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Conflict in the Middle East
Original poster

What would the 'support for Israel' equivalent of wearing a Keffiyeh be?

85 replies

Oodiks · 21/01/2025 19:35

Although the Keffiyeh is a traditional Bedouin headdress it now largely indicates support for Palestine. I've noticed women wearing them in Zoom meetings and would like to find a way to reciprocate with my own clothing statement.

OP posts:
Original poster
Oodiks · 21/01/2025 22:41

Martymcfly24 · 21/01/2025 22:32

Your colleagues are very brave to be wearing them so considering the way the protests were broken up in those universities such a heavy handed manner

You should tell them about your new friends group in case they would like to attend.

Sorry, missed this, what new friends' group??

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Original poster
Oodiks · 21/01/2025 22:39

Martymcfly24 · 21/01/2025 22:32

Your colleagues are very brave to be wearing them so considering the way the protests were broken up in those universities such a heavy handed manner

You should tell them about your new friends group in case they would like to attend.

There was nothing heavy handed about the ending of the protests here. An agreement between the protesters and the university was miraculously reached last summer, just before graduation, when they'd all go home anyway, and they haven't been back.

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Original poster
Oodiks · 21/01/2025 22:36

Whatsinanamehey · 21/01/2025 22:25

Ohhh I remember seeing a thread somewhere else with a similar background. Was that when you were unsure to carry on a friendship with someone for calling it a genocide?
Or was that someone else, can't remember.

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Yep, that was me! She & I have met up again several times since and it turns out we have plenty of other things to talk about, so this issue hasn't come up again.

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Martymcfly24 · 21/01/2025 22:32

Your colleagues are very brave to be wearing them so considering the way the protests were broken up in those universities such a heavy handed manner

You should tell them about your new friends group in case they would like to attend.

MissyB1 · 21/01/2025 22:29

Martymcfly24 · 21/01/2025 22:03

Crikey between this and the coffee date I'm surprised how many fervent pro Palestinians you are surrounded by.

Aaah it's that poster, right OP I see you now.

Whatsinanamehey · 21/01/2025 22:25

Oodiks · 21/01/2025 22:12

It's not that surprising, I work at a university on the West Coast, did you not see news reports of pro-Palestinian encampments at US universities?

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Ohhh I remember seeing a thread somewhere else with a similar background. Was that when you were unsure to carry on a friendship with someone for calling it a genocide?
Or was that someone else, can't remember.

Kendodd · 21/01/2025 22:22

Oodiks · 21/01/2025 21:59

Please see my previous update, "There's also a sense that certain 'personal beliefs' are more acceptable than others. So wearing a Keffiyeh may be more acceptable than wearing a yellow ribbon and displaying rainbow flags is acceptable whereas if I displayed an XX flag (if there was such a thing) it would be seen as being in opposition to the rainbow brigade and therefore unacceptable."

It's tricky, I don't want to get in hot water at work for making an 'unacceptable' political statement through my clothing.

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I think a yellow ribbon might be the safest thing you could wear. It's very clear support for the hostages and I don't think could easily be read as support for an aggresser.

Original poster
Oodiks · 21/01/2025 22:12

Martymcfly24 · 21/01/2025 22:03

Crikey between this and the coffee date I'm surprised how many fervent pro Palestinians you are surrounded by.

It's not that surprising, I work at a university on the West Coast, did you not see news reports of pro-Palestinian encampments at US universities?

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Whatsinanamehey · 21/01/2025 22:06

Martymcfly24 · 21/01/2025 22:03

Crikey between this and the coffee date I'm surprised how many fervent pro Palestinians you are surrounded by.

Me too!

Martymcfly24 · 21/01/2025 22:03

Crikey between this and the coffee date I'm surprised how many fervent pro Palestinians you are surrounded by.

Original poster
Oodiks · 21/01/2025 21:59

Whatsinanamehey · 21/01/2025 21:53

So you don't actually want to wear something? Just mulling what you could wear if you did decide to?

Please see my previous update, "There's also a sense that certain 'personal beliefs' are more acceptable than others. So wearing a Keffiyeh may be more acceptable than wearing a yellow ribbon and displaying rainbow flags is acceptable whereas if I displayed an XX flag (if there was such a thing) it would be seen as being in opposition to the rainbow brigade and therefore unacceptable."

It's tricky, I don't want to get in hot water at work for making an 'unacceptable' political statement through my clothing.

OP posts:
Original poster
Oodiks · 21/01/2025 21:56

Whatsinanamehey · 21/01/2025 21:55

Identify or show solidarity?

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Both, I guess, I've never asked.

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Whatsinanamehey · 21/01/2025 21:55

Oodiks · 21/01/2025 21:54

I only ever see the pro-Palestinians wearing clothes to identify themselves. I wonder why.

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Identify or show solidarity?

Original poster
Oodiks · 21/01/2025 21:54

Kendodd · 21/01/2025 21:46

I agree
Both sides have suffered terribly at the hands of the other. I think the problem with wearing anything is that it could easily be read as supporting the oppression of your enemy rather than solidarity with victims.

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I only ever see the pro-Palestinians wearing clothes to identify themselves. I wonder why.

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Whatsinanamehey · 21/01/2025 21:53

So you don't actually want to wear something? Just mulling what you could wear if you did decide to?

Kendodd · 21/01/2025 21:46

DoIEver · 21/01/2025 21:16

Why is it that we treat things like this like football matches where we have to pick a side? There has been so much human suffering of Palestinians and Jewish people over the years. How can anyone support any of it?

I agree
Both sides have suffered terribly at the hands of the other. I think the problem with wearing anything is that it could easily be read as supporting the oppression of your enemy rather than solidarity with victims.

Original poster
Oodiks · 21/01/2025 21:40

DoIEver · 21/01/2025 21:16

Why is it that we treat things like this like football matches where we have to pick a side? There has been so much human suffering of Palestinians and Jewish people over the years. How can anyone support any of it?

I'm not necessarily going to adopt any symbol for supporting Israel, though I do, but I would be interested to know what to wear/display if I did.
Ask my colleague or other pro-Palestinians why they feel it necessary to display their political affiliations in a work meeting!

OP posts:
Original poster
Oodiks · 21/01/2025 21:38

Through · 21/01/2025 21:26

The OP asked for the equivalent. So it would be 'what is the symbol of resistance against murderous, anti-semitic hatred' or 'what is the symbol of support for the Jewish right to self-determination'. Or something.

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This ^^ Thank you

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Oodiks · 21/01/2025 21:37

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

DazedAndConfused321 · 21/01/2025 21:31

Sixpence39 · 21/01/2025 20:45

There isn't one because the keffiyeh is worn as a symbol of resistance against colonial repression.

This 🍉

Through · 21/01/2025 21:26

Sixpence39 · 21/01/2025 20:45

There isn't one because the keffiyeh is worn as a symbol of resistance against colonial repression.

The OP asked for the equivalent. So it would be 'what is the symbol of resistance against murderous, anti-semitic hatred' or 'what is the symbol of support for the Jewish right to self-determination'. Or something.

DoIEver · 21/01/2025 21:16

Why is it that we treat things like this like football matches where we have to pick a side? There has been so much human suffering of Palestinians and Jewish people over the years. How can anyone support any of it?

Whatsinanamehey · 21/01/2025 21:15

I don't see why wearing a keffiyah or a yellow ribbon is an issue.

Original poster
Oodiks · 21/01/2025 21:13

yoursweetpotatoesarebland · 21/01/2025 21:09

It’s interesting the line between belief and political statement.

I share both of your views OP but wouldn’t wear or display my belief in either because I don’t think it’s appropriate to make political statements. And yet everyone at work has pronouns in their bio even when their name is Steve and wears rainbow lanyards 🙄

I don’t think either of those things are appropriate either but some feel they’re akin to personal belief like wearing a cross… which I guess I can see. I just don’t know 🤷🏻‍♀️

There's also a sense that certain 'personal beliefs' are more acceptable than others. So wearing a Keffiyeh may be more acceptable than wearing a yellow ribbon and displaying rainbow flags is acceptable whereas if I displayed an XX flag (if there was such a thing) it would be seen as being in opposition to the rainbow brigade and therefore unacceptable.

OP posts:
Original poster
Oodiks · 21/01/2025 21:11

yoursweetpotatoesarebland · 21/01/2025 21:09

It’s interesting the line between belief and political statement.

I share both of your views OP but wouldn’t wear or display my belief in either because I don’t think it’s appropriate to make political statements. And yet everyone at work has pronouns in their bio even when their name is Steve and wears rainbow lanyards 🙄

I don’t think either of those things are appropriate either but some feel they’re akin to personal belief like wearing a cross… which I guess I can see. I just don’t know 🤷🏻‍♀️

Pronouns are pretty much mandatory where I work. I get around it by putting (Ms) after my name to indicate female and no-one's called me out on it yet.

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