Scarves wrapped with meaning

A warm neck is a healthy neck, and judging by the numbers of scarves on display around campus these days, there are a lot of people with chilly throats. But who knew that a simple piece of cloth could cause controversy? It can.

The latest trend in urban wear is the keffiyeh, a square-shaped cloth that can be worn as a headdress, a turban or a scarf. Whether imported from the furthest reaches of Pakistan, or manufactured in a nearby American assembly line, it seems that everyone and their mother has jumped on board with this new scarf fad.

Chances are, the average person you see walking around campus wearing a keffiyeh has no idea what it means. Maybe these people think their fashion statement is “pretty” or “nice.” Maybe they think it’s comfy, or they want to match their friends. But they’re probably blissfully ignorant of the contentious and controversial issues surrounding this fashion accessory — or just what kind of statement they really are making.

Originally designed in ancient Mesopotamia, the keffiyeh is designed to protect the wearer from the arid conditions of the desert. Worn around the face and wrapped around the shoulders, it shields the face and neck from sand and sun. However, over the course of history, it has taken a much larger cultural significance.

In the 1930s, the keffiyeh became a symbol of Palestinian nationalism during the Arab revolt, a conflict that cost thousands of lives and lasted nearly three years.

These days, the keffiyeh is considered the trademark symbol for Yasser Arafat. He was rarely seen without his peculiarly arranged black-and-white scarf, which was thrown over his right shoulder and folded to resemble the territory claimed by Palestine.

Most people would recognize the keffiyeh from the movie Lawrence of Arabia, where Peter O’Toole portrays the British soldier T.E Lawrence during World War I. In the 1920s, many film and theatre actors began to incorporate keffiyehs into their wardrobes, as Arabs were considered allies in the Great War.

Other Westerners have showed their support for Palestine through wearing keffiyehs, including Trent Reznor in his music video “Survivalism.”

The problem is, just like the Che Guevera t-shirts, the Ying Yang necklaces and the often misspelled foreign language tattoos people sport, nobody knows what the keffiyeh really means.

In 2007, Cameron Diaz showed up in Peru with a bag imprinted with the words “Serve the People” printed in Chinese characters. The phrase is considered one of the most famous political slogans of Mao Zedong, the former leader of the Chinese Communist Party. Diaz, oblivious to this fact, had no idea that Zedong’s followers were responsible for a deadly campaign of bombings and massacres in Peru that cost nearly 70,000 people their lives. The ensuing outrage was completely justified, and totally her fault.

Wearing a keffiyeh, though it may not be as offensive as Diaz’s ignorance, could still be interpreted the wrong way. Recently, a Dunkin' Donuts ad starring Rachel Ray was yanked when people commented that her scarf resembled a keffiyeh. Urban Outfitters used to offer keffiyehs, but discontinued the product when consumers complained.

If you want to give a shout-out to Palestine, or if Arafat’s your bud, then wearing a keffiyeh makes perfect sense. "If your place in Osborne Village particularly sandy or hot, then definitely go for it. But if you’re buying a keffiyeh just because it matches your blouse, it might be time to think again — or at least consider the statement.