As most of you know, Obama received yesterday an old maple walking stick from a 95-year old man from Virginia, which Obama joked he would use to “whup” Congress if they didn’t pass his health care bill. But… what is really behind the gift that may, at first glance, appear completely harmless? What else is Barack Hussein Obama planning to do with the walking stick? Perhaps he doesn’t want to tell us the whole story. The picture below shows a close and quite scary resemblance and may give us an answer to the question:
(This post is done in honor of Michelle Malkin for wasting our time by pointing out “obvious” terrorism threats)
Kat,
If you’re going to ridicule Malkin — and she’s over the top at times, I agree — at least present her accurately. Here is her exact post on the subject:
So it would appear that Malkin might agree with YOU on this (she was in fact responding to readers and bloggers who had pointed this out to her).
Why the fuss about wearing a little ol’ scarf? — While popular in other contexts, the Kaffiyeh has been an overt symbol for sympathy with the Palestinians against Israel since at least the Second Intefadah. It’s become a politically-loaded piece of fashion, you might say.
As Michelle Malkin pointed out, Ray’s wearing of the kaffiyeh is probably not worth the fuss, but that’s not to say there isn’t a disturbing phenomenon which some have dubbed “terrorist chic” where the imagery and clothes of bloody revolutionaries has made its way into the fashion world (see this link on the popularization of the scarf).
Like Ray, probably not every public figure who wears it is conscious of its political significance (I imagine most just follow the dominant fashion craze) but it’s understandable how some might be offended or the unintentional wearing can have repercussions — as when Ricky Martin experienced slow ticket sales in Israel after donning a kafiyeh with the slogan “Jerusalem is ours!”.
Did you get this newsflash or scoop from our dear Michelle M? Thank God she is at the courageous vanguard of journalism!!! What would America–and particular the intellectuals–do without her graces?
Nice.
No, I figured it out on my own… I am learning from her… from the best :)
Where Some See Fashion, Others See Politics New York Times February 11, 2007:
Jews — particularly those living in Israel — may be less amused by the adoption of the kafiyeh; liikewise I can imagine somebody sporting a Che Guevera “Rage Against the Machine” t-shirt may not be well-received in, say, certain neighborhoods in Miami FL.
Wow, Kat, you have a bright future ahead of you on Fox News!
Jews — particularly those living in Israel — may be less amused by the adoption of the kafiyeh;
Was the scarf an actual kafiyeh or did it look like one? Was the purpose of the scarf that explicit? The Che Guevara t-shirt (to use your own example)is explicit in itself and is meant to convey a direct and explicit message.
Christopher– that’s just like saying Muslims in occupied Palestine are affended by Jews wearing a kippah.
My fantasy would have him saying he’ll use the stick to beat to death an aborted baby who miraculously survived the murder attempt.
I believe a vote for Obama would be a mortal sin.
But that’s just me.
Did anyone see the picture of the McCain daughter with the nearly the same scarf that Rachel Ray wore?
Some quicker to judge would say that any so ‘experienced’ world politician who lets his daughter run around like that should never be even be considered for the presidency during these times of Islamo-fascist crisis?
Has Ricky or Malkin called John yet?
And, P.S.:
Today is D-Day plus 23,376. “Greet them ever with grateful hearts!”
Go to Macy’s or Marshall’s and you’ll find those same scarfs being sold!
Wow, Kat, you have a bright future ahead of you on Fox News!
I’m working on it… you never know when oil may go down to $15/barrel again and I may be out of a job :)
k,
My brother is a foreman for an oil company in California right now and they don’t want him to go home at night or on weekends…
My teenage nephew loves it, but my sister-in-law thinks otherwise!
Sigh. I got an email forwarded to me from my brother in law today about Obama. It began as just another conservative criticism of him. Which is fine. My brother in law and I don’t agree on Obama, but I’m a big boy and can hit the delete button just fine. But the email toward the end devolved into one these Obama is Muslim and might even be the antichrist. Sigh. What is it about otherwise rational normal people that makes them so stupid?
In most contexts, my brother in law is a great guy. If I need a favor or help with something, he’s always there. Apears to be a good parent. But what is it about having an African-American with a foregn sounding name running for president that makes him and other normally sane people nuts? I’m sure there is some psychological explanation, I just wish I knew it.
Was the scarf an actual kafiyeh or did it look like one? Was the purpose of the scarf that explicit?
Well, an actual kafiyeh could be purchased at a significantly cheaper price than what you would find on Park Avenue in New York City. Urban Outfitters tried to market them as “anti-war scarves” before they were pulled due to the controversy — I think the designers of the faux-kafiyehs themselves were probably aware of their political significance and controversy; I think most Hollywood and television stars who wear them are merely ignorant.
I recommend the Wikipedia article on the history of the scarf as revolutionary wear.
It’s not the first time revolutionary-military garb has crossed over into fashion; one blogger mentioned the sudden popularity of desert-style camouflage pants and military boots among hip-hop artists during Operation Desert Storm in the 90′s, even while they proclaimed “peace in the Middle East”.
Chinese Communist propaganda has also made its way into the fashion world. In New York (particularly the ‘hipster’ areas) I see a lot of green messenger bags with the red communist star emblazoned on them – Cameron Diaz later apologized carrying a green messenger bag featuring a red star and the words “Serve the People” printed in Chinese, an infamous political slogan of Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong.
It’s a fascinating-yet-disturbing phenomenon in fashion these days.
Christopher– that’s just like saying Muslims in occupied Palestine are affended by Jews wearing a kippah.
Jews in the Netherlands were upset by a postcard artist’s deliberate portrayal of Anne Frank wearing a kafiyeh. If you don’t understand why that might be seen as offensive, I don’t think I can help.
You didn’t answer my question:
Was the scarf an actual keffiyeh or did it look like one? Ray’s scarf had a paisley design… do keffiyeh’s have paisley designs?
I believe a vote for Obama would be a mortal sin.
But that’s just me.
Yep. And I believe that a vote for any Republican is an act of objective evil. YMMV.
Was the scarf an actual keffiyeh or did it look like one?
Suffice to say it wasn’t an authentic keffiyeh — judging by the photo it’s black and white and resembling other “terrorist chic” scarves that are the rage.
I believe you would agree with Michelle Malkin’s assessment that she didn’t wear it with the intention of promoting a political cause and she’d give the company the benefit of the doubt.
Then why did Malkin make an issue of it? Ray was not passing herself of as an Anne Frank.
She says:
“Is Ray’s blunder worth boycotting DD over? I’ll be interested to hear the company’s take. AT THIS POINT I’m going to give the management the benefit of the doubt.”
Ms. McCain in keffiyeh:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v169/phxchic/?action=view¤t=meghan_scarf.jpg
“Is Ray’s blunder worth boycotting DD over? I’ll be interested to hear the company’s take. AT THIS POINT I’m going to give the management the benefit of the doubt.”
IF Ray was trying to make a political statement, it would merit reaction.
Malkin was inclined not to think so, despite her readers assertions to the contrary.
Mark,
That IS a keffiyeh! Not the paisley one!
Chris,
What about this?
This is the link for the article above:
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hgG1XTKCrCiAxCG3ApGEDpJXeFcw
Kafiyehs are traditional Arab headgear– it is an insult and an outgage to associate it with terrorism. It’s not different from associating typical Jewsih clothing– kippahs for example– with terrorism. How tone deaf can you be?
I am not disputing the fact that kafiyeh’s are a common form of clothing in the Middle East.
But yes or no, Katerina and MM: — the kafiyeh (or approximations thereof) is also worn either as a statement of Palestinian solidarity?
The kafiyeh means different things to different people. It is understandable how Jews will take offense to somebody wearing it, or its appropriation by fashion oblivious of its political symbolism — not only conservatives criticize this appropriation, but the radical left as well:
Christopher,
Are Palestinians evil people in your book, and has the Israeli state contributed anything to the tragic and inhumane conditions that exist in that region?
You should read Edward Said!
Am I really reading defenses of Michelle Malkin?
Policratus, why are you surprised? I’ve said in the past that the comboxes are a bloody waste of space?
On another note, I intend to commit a particular mortal sin on election day…my God will understand.
Arewak:
Yep, and the voice in your head called “conscience” (and which was put there before Scriptures were composed) will whisper “Well done.”
Go Obama go -:)
http://allainjulesblog.blogspot.com/
MM and arewak,
I will go to confession for committing a mortal sin if I do not vote for Obama. ;)
Pavements will also be poundedin the NE and MW up until November.
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