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Supermarket staff wearing a keffiyeh

502 replies

Alpaccas · 07/03/2025 22:35

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?

OP posts:
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6
amele · 08/03/2025 19:49

Since when is a keffiya political??! Go learn about other cultures instead of learning rubbish from the news or wherever. It's a cultural clothing and they have every right to wear it!! You are very small minded.

Clarabell77 · 08/03/2025 20:06

Comedycook · 08/03/2025 19:21

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.

And many would argue that Palestinian people have a right to self determination. Or does that just not count?

Like many others, my ancestral homeland is Ireland, should we go there and start bombing people who live there out of their homes?

PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting · 08/03/2025 20:07

mrschocolatte · 08/03/2025 06:30

I’m pretty sure very few people on here could answer that question with any real authority and understanding. A lot of people will have an opinion but it would mostly likely be based on ignorance. But I think you know this.
Are you a practicing Christian? If so, do you believe that yours is the only true faith? Because if you do, you are no different to believers of other faiths. So, setting yourself out as different and ‘better’ is a load of old hogwash.

Um, 🤔 well, I think I need to congratulate you @mrschocolatte as not many people stump me, and leave me feeling not quite sure how they manage to interpret what I am saying in such a strange way. In fact the only other person I know who can do that - and quite spectacularly at times - is my very dear husband, but even he couldn't have reached your conclusions. As I am still struggling to understand your response to my last paragraph on my post that you quoted please forgive me if I try to answer your question about my religious, spiritual beliefs for now.

Now that is a far easier question for me to answer, whether anyone reading my answer, including you, of course, mrschocolatte, will understand what I am saying is yet to be seen.

No, I am not a practicing Christian, in fact I suspect that many people - probably including myself - would not believe me to be a Christian at all. IMO, many of the different branches of the Christian community show little inclination to actually live life as Jesus would appear to want them to. I know that I fall far too short of the what I consider to be necessary characteristics if one claims to be a Christian. However, I do believe that Jesus was, in all probability, the best Human Being to ever walk on this planet, and I wish that I could be anywhere near as good as him. Unfortunately, my flaws are far too many.

To name a few of my flaws: I am way too judgemental of other people, I also have little patience left these days, and I procrastinate far too much. I do hope that I am never cruel to anyone, and that I can still treat those with sadness and/or trauma in their lives, with kindness and empathy. I am not sure about what in my 'quoted by you post' makes you think that I think I am different to others - except that each and every one of us are different to each other - and I certainly don't think I am better than anyone else who tries to stay on the right side of the law? In fact I have now, and always have had, very low self-esteem, so as far as I am concerned you are very far off the mark with that judgement of me.

I don't believe that any religion on Earth is of "the true faith". I am not saying that there are no Higher Beings, but I certainly don't believe in an Omnipotent God, I don't believe in scary Gods, or Ones that would sacrifice their own children. I suppose the nearest I can get to a having a personal Faith is that we somehow all have a collective Unconciousness, whatever our individual race, colour, language or religion may or may not be, we are all human beings, and we should all look out for each other, and for all the creatures that roam on this planet, and all the plant life, in fact we should all consider ourselves caretakers of this amazing and stunningly beautiful planet.

If you want some sort of label for me, I put down "Neo-Paganism" as my belief system, when filling in our 10 yearly Census'. One of the very best things to me about being a Pagan, is that we do not have any rule books, we do not have to have any formal teachers or rulers, and that at least, in my branch of Paganism - being an individual traditional witch - we are non proselytising. We usually have one other self-made rule/request, which is "and we harm none".

TemporaryPosition · 08/03/2025 20:12

JorgyPorgy · 07/03/2025 22:43

Wouldn’t bother me in the slightest, I think it’s nice. Let’s be grateful to live in a country where people can dress how they want . No one should have to feel afraid to dress how they feel

I hope you're this keen to defend my freedom to wear my maga cap

Comedycook · 08/03/2025 20:14

TemporaryPosition · 08/03/2025 20:12

I hope you're this keen to defend my freedom to wear my maga cap

Not trendy enough

Liv999 · 08/03/2025 20:43

Comedycook · 08/03/2025 18:50

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.

Plenty of anti semitism exists, having sympathy for the Palestinian people isn't antisemetic in any way though, surely any sensible person knows this

AthWat · 08/03/2025 20:47

Comedycook · 08/03/2025 15:02

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?!

It means sympathy for the Palestinian people.

It does not mean " destruction and removal of the only Jewish state in the world".

Why the fucking flying fuck would it?

Liv999 · 08/03/2025 20:51

AthWat · 08/03/2025 20:47

It means sympathy for the Palestinian people.

It does not mean " destruction and removal of the only Jewish state in the world".

Why the fucking flying fuck would it?

Any excuse to turn it into antisemitism..

Idkw2d · 08/03/2025 20:55

HermioneWeasley · 07/03/2025 22:46

It’s not part of the uniform and if it wasn’t intended as a political statement, it certainly has the potential to be read as one so it’s completely inappropriate and i would complain.

Would you also complain about a Ukraine pin or a rainbow badge?

Comedycook · 08/03/2025 21:03

AthWat · 08/03/2025 20:47

It means sympathy for the Palestinian people.

It does not mean " destruction and removal of the only Jewish state in the world".

Why the fucking flying fuck would it?

You're telling me that none of the pro Palestinian supporters want to see the removal of Israel?

JorgyPorgy · 08/03/2025 21:56

TemporaryPosition · 08/03/2025 20:12

I hope you're this keen to defend my freedom to wear my maga cap

Yes, its a free country , wear what you want as long as not inciting hate

Comedycook · 08/03/2025 22:15

JorgyPorgy · 08/03/2025 21:56

Yes, its a free country , wear what you want as long as not inciting hate

Free country is such a meaningless phrase.

Greywhippet · 08/03/2025 22:45

Comedycook · 08/03/2025 22:15

Free country is such a meaningless phrase.

Certainly is when applied to Palestine

Anotherparkingthread · 08/03/2025 22:50

I might buy one and wear it myself tbh.

If it offends you then there's something wrong with you. It's a bit of fabric. If it's meaning offends you, then there's something wrong with you.

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 08/03/2025 22:53

sprigatito · 07/03/2025 22:39

I think it's preposterous that this is even a question tbh. The keffiyeh has been around a lot longer than the current media campaign to demonise Palestinians and people aren't going to just stop wearing them. My dad has loads of them, he's been wearing them since 1954 and he's unlikely to desist just because some busybody in a supermarket believes everything she reads.

@sprigatito , what media campaign to demonise Palestinians?

LBFseBrom · 08/03/2025 22:56

Comedycook · 08/03/2025 21:03

You're telling me that none of the pro Palestinian supporters want to see the removal of Israel?

Some certainly do just as many Israelis want to see the end of Palestine. They are both wrong, there is no reason why they cannot peacefully co-exist.

ButchCassidysSundanceKid · 08/03/2025 23:55

thiswilloutme · 08/03/2025 08:54

You are very naive if you think they are not wearing it as a political statement.

If they are wearing it as part of their religious observance then this is even more worrying - they are being radicalised before your eyes.

About 10 years ago I got into a similar discussion about dress codes (on a different forum) with someone telling me that I was naive to one of my Muslim student's allegedly sinister intentions because she'd started to observe a hijab from her 18th birthday. This particular student - whom apparently strangers on the internet knew far better than I did, despite me interacting with her in person daily - went on to become a nurse. And I imagine has made a much bigger contribution to British society than many of the keyboard warriors spouting hate and fear do.

Do any of you with these fears ever even speak to Muslim people?

PollyHutchen · 09/03/2025 00:22

Do any of you with these fears ever even speak to Muslim people?

I am a non-Observant Jew, descended from Holocaust survivors. I live in a constituency where over half the population is Muslim. Many of my colleagues are Musim and my children have Musim friends.

The massacre of October 7 horrified me and the lack of support for Israel horrified me still more. I noted the lack of police action when young Musim men committed acts of violence in the city where I live. I note the Palestine flags in windows, displayed in local businesses, the 'Queers for Palestine' stickers on the campus of my university

I think of what my 98 year old mother witnessed in Germany in her childhood, and I feel very very uneasy at the rise of anti-Jewish sentiment around me.

OKNerd · 09/03/2025 01:11

Clarabell77 · 08/03/2025 18:59

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.

Zionism is the concept that Jewish people should have their own state to live in in peace after millennia of exile. Like every other religion in the world has. So yeah it’s antisemitic to be against that.

OKNerd · 09/03/2025 01:12

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 08/03/2025 18:42

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.

And yet in the other post you said you were against Hamas because you were worried about Palestinians. No mention of Jews or Israelis who they actually target.

And TBH this is just another way of telling Jewish people to STFU about hate against them. Why won’t you listen to Jewish people who are scared?

OKNerd · 09/03/2025 01:13

Comedycook · 08/03/2025 19:21

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.

Yep, because it is. Muslims have 50+ countries - nobody complains about that. Christian countries coming out of our ears. That’s fine with everyone. But people are “anti” Jewish people having their own state. But no definitely not anti semitic 🙄

OKNerd · 09/03/2025 01:17

Clarabell77 · 08/03/2025 20:06

And many would argue that Palestinian people have a right to self determination. Or does that just not count?

Like many others, my ancestral homeland is Ireland, should we go there and start bombing people who live there out of their homes?

Israel was handed over to the Jews fairly and legally - BECAUSE of anti semitism. Israel is not the only, or even the most recent, country that has settlers using land as a safe haven. But it was done legally and it has prospered. Funny how lefties are pro immigration unless it’s Jews who literally have nowhere to go because, after 6 years of being tortured and pushing their dead relatives around in wheelbarrow, the world still fucking hates them and wants them dead. What would you have done if you were a Jew in 1947, had experienced the most acute trauma, lost most of your family and just wanted to not have another Holocaust?

OKNerd · 09/03/2025 01:18

Liv999 · 08/03/2025 20:43

Plenty of anti semitism exists, having sympathy for the Palestinian people isn't antisemetic in any way though, surely any sensible person knows this

It’s very interesting you won’t answer questions about anti semitism. Do you not understand what it looks like?

OKNerd · 09/03/2025 01:18

AthWat · 08/03/2025 20:47

It means sympathy for the Palestinian people.

It does not mean " destruction and removal of the only Jewish state in the world".

Why the fucking flying fuck would it?

Because Hamas are flying fucks who want to destroy Jewish people and a keffiyeh, wether you like it or not, is a tenuous support of their charter

OKNerd · 09/03/2025 01:19

Liv999 · 08/03/2025 20:51

Any excuse to turn it into antisemitism..

Yeah those pesky Jews are just feeling sorry for themselves again.

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