Non-Traditional Black & White Scarf = Terrorists Win

Posted by Jack Stephens | May 30th, 2008 | Crossposted from The Blog and the Bullet

In light of the recent ad pulling by Dunkin Donuts over Rachel Ray wearing a non-pollitcally aligned black and white keffiyeh, Holly blogs:

Although I have to say I laughed out loud at the phrase “hate couture.” The thing is, if you look at the scarf Rachael Ray is wearing in that picture, it doesn’t even remotely resemble the pattern traditionally associated with the keffiyeh, which resembles an interlocking net or a chain-link fence. Look, here’s Yasser Arafat wearing one… a fairly iconic and well-known image. But Ray’s scarf doesn’t even have a regular geometric pattern on it.

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2 Responses to “Non-Traditional Black & White Scarf = Terrorists Win”

1. Tara Writes:
   May 31st, 2008 at 8:12 am

   This whole thing reminds me of the blow up over the DC politician using the word ‘niggardly.’ Everyone, especially on the right, made fun of the people that got upset over it, but I don’t think it’s so clear cut. You don’t necessarily have to be an ignorant idiot to find that word suspicious, but even if you are an ignorant idiot, it doesn’t mean people should treat you scornfully if your objection was in good faith.

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2. Kevin Moore Writes:
   May 31st, 2008 at 2:38 pm

   Tara, the situation you refer to involved a white aide to the mayor of Washington, DC who used the term in a discussion of the city budget. The term upset a black colleague, who had misunderstood the word, and it led to his termination. Ironically, because the white aide was also gay, the queer community of Washington, D.C. rallied to support him, helping to reinstate his position. You can read all about it here.

   While one can certainly assume the objector to the word was acting in good faith, the same generosity ought to be extended to the person who used the word. It really helps if we all listen. And use a dictionary.

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