The upside, as pointed out by Yasser, can also have a downside. Being seen on stage with a ghutra is one thing, getting a picture snapped back stage as the same person wearing the ghutra is smoking a joint is another.

For many of these guys the label “Muslim” is just that, it is a label, a fad. Some, not all certainly, do not reflect the deen in any way in their music. It is just as much about “hos” and drugs as anyone else’s music.

Many of the tattoos in the article were things that people involved in the Palestinian/anti-Iraqi war movement probably would not want to be associated with. They had pictures of women with the tattoo “sharmoota” tattoed on them, the words “haram” tattooed on them.

If they take these items and use them to promote a lifestyle which is out of line for most Americans, these symbols can end up having the opposite effect than the ones we would desire.

It might be good to have Americans associate things like the ghutra with popular people, but if it gets associated with gangsters and hoodlums, then we are right back to where we started at, if not worse.

–lyrics from “Muhammad Walks” by Lupe.

i think he gets it…

P.S. Lupe is my favorite rapper (sort of unrelated).

I think both reasons are legitimate. More importantly, I think it helps our cause. As I have said before, it is acceptabel in mainstream news, etc. to bash Muslims and Arabs, make bigoted statements and just plain old hate us. The average American recognizes the Kuffaya as Arab. When it becomes a trend and popular to wear, it helps the image of Arabs and Muslims.

All that shit works to people’s psyche. The food, the clothes, the music, etc. That’s why people went ballistic over the Urban outfitters anti-war scarf. Because bigots and islamophobes understand that if our culture, clothes, etc. is embraced, it pokes holes in their scheme to make us the most hated people on the planet.

And the Olsen twins, I say wear my hata and be cool.

Arabs = cool.