Supermarket staff wearing a keffiyeh

[Alpaccas]

I saw a member of staff wearing a keffiyeh today in Sainsbury’s. Do you think it’s a bit too political for a member of staff to be wearing, whilst wearing their work uniform?

I am not Jewish but I am an ally of Jewish people and I stand with you and promise to call out hate even in its smallest form. What people don’t realise is the small ways they perpetuate very ancient and hateful beliefs about Jewish people, the same beliefs that led no one to give any fucks when Jews were tortured during pogroms and marched in ghettos less than 100 years ago. All in the name of progression. I see these people. Many of us do

How did you know, did you ask the person?

I can't get over how observant you are, I doubt anyone else noticed what a staff member was wearing.

Each to their own. It would make me feel thankful that someone else thought the destruction of Gaza was something to protest against. I would think bravo

@OKNerd Thank You so much I have good friends who are the same as you, calling out the hate towards me and my family. We need all the help we can get. My Grandparents fled just as WW2 started but many members of my family were murdered. I thank you of behalf of all Jews everywhere.

Well as long as you're alright....

What you said was "The celebrations that took place afterwards were unhinged so yes those Palestinians", implying that anyone who celebrated deserved to be treated like the murderers.

The death toll has not been "debunked" at all. The Israelis say it is lower, everyone else says it is higher. I imagine you think that every other source of information in the world is suspect and only the Israelis can be trusted.

I have no idea why you think I hold you responsible for the Israeli government. I don't think they represent even all the people of Israel, let alone all Jewish people in the world. Why on earth would I? That's a conflation you are making, not me. Only the Israeli government and they who voted for them are responsble for their actions. Can you quote the lines of mine you believe think show that I am holding you responsible, please? Because there are none.

However, you are arguing that Israeli actions are justified. So I will ask you this. I know you deny that the death toll is accurate, so what do you put it at? Do you accept any innocent Palestinian children have been killed?
If so, how many is it acceptable to kill to get back the hostages? If you were in charge, where would you draw the line? A thousand? Two thousand? Ten for each hostage? Which?

Absolutely...I second that sentiment.

Unfortunately this thread shows us just how many other people there are who don't care at all about how Jewish people in the UK feel....

@Comedycook I do. And workplaces should be aware not everyone is comfortable with various things.

I'd make sure I had products from the companies listed on the poster.

Perhaps you can tell me how saying "I don't think these circumstances warrant the bombing of civilians and deaths of thousands of childrens and innocents" serves to " perpetuate very ancient and hateful beliefs about Jewish people".

I care about how Jewish people feel and I care about how Palestinian people feel. Do you?

@Comedycook Thank you for being an ally too. It is quite bad here but you won’t see it on mainstream media. With support from friends and strangers it gives Jews hope Thank you.

Have I said anything which suggests otherwise?

I am perplexed that you have even asked me that.

Im Jewish too... although I'm non practising but it's an important part of my identity

It is Lent, it is also Ramadan. It will soon be Passover.

Where I live there are many cultural and religious celebrations, always something going on. I enjoy it.

Eid is great fun.

Yes they do and quite right too.

I don’t think you understand how uniforms work

Yes, you seem to be suggesting that showing any sympathy for the Palestinian people who are dying in tens of thousands in Gaza is insensitive.

What does showing a visible sign of support, like a badge or keffiyeh actually mean though? Does it mean sympathy for the Palestinian people...or does it mean hoping for the destruction and removal of the only Jewish state in the world? Does it mean sympathy for the Palestinian people or does it mean supporting Hamas? How are people meant to know what it means without further context. And why show support for that particular cause over others? How about a badge showing their support for the people of Sudan or the DRC? There's all sorts of causes around the world which one could support....wonder why this one is so popular?!

A keffiyeh can mean solidarity with the Palestinian cause but can also be cultural or someone wears it because they like it. Without asking the Sainsbury's member of staff why he (I presume it was a 'he'), wears one, we don't know and I doubt the op did that. I think it's more a case of jumping to a conclusion. If it was a young person, young people wear all sorts of things and often adhere to different causes, that is part of being young. This thread is taking it far too seriously.

Here is an article which may be of interest:
www.vogue.co.uk/article/keffiyeh-meaning#:~:text=So%2C%20in%201938%2C%20rebel%20leaders,occupation%20of%20Palestine%20matters%2C%20too.

I understand that you can't get ypur head around anyone taking a different stance to you.

It's really this simple: the Palestinian/Israeli war is a massively contentious issue.

Wearing a keffiyeh at work is a political statement in support of Palestine/ the Palestinian people.

I get that really really really cannot imagine that anyone would take offence, or feel threatened.

But lots of people disagree with you. Lots of people - mainly Jewish people - do indeed feel threatened and intimidated by outward signs of support for Palestine.

So... don't bring the contentious position to work. Pop on the t-shirt, wave the flag, whatever... outside of work.

You don't think anyone would notice a Sainsbury's staff member in a keffiyeh? Really?

Where do you live, off the Edgeware Road?

And perhaps the OP knew because the person wearing it was not an Arab.

Because it fails to acknowledge that innocent civilians are dying as a result of war…like every war….that was started PURELY because whole classes of people want Jewish people off the face of the earth. It also buys into the trope that the Jewish people are The Bad Guys - and their enemies are poor and defenceless. e. This is demonstrably untrue. It refuses to acknowledge just how vulnerable the world’s Jewish population truly ar. It also raises the question of why when so many other religions are committing genocide on wars they DID start, no one cares.

ExcessiveNumberOfNinjas, I live on the outskirts of London, it's fairly multicultural. I am sure I wouldn't notice, I'm not particularly observant and if I did, I'd think nothing of it. Neither would I notice whether someone was or was not an Arab unless they were in full Arab gear, like this: https://desertdress.com/6-piece-full-arabic-mens-dress-costume-1-thobe-2-bisht-3-shemagh-4-kufi-5-trousers-6-igal/. in which case I'd assume they were someone important or attending a function. I'm pretty sure never seen a supermarket worker dressed like that :-).

What does Edgware Road have to do with anything? I know it is very long and has many restaurants, some Egyptian. When I was working in town I twice went out for a meal there, once for a curry and once a Lebanese meal, both lovely.

It's not like that at all but you clearly have an agenda of 'poor white folk' which I have zero interest in.

Off you pop.