The Scarf Strikes Again!

Some might say it wasn't necessarily my finest moment at NewsBusters when, back in December, I speculated that, reporting from a chilly Rockefeller Plaza, Today's Matt Lauer might have been wearing a Palestinian 'solidarity scarf.'  See Keffiyeh-Gate?

At the time, I noted that:

So-called "Palestinian support scarves" have become items of radical fashion chic. Check out this web-site, which advertises "Palestinian support scarves," explaining:

"The traditional Palestinian headdress has become a symbol of support for the Palestinian people against the Israeli occupation. From political rallies to talk shows, supporters of the Palestinian cause have begun donning this traditional scarf as a show of solidarity." [emphasis added]

My speculation on Matt's fashion choice was met by some wags here with, shall we say, a certain dubiousness, along with the isolated expression of support.  So you can imagine how my interest was piqued when, tuning in this morning's Today, I noticed an American college student wearing . . . you guessed it.

Have a look at the fellow pictured here.  The subject - alleged rape by members of the Duke lacrosse team - was serious, but the guy - who had participated in a Take Back the Night March -  was goofy.  He waxed on - in something of a 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure' voice - about the hateful nature of the crime, before presumably retiring to his dorm room to, ahem, scarf down a large plate of brownies.

So, is this Finkelstein's long-awaited Scarf-Gate vindication?  Not exactly.   It certainly doesn't prove what Lauer was wearing that fateful December morn. But it does bear out that at least in some American quarters, Palestinian scarves have become an item of radical fashion chic!

Finkelstein lives in Ithaca, NY, where he hosts the award-winning public-access TV show 'Right Angle'. Contact him at: mark@gunhill.net