh. You know, that white and black desert scarf that is a traditional Arab accessory which has, in recent years, become a fashion statement amongst fashion conscious urban hipsters? Well I did and I like it. I think it is a wonderful, bold-looking accessory that carries with it a sense of the exotic

Comments

[tamara_rose]

Go you! Now you need one of those awesome bedouin tents that have chandeliers and appliances.

The thing is, Ray wasn't even wearing a kaffiyeh -- it was just a patterned black and white scarf that looked similar. People are so ignorant, about both foreign cultures and fashion.

Speaking of which, did you see this? How stupid can stupid be?

Islam is the Light!

[maleficone]

Hmm I find it very interesting that the same woman happened to discover both of these evil Islamic propaganda toys! haha. While I guess you could argue that the doll and the game sound kinda like it could be saying that, I think it is simply suggestion...as with many cases of so-called pareidolia or "pattern matrixing" you hear what you want to hear...or in this case what someone tells you what to listen for.

This story reminds me of this.

Re: Islam is the Light!

[tamara_rose]

It sounds like the manufacturers just used the same recording for both the game and the doll.

This lady obviously has some xenophobia issues. In another day and age she'd probably claim she was raped by demons and accuse her neighbors of witchcraft.

Re: Islam is the Light!

[mokosh_perun]

Makes me think of shows like Ghosthunters, where they play back tapes and you're supposed to hear the Civil War ghosts. lol

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[mokosh_perun]

Yeah, I don't know a whole lot about the keffiyeh but from what I've read it seems to be a generally positive thing ( I hesitate to use the word symbol). They are aesthetically beautiful.
I guess my logic is that the motif of Mesopotamian fishing nets is a lot more neutral than the image of the swastika now (although this was not always the case). I guess I see it as a folk garment, rather than an indicator of political affiliation.
Yasser Arafat happened to wear a keffiyeh, but Hitler intentionally appropriated the swastika.

By wearing one you probably run the risk of looking like "that white guy" and generating plenty of "wtf looks" from people of middle eastern heritage. But at this point, it's probably a non-issue given their ubiquitous nature. You could throw a rock in the Short North and hit 6 guys in girl's jeans and keffiyehs. lol
However, if you start wearing jeans from Delia's, Tamara and I are going to do an intervention....

Re: Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[maleficone]

Hmmm...note to self: cleanse closet of any Delia's items as soon as possible.

Re: Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[maleficone]

Exactly how I see it. It is a practical folk garment that also happens to look good. And if I started throwing rocks in the Short North wearing a kaffiyah I might just be making a political statement! Intifada fashion indeed!

And the swastika has its own unique beauty...it is unfortunate that it so strongly retains its negative associations. But we've discussed this in the past. Much like the Hammer and Sickle, powerful symbols have their own attraction that sometimes leads to ill-advised fashion choices. =)

[purpleattrition]

LOL the funny thing is I have one from FOREVER ago when I told Josie before she went on her holy land vacation I wanted to look like Yassar Arafat as a joke. you could have saved your cash and borrowed mine, I never wear it