June 30, 2005

I still remember the era of the "The Last Temptation of Christ". A fiction
movie, yet caused tremendous temper and protests in the USA, not to mention
setting fire to a movie theater in France. Similarly was the reaction to the
infamous story, "The Satanic Verses" by Salman Rushdi, which resulted in
the death of few Pakistani protesters.

How would you feel if one day, you are on train or walking in the street with your
teenage daughter or son and you see a Chinese guy laughing at the Chinese
calligraphy on her/his T-shirt? It is your daughter's love of calligraphy that made
her buy it, without realizing its insulting message! Which do you think is more
problematic what goes on in fiction movies and books or in reality?

I was stunned during my visit to IRAQ to see three teenage girls (including a relative) wearing a white T-Shirt with the words, "69 For You" written on it without them knowing what it signifies. This is happening in a society where girls are expected to be virgins before marriage. A society that goes even further beyond virginity to consider women's underwear Ayb 'shameful' items and therefore should not be spread on the house yard's rope in open air after being washed. What would neighbors say? In an effort to put humor to this sad reality, I told a woman, let's hope they don't have binoculars! Of course men's underwear can be placed on the rope openly, they are not shameful ! That perhaps reflects the corrupt male minds and their level of interpretation and imagination! Knowing their set of values, I don't need to mention about how Iraqis would react should they realize what "69 For You" means.

Even when I brought their attention to the fact that the phrase has a sexual meaning, it didn't occur to them that a mere number can have such an erotic interpretation! "What does it mean?" a couple of them asked. It puzzled them even more the fact that I refused to literally describe it. Luckily they decided not to wear the T-shirt anymore.

What bothered me were so many issues. I was fuming as I had the following thoughts and questions pour through my mind:

1. For a fact: Arabic calligraphy is more beautiful than English writing. Culturally, when Arabic calligraphy is used in designs, they portray wonderful messages either from the Qur'an and bible, poetry verses or wise quotes by reputable figures. Whereas in English, the meanings of the writing used in fashion are often shallow including women insulting and/or erotic messages. Yet decorating clothes with English writing is a worldwide phenomenon! If Arabic calligraphy is more beautiful and meaningful, then why choose English, the foreign language, to decorate their cloths?

2. Since these T-shirts were not made in IRAQ, why have they been imported for Iraqis to wear? Who are the idiots importing them with English messages without checking what they mean? Are Iraqi merchants and business men that naive and careless? Eventhough T-shirts are not necessarily made in the UK/USA, they can be made by American/European companies in Asia! Are these T-shirts imposed on Iraqis like other American products? This reminded me of a recent example: When Iraqis recently decided not to import American wheat and instead purchase Australian wheat, they later discovered shredded tiny metal pieces mixed with it. After alerting the public and removing it from the stores, the American wheat immediately appeared in the market, what a coincidence!

3. Shouldn't Iraqis boycott American/western products in general and those unhealthy or with the wrong type of messages and symbols in particular? Why do they wear T-shirts with English writing on them when English speakers have bombarded them for 14 years, killed their people including children, tortured prisoners and raped women?

4. Speaking of rape, what would be worse than wearing a "69 For You" T-Shirt in an occupied country by English speaking militants who know the meaning of this phrase? Encouraging the rape perhaps? It is shocking the number of Iraqi women and young girls who have been raped since April 2003. Unfortunately, nearly all published reports about this subject tackle rape cases of women in prisons , but not elsewhere (in the streets, at work, etc....)

Since the hate crimes that followed 9/11 and the "war on terrorism", I have boycotted American/western products and all American airlines. I even substituted my previous style of western clothes with Arabic and Indian fashion, and western prefumes with Arabian oil perfumes (from Saudi Arabia and the UAE), which have better fragrance, are healthier and less expensive!

I hope Iraqis (inside and outside of IRAQ), particularly women, join together in an economic boycott of American/western products. After all, most of American and British food and many other products are terribly unhealthy (especially what's being exported to the developing world, which includes expired medicine and food). According to a report by the National Public Radio, one of the main reasons for obesity, from the USA to as far as China, is the consumption of American food! The vast majority of health products, women's make up, lotions, tooth paste and mouth wash are lithered with harmful chemicals such as Cobalt, Flouride, Aluminum and other chemicals ! So why use them?

An economic boycott is the most effective way to end the USA/UK aggression and occupation in IRAQ and to weaken their power. It should not just be an Iraqi, but an Asian boycott! Aren't the USA/UK collaborative sharpening their knives to expand challenge and aggression to North Korea, India and China? So what are we waiting for?