The Kaffiyeh

[Arethusa]

The American army does not issue them either. They're popular with certain units, but they're all purchased individually (or as a unit; but they are not issued).

 

[hustlenflo22]

I wear a blue and white one, use it as a lighter fabric scarf

 

[Nico Samuel Pleninsek]

When I first saw this article, I thought: hey it might look kinda cool, but then I saw this fella wearing one, and he looked like an idiot.

 

[SoCal2NYC]

Being well versed or having studied "Middle-Eastern Politics" at some two bit liberal college doesn't give you the right to wear one.

I don't see Jane Goodall flinging **** when she is mad outside of the Gombi.

 

[Augusto86]

I wear one. It has sentimental value. Also it tweaks people at Brandeis and that's fun.

 

[dusty]

Originally Posted by SoCal2NYC

Being well versed or having studied "Middle-Eastern Politics" at some two bit liberal college doesn't give you the right to wear one.

I don't see Jane Goodall flinging **** when she is mad outside of the Gombi.

Ha! Good work socal.

 

[savage]

I can't find the Israeli reference, and maybe i was wrong 'bout that*, but this is from Wikipedia: "Since the beginning of the War on Terror, these keffiyeh, usually cotton and in military olive drab or khaki with black stitching, have been adopted by US and troops as well. " From Time: "Visual continuity suggests a political solidarity that usually comes as a big surprise to the Western wearer. "It's just an accessory," says Kenneth Kaiser, a Boston retail- clothing-store manager. "The ethnic type of look is in right now." "The idea that it's political is ridiculous," says New York City Artist Steven Charny. Comments Mordechai Levy, head of the Jewish Defense Organization in New York City: "Now there are so many, they are just like any other scarf." * it seems "Although one could hardly call it new, since Jews the world over and Arab Jews in particular have worn headwraps and turbans for centuries. After the rise of Islam, in some countries, it was a priviledge restricted to Muslims only."

 

[hustlenflo22]

Didn't realize this looked so bad...

 

[DeadDJ]

Originally Posted by SoCal2NYC

Being well versed or having studied "Middle-Eastern Politics" at some two bit liberal college doesn't give you the right to wear one.

Do you really need the right? It's a common article of clothing in the Middle East and surrounding areas and can be worn without political implications there and here (to be fair at this point it's well nigh impossible to remove from politics at least in the American mind). I have a friend who is Palestinian and was confined to a camp with her family for a short time. She wears hers, is quite active in Palestinian rights advocacy, and has no real issue with people wearing it in the US.

I still don't like it simply because when I first saw it, it was a bunch of hipsters wearing the black and white one as an ironic statement and then the imitators wore them looking just as terrible with a giant clashing scarf. I do like that it set off a trend of larger, thinner scarves which are now being produced in a variety of colors and patterns which bear no similarity to the kaffiyeh.

 

[Arethusa]

What I'm more curious about is whether or not you have a problem with her wearing one.

 

[globetrotter]

Originally Posted by savage

I can't find the Israeli reference, and maybe i was wrong 'bout that*, but this is from Wikipedia:
"Since the beginning of the War on Terror, these keffiyeh, usually cotton and in military olive drab or khaki with black stitching, have been adopted by US and troops as well. "

From Time: "Visual continuity suggests a political solidarity that usually comes as a big surprise to the Western wearer. "It's just an accessory," says Kenneth Kaiser, a Boston retail- clothing-store manager. "The ethnic type of look is in right now." "The idea that it's political is ridiculous," says New York City Artist Steven Charny. Comments Mordechai Levy, head of the Jewish Defense Organization in New York City: "Now there are so many, they are just like any other scarf."

* it seems "Although one could hardly call it new, since Jews the world over and Arab Jews in particular have worn headwraps and turbans for centuries. After the rise of Islam, in some countries, it was a priviledge restricted to Muslims only."

there's a huge difference between saying that IDF soldiers have adopted them, and saying that they are issued. soldiers spend a lot of time off road, mostly in open veihicles. wrapping a scarf around your head makes a lot of sense - I used a scarf that I bought that was a lot like a kaffeiyeh, but was olive green cotton. and, as I said on a differnt thread, I have worn a kaffeyeh at varouis times.

 

[knownastron]

Hey anyone know where I can get one that is similar to one Kanye West wears? Heres some pics, his look more fashionable and less middle eastern. Thanks!

 

[Arethusa]

NdG, maybe?

 

[RyJ Maduro]

I like the Israeli Keffiyeh...

I don't think I've got the balls to try and pull it off in Baghdad, though.

 

[globetrotter]

Originally Posted by Kill the DJ

Do you really need the right? It's a common article of clothing in the Middle East and surrounding areas and can be worn without political implications there and here (to be fair at this point it's well nigh impossible to remove from politics at least in the American mind). I have a friend who is Palestinian and was confined to a camp with her family for a short time. She wears hers, is quite active in Palestinian rights advocacy, and has no real issue with people wearing it in the US.

.

of course she has no issue - it means that you are agreeing with her politics. the question is, do you feel that you are involved/invested enough to wear something that carries so much political weight? for the most part, wearing a kaffeya puts you in the campe that supports terror - you have to decide if you are comfortable with that.