Exclusive: When is a Scarf Just a Scarf?

Family Security Matters ^ | June 5, 2008 | Renee Taylor

[captjanaway]

Last week, my husband (and fellow FSM contributor) Mark and I got into a rather heated debate over an important issue - scarves. When Michelle Malkin released her article on the scarf worn by celebrity chef Rachael Ray and its possible ties to Islamic culture, I found the whole thing amusing and far-fetched. Yet Mark agreed wholeheartedly with Michelle: that the black and white fringed scarf could have hidden Jihadist meaning.The scarf, much like those I wore in my days as a legal secretary was, in my opinion, a nice accessory to a sweater or suit.Does a scarf bearing the same colors as keffiyeh worn by terrorist Yassar Arafat make it "evil" while the War on Terror rages on?It depends upon which side of the Taylor household you sit.

While we must be vigilant in recognizing the infiltration of Sharia law into American society, is a scarf worn by a celebrity chef in an advertisement as serious as Muslim cab drivers refusing to transport passengers with Seeing Eye dogs or alcohol (a legal substance in the United States)? At what point to we cross from serious discussion to pure paranoia?

[captjanaway]

There's an interesting reference to "Bohemian Rhapsody" here....

[stuartcr]

A scarf is just a scarf...only when people will let it be.

[mvpel]

Coming hard on the heels of Urban Outfitters being shamed into withdrawing its Arafat-keffiyah “Peace Scarf,” the Dunkin’ Donuts ad was ill-timed to have her scarf interpreted as “just a scarf.”

If you wear an otherwise-stylish red scarf on November 7 while walking around Red Square in Moscow, regardless of what you intend by it you shouldn’t be surprised if lots and lots of people think you’re a communist.

[iopscusa]

Leave chubby litlle Rachel alone...you know she is almost dumb enough to not know better.

[captjanaway]

You can buy a “real” keffiyah all day long on Ebay - they even come with pink embroidered hearts..... Or a stylish turquoise with purple stripes (that one made my eyes hurt)

[WarToad]

"...rather heated debate over an important issue - scarves..." Oh, God. Not the scarf. Because we have absolutely nothing more important to discuss and focus on than a black and white fringed paisley scarf the commercial wardrobe designer picked out. I bet if you play the commercial backwards it quotes Islamic verses too.

[SengirV]

OMFG!!! She wore a black and white scarf. Lets burn her at the stake!!!

/unbelievable

[weegee]

The oil in the middle east isn’t evil either, just the Islamic Imperialists who control it are (they are tyrannical to their own citizens as well).

But the goal seems to be to get us “off” of middle eastern oil.

The world changed the power structure in South Africa. It could be done in the Middle East if there was enough pressure.

The oil isn’t evil. Neither is a scarf. Nor a swastika (former good luck sign).

The people who use them can be very evil.

[steve-b]

Shocking evidence of jihadist infiltration of NASCAR.

[stuartcr]

I imagine those people are evil, regardless of what they use.

[Altura Ct.]

In general I don’t disagree with this article but when is a noose just a noose or a Confederate flag just a flag? PC will and is destroying us.

[Russ]

Just think of the outrage had she been wearing an urban sombrero...

[KarlInOhio]

In the pictures I saw I honestly couldn't tell if the scarf had Arafat's keffiyah's pattern or some other pattern because it was too scrunched up around her neck. If it really was that pattern, I would rank it with wearing a scarf with swastikas or hammers and sickles - a political statement either by the person wearing it or the person dressing her.

[SengirV]

The Horror!!

[EggsAckley]

For some reason this old chestnut comes to mind:

“Oh, your red scarf matches your eyes
You close your cover before striking.
Your father has the shipfitter’s blues.
Loving you has made me bananas.”

(I need a vacation)

[weegee]

I hadn’t heard about the Peace Scarf but I do see it was covered on LGF

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=26262_Marketing_Terrorism_As_Peace&only

Calling it a “peace scarf” IS a political statement regardless of the pattern on the scarf.

[weegee]

And I see that Urban Outfitters went even farther and called theirs an “anti-war scarf”.

What next?

An “anti-apartheid in Israel” scarf?

When is a scarf just a political ribbon like the red AIDS ribbon?

[weegee]

And ignorance of the intent of the garment designer isn't much of an excuse when the subtle meaning is brought to your attention (I'm referring to rachel, not the poster)...

Remember this?

Cameron Diaz Apologizes for Maoist Bag (Shades Of "Che") (Breitbart.com June 24, 2007 AP)

[af_vet_rr]

At what point to we cross from serious discussion to pure paranoia?

At the point where we start looking for terrorist links in whatever Rachel Ray is wearing.

I thought Malkin's comments were hilarious - she was simply doing what political bloggers do - getting paid to troll gullible people, and it worked. She posted something outrageous that trolled both the left and the right and brought in a ton of traffic to her site, which earns her more money.