You know what bothers me – well, besides my ridiculously slow and irregular internet? White Americans that get all revolutionary about Palestine. Well, I should say, about giving Palestine its independence.
I have no qualms about Palestinian independence. Believe me. In fact, you might even say that I am an advocate of Palestinian Independence and the good ‘ol two-state solution. However, this does not mean I will wear a PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) scarf to Arabic class. Why? Because I grew up in Hastings. I am not Palestinian nor am I part of the PLO. NOR do I really realize what it would be like to be a part of the PLO. So I will not wear the scarf! I will also, not wear a t-shirt that says I (heart) Palestine when my hair is blonde, roots are German and my hometown is Edina.
There’s this girl in my Arabic class, who is, by all means, a very nice girl. She’s been to the Middle East once to study abroad. She’s painfully American. But everyday she wears this PLO scarf to class, and once, she wore the "I heart" t-shirt I was complaining about. I mean, how did she come to be so personally passionate about Palestine? I guess every cause needs its advocates. At least she’s passionate about something.
However.
It is a bit ridiculous. European-Americans passionate about Palestinian Independence could be compared, perhaps somewhat, to suburban teenagers who wear Che Guevera shirts.
Che Guevara? Really? You’re not a revolutionary. You love Target, and if not that then at least iTunes. If socialism were forced upon you, you’d complain about it. So go sit down, take off your Guevara shirt and put on some Hollister.
Really people. OK. End of rant.
1 comment:
I like my EZLN t shirts
i understand what you are saying , i have thought about this a lot especially since returning from Chiapas. I mean Che shirts were and are huge in mexico, the us, all around the world. I wonder what Ernesto would think of that? the very neoliberal ideas that he fought against was printing his face on tshirts. white people(i dont really see coulour but you know...) always need to have a cause and save things, and stand up for those who are opressed. The tshirt, a major social trend, just cries out that the person wearing it cares about something, or they are trying to seem smart, i havent decided...others (sympathizers of a movement, or revolutionary group) buy tshirts, or handmade novelty items directly from the source of the people making them to contribute to there income in their munincipalities, womens co'ops, etc. But for those confused suburbians, i understand your concern,
Molly's sister.
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