You would think that a team of Army Rangers, employing women in Afghanistan, making products that put little girls in school would be a no brainer, right?
There still seems to be some lingering debate around the shemagh or not to shemagh. In a phone call with one of our sales reps, he asked the question, “What’s your response to the feeling that shemaghs are associated with people that aren’t very popular right now in America?”
Image: Reut C
Me: “What do you mean?”
Rep: “Well, when they wear the shemagh around their head and face like a terrorist.”
Me: “Yeah, they look like terrorists. People probably shouldn’t do that.”
We weren’t afraid of it. We developed flight. Navigated the depths of the ocean. Landed on the moon. All risky endeavors that brought us together as a nation. A planet. A species.
Now you can’t turn a corner without people being afraid of a rhetorical question that is devoid of common sense.
I was so affected by the question that I had to search images of the war in Syria, ISIS, and a few other conflicts in the Middle East. If you haven’t taken a look recently, click a link HERE, HERE, or HERE to view things that are truly offensive to us as a nation, planet, and species [Be advised, graphic images].
And, Americans are worried about a scarf. Paralyzed in doubt. Over a piece of fabric.
Have no fear. We got your back.
With sustainable employment and education, the fundamental recruitment base for radicalism in Afghanistan will diminish. It’s pretty simple—just like that shemagh. A square piece of fabric, loomed in Kabul and embroidered by hard-working women, that educates the future mothers of a nation. If that kind of kindness, simplicity and functionality is your style, we ask that you to shed the doubt, make a statement, and rock that shemagh.
#Peace
Combat Flip Flops
Image: Colbern Photography
Comments
Love what you’re doing! The shemagh is not about terrorism, or anti-semitism, or islamic militancy – it’s about people. Here’s hoping that this square of fabric (and it’s gorgeous, btw – just beautifully made, warm, perfect for the upcoming winter here in the NE!) provokes the kind of conversations that you can have with your reps. To paraphrase Don Draper, if you don’t like what people are saying about you, change the conversation. If this square of fabric can change the conversation about Afghanistan and the people who live there, if the bangle can change the conversation about cluster munitions and the people who live with their legacy for generations after the war has been forgotten about, if flip-flops can change the conversation about conflict zones and make people see that there is a future in business, not bullets, then I can’t think of a better business to be in. Delighted to have supported your mission, and look forward to continuing to do so.
Increase the peace.