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'm not talking about you specifically. But on these threads, it's absolutely amazing how many pro Palestinian supporters have Jewish friends who agree with them and according to others on this thread who even wear the keffiyeh in support ...

Oh and you said this @Lovelysausagedogscrumpy

Their anxiety stems from the fact that because they are Jewish, people automatically expect them to support Israel

As a Jewish person I do not feel like this.

Or a symbol of solidarity with people being bombed out of their homes.

Right about what ? I haven’t volunteered an opinion beyond saying that having empathy for Palestinians caught in the cross fire between Hamas and Israel doesn’t make you anti Jewish. The fact that I actually have very long standing Jewish friends and we discuss these issues doesn’t make me any more or less informed than anyone else, but it does offer a different perspective. But that won’t wash on MN will it ? It’s like a hive mind. If you have empathy for the situation Palestinians find themselves in, you must be anti Jewish or anti semitic - nothing in between.

But that’s you isn’t it ? Show me where I said everyone has to be the same. I didn’t. It’s one aspect.

But what did you hope to gain with this gesture. Genuine question? Wearing a scarf isn't going to stop what's happening in Palestine and the people of Palestine are probably not going to know that Deidre from Milton Keynes wore a Keffiyeh to work. If it's just to make a political point then why don't you use your actual voice. That way you can have a dialogue and educate or inform people.

What’s sad is that people like you think it’s okay for invaders to occupy land that doesn’t belong to them by any means necessary. And that those being invaded should simply accept it.

This, couldn’t agree more.

I think a lot of people don't know enough about the situation to think it's political or even religious (although more might think it's religious).

This is like yesterday's HMRC teams icon thread. Is this the same poster?

Student politics

When the Russians invaded Ukraine, many, many people displayed the Ukrainian flag as a symbol of their solidarity with the country. The people of Ukraine are just as unlikely to know that Deidre from Milton Keynes was supporting them in this way. What do you think is the difference here ?

How else would you describe what Israel is doing ?

I just subscribe to the notion that you can empathise with the Palestinian people suffering because of the actions of Hamas

It’s so interesting that you say this. Do you not empathise with Jewish people’s suffering because of Hamas? You know, the people Hamas want to obliterate?

Incidentally who do you think it is who should be doing something about Hamas? Surely the answer is: the Palestinian people. But they don’t. Funny that.

Shouts of racism and anti-semitism are designed to shut down debate

And this is just a way of telling Jewish people to STFU. Antisemitism has risen 204% since October 7th - and you think Jewish people should keep quiet about it? I don’t think you realise Jewish people can’t AFFORD to STFU. The moment they give an inch then they are in serious danger. That’s how much they’re hated. And if you think Holocaust 2.0 can’t happen then think again. Plenty of people would be up for it happening tomorrow - the same people who a direct threat to Jews. And antisemitism goes way beyond nasty words - Jews are at risk of violence and exile, AGAIN, and they have 2000 years of evidence to cite when they say they are at risk on a way mo other minority are.
So no it should NOT be silenced. The IRONY of saying Jews should STFU about antisemitis on a thread about a war started by antisemites

I don't think there is any difference. I don't think it's particularly helpful to wear a Ukrainian flag to your work either...or a Maga hat...or a rainbow flag. If the desire is to have people come and talk to you about the issues then that's fine, but as an employer I'd be asking you to do it on your own time. Work (unless you work in parliament) is not the place to be discussing global politics and especially when you work in a customer-facing role. It's all just so performative.

I also continue to find it interesting that lefties think that Israel is the oppressive regime whereas Palestine are helpless heroes. Palestine has Sharia law - which essentially hates women, gay people and Jews. It’s everything lefties are supposed to hate. This is not because of Israel BTW - this is what they want.

Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. And it’s VERY liberal. It legalised gay marriage yonks before the USA and other western countries did (and has a very vibrant LGBTQ scene) citizens enjoy laws steeped in equality and its people excel in innovation, the arts and more, and are given ample opportunities to do so. Which are all effectively values that align really nicely with leftie values. Yet lefties are anti-Israel in a way they are not against any other liberal country. I wonder why.

Not to mention Israeli consist of 75% Jewish people and almost 20% Muslim. They live side by side and enjoy the same freedoms. I wonder what the religious make up of Palestine looks like <awaits someone to come along and blame the Jews for that>

Alpaccas hasn't come back since last night and did actually only make two posts. I wonder what the motive was for this thread, it's certainly stirred a pot and gone haywire. All because someone, allegedly, wore a certain accessory whilst working in a supermarket.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGoCgeOAvOH/?igsh=MmsxOHk2anQzaHhn

It’s nothing to do with Sharia law or anything else to do with Islam for that matter. It’s about Palestine’s autonomy. The Palestinians don’t want Israel’s version of democracy, no matter how wonderful a picture you paint of it, because Islam isn’t about democracy - those values don’t align. You’re essentially saying that Islam is wrong and that the Palestinians are wrong for wanting to be left alone to live their lives without having to conform to another cultures’ ideals. Not very progressive is it ?

My stomach churned a bit reading this post. OP doesn't even having the decency to keep her racism to herself. Shudder.

Nope. We have to agree to disagree. I empathise with both sides. But as Ive said before shouts of anti-semitism are designed to stop any criticism of Israel and shut down debate. Without debate there is no solution and people on both sides continue to die.

I must have missed something, can only find two posts by her. In the first one she just said she saw a store working wearing a Keffiyeh and wondered if that was too political, in the second she said she thought it definitely was political.

She has been asked more than once why she thought that, did she ask him, etc (which I'm pretty sure she didn't), then no more posts.

Do you think anti semetism exists? If so, what does it look like to you? Are we ever allowed to call out anti semetism or do you think all "shouts" of anti semetism are false and simply designed to shut down debate.

Yeah odd that, it's like putting the honey on the wall and then standing back to watch the disaster unfold.

Anti Zionism isn’t anti semitism. I couldn’t care less what religion or race anyone is, I just don’t agree with one group of people using violence and torture to occupy another group of people’s native land.

Anti Zionism isn’t anti semitism

This is debatable. Many would argue that denying Jewish people a right to self determination in their ancestral homeland is anti semetic.