Posted on 11/29/2005 2:57:30 PM PST by jjm2111
"Real Men Moisturize." So begins an article on "Sharp Dressed Men" that appeared in a State Department funded magazine aimed at youth in the Arab world. The magazine, called "Hi" is published in Arabic and English....
The article continues: "In fact, some of them, like Michael Gustman, a 25-year-old public relations account executive from Boca Raton, Fla., even have separate moisturizers for the face and body. Facial pores can clog with too heavy a salve, it seems. Gustman exfoliates. He gets pedicures. He gets facials. He accessorizes. ... In a word, he's a metrosexual."
[snip]
...Is this what the U.S. State Department thinks America is really like? How many men, outside a tiny subset in major cities, are the primping, feminized "metrosexuals" the article lauds? ... You cannot enhance understanding between one people and another by presenting a false version of one side.
...Does the State Department believe that Arab males — some of whom do not permit their wives and daughters to go out in public without a male family member as escort, others of whom think nothing of killing a daughter who dishonors the family by fraternizing with a boy — are going to be impressed with a vision of America in which males are feminized "exfoliated," smooth-skinned eunuchs?
The State Department is apparently so delighted with the Hi Magazine approach that they are translating it for use around the world.
[snip]
In this "everybody's world," particularly the parts at which Hi Magazine is pitched, there are troubles that seem a bit remote from hair and nail care. In Iraq, half the population, according to one poll, believes that a man has a right to beat his wife if she disobeys him (and the Koran gives this sanction).
[snip]
And the State Department magazine prattles about facials.
(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...
I'm a reservist and served overseas in Kuwait. I also work in NYC and know quite a few metros. The very thought of them trying to relate on any level with a grizzled desert bedouin or even a modern city-dwelling Arab is so laughable.
In Afghansistan, Army SF has to fight the brass to wear beards because the locals only respect men with beards. A 'man' who exfoliates and can tell a brand of shoe by looking at it would be as alien to them as a Martian to us. They would think he was gay and try to stone him.
Well, maybe not stone him until a few hours later.
The only time I moisturize is when I spill some beer when swilling it.
For me it is only winter activities. My face gets chapped backpacking or such and needs sunscreen and chapstick.
I don't know any men that moisturize (unless they're in the closet about it.) Heck, I don't even know too many women who moisturize. Most of the people I know are leading full lives and have better things to worry about than vanity.
LOL! Thankfully, I was not drinking beer when I read your post or I would have moisturized myself in like fashion.
No. They don't.
It wouldn't surprise me if the State Department was publishing this with the clear understanding that it would elicit contempt in men of those cultures.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
The corner of the backyard after a couple of beers, sure.
I don't believe I have ever met a man who "moisturizes" and "exfoliates". :)
Why the hell would people who seldom bathe bother to moisturize?
Sombody tell Condi to Kick com Butt...
LOL!!! Now THOSE kind of men I HAVE met! :)
But they should.
These guys who clean up like this, be careful. it is one thing to be clean, but it is another to either scare them away, or get yerself into a relationship you can't have any control over. And I use control meaning you have none, over anything!
If they're 'faygs.'
Yes, they do. Surely you've caused moistness to occur from time to time, no?
We just won't specify where...
Concur. I prefer single malt scotch, taken internally.
I do. In the winter, on very cold, windy days. Face gets chapped, and even starts to peel, due to dryness.
It's not vanity to keep your face from looking like a prune and your lips from looking like raisins.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.