Last year I was visiting my family on the US West Coast. My brother-in-law happened to be wearing a Keffiyeh. This man also happens to be an ex-army officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. When I commented that that was an interesting choice of symbols to wear he was surprised. He said that he bought it because he saw people wearing scarves like this in Germany and he just thought it "looked cool." When I explained to him the symbolism of the Keffiyeh he seemed shocked and a little horrified - he's definitely NOT the activist type. Ironically (or not?) this is the same person who refused to read Said's "Orientalism" saying "I don't want to get brainwashed or anything." I'm posting my comment because while I agree that someone's choice to wear a Keffiyeh is indeed THEIR choice, their motivation to wear it (or lack thereof) is really irrelevant - the symbolism persists, you can't will it away with ignorance or otherwise.
Last year I was visiting my family on the US West Coast. My brother-in-law happened to be wearing a Keffiyeh. This man also happens to be an ex-army officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. When I commented that that was an interesting choice of symbols to wear he was surprised. He said that he bought it because he saw people wearing scarves like this in Germany and he just thought it "looked cool." When I explained to him the symbolism of the Keffiyeh he seemed shocked and a little horrified - he's definitely NOT the activist type. Ironically (or not?) this is the same person who refused to read Said's "Orientalism" saying "I don't want to get brainwashed or anything." I'm posting my comment because while I agree that someone's choice to wear a Keffiyeh is indeed THEIR choice, their motivation to wear it (or lack thereof) is really irrelevant - the symbolism persists, you can't will it away with ignorance or otherwise.