South Louisiana is experiencing another sweltering summer but people are still wearing scarves.The popular checkered variety are worn by celebrities and appear in fashion magazines and designers’ collections. They also appeared on Palestinian leaders. It seems these colorful scarves are all the rage.But this simple fashion accessory can be seen as more than just a scarf. Charles Isbell, assistant professor of religious studies, said these scarves may carry a message the wearers are not aware of.”What people wear can sometimes make a statement to others, even when the wearer might not intend it,” Isbell said.These scarves, when worn around the neck, resemble the keffiyeh worn by Arab men, popularized by Yasser Arafat and other members of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the political organization representing the Palestinian people.The keffiyah became a Palestinian symbol in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Some people, particularly those of Jewish descent, find the wearing of these scarves offensive. Daniel Novak, adviser for Hillel, the Jewish student organization at the University and assistant professor of English, said he recalled when “right wing commentators went after Rachael Ray” for wearing one of the scarves in a Dunkin’ Donuts advertisement. Dunkin’ Donuts pulled the ad.Like Novak, some people do not feel those who wear the scarves as a fashion accessory are naïve.”I just don’t personally think it’s right to put that much weight on someone’s decision to wear a popular summer style,” said Meghann Green, fashion merchandising sophomore.Isbell, however, said he disapproves if people make a point to wear the scarf as a political statement “to the effect that bombing Israel indiscriminately is acceptable.”It seems not all feel that way.Jay Weisman, history freshman, follows the Jewish religion and said he does not find it offensive when people wear the scarves.”People absolutely have the right to make any statement they like, whether the statement suits me or not,” Weisman said.He said fashion statements have been made plenty of times using religious or national symbols.”A prime example of this is the swastika,” Weisman stated. It was used “both by Hitler’s regime as well as Indians as a good luck charm.” While the scarves worn in the style of a keffiyeh offend some people, it seems the consensus is they are fine as a fashion accessory.”Sometimes a scarf is just a scarf,” Novak said. “We have bigger problems in the world.”—-
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