All over social media I’m seeing people saying it’s in support of Palestine. I’m also seeing a TON of ads for people selling them claiming that purchasing one is a form of support for Palestine. I’ve noted that most of them do not specify that proceeds are going to aid, just a more general form of support.

I just saw one white burgerlander insist that wearing one is the bare minimum for anyone who cares about Palestine because by adopting the clothing, you’re preventing total genocide by making sure their culture survives. To me that reads like the most unhinged justification for cultural appropriation I’ve ever heard. Even using cultural appropriation as a value-neutral term, it’s appropriation, not immersion and adoption. It does not prevent the people from being murdered who actually are of that culture you’re saying you’re preserving.

Am I missing something? I’m a white burgerlander myself so it’s very possible. Does wearing/buying these actually support Palestinians in any way? Or is it just quickly becoming the next liberal simulacrum for activism?

  • Clippy [comrade/them, he/him]
    ·
    8 months ago

    I mean you are right in some sense that there is no ethical consumption under capitalism and that to simply consuming content is not radical. It is our collective actions and organisation that is needed to radically change restructure the system.

    though it seems that the palestinians are receptive to westerners donning the garment and, that people are being targeted for wearing them.

    so maybe it has in someway become an informal uniform of some sort for those who oppose the current status quo of funding israel.

    • RyanGosling [none/use name]
      ·
      8 months ago

      People seem to forget that despite all the counterfeit mass produced shit, there ARE Palestinians selling real ones and encouraging people to wear them

      And they also forget that despite Palestine being popular with young people and the majority of the world supports them, it’s still materially taboo. Harassment and murders have occurred because of support for Palestine or being anti Zionist.

      You’re not a hero or savior for being a white boy wearing a keffiyeh. You’re not stopping genocide. Hell, you may even be a useless ally. You are, however, contributing to a change in culture. Zionists keep crying about being intimidated despite having material support on their side. Whether it’s real or imagined, they DESERVE to feel ashamed and silenced. Let them know tacitly that even though you walk by them and are unaware of their existence, you will never respect them or want to talk to them. Even if it’s not true and you’re the biggest lib, they THINK it’s true. You won’t end genocide by consuming, but you will help shut them up and make them seethe which is peace to the ears.

      • Clippy [comrade/them, he/him]
        ·
        8 months ago

        contributing to a change in culture.

        i think it was on the lemmyverse where somebody said the NAFOs fought an media war to dehumanise the russians as orcs and stamp out any counter cultural pole that oppose that narrative.

        you are very right that in that cultural poles that defy the silently genocidal status quo are important

    • CliffordBigRedDog [he/him]
      ·
      8 months ago

      Show

      im sorry but they could not have found a funnier picture and caption for that lol