Obama’s No-Green Fashion Rule Called a ‘Misstep’
July 22nd, 2008 at 07:34am Aaron Chambers
The Obama campaign is getting some grief for telling traveling reporters to not wear green during Obama’s Middle East tour
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| Green, The Color of Islam |
An Obama aide explained to reporters that green is the color associated with the militant Palestinian group Hamas. But while the color does appear on Hamas banners, there is no particular symbolism to wearing green clothes, experts said.
Moreover, green is more generally seen as a symbol of Islam.
“A ban on wearing green seems bizarre,” said Richard Bulliet, a professor of Middle Eastern history at Columbia University, who said the color is associated with the family of the Prophet Mohammed.
“I would hazard the guess that the campaign’s concern is more with distorted—and religiously inaccurate—reporting by Obama’s detractors than with any actual signal that might be conveyed,” he said, referring to false rumors that Obama is a Muslim. “You don’t want to have some blogger come along and say ‘Obama is showing his true color.’”
“I think they’re just being overcautious to a ridiculous degree,” Bulliet said.
More here on green, the color of Islam.
Entry Filed under: Barack Obama
1 Comment Add your own
1. Bookworm | July 22nd, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Well, given the fact that Food Network host Rachel Ray was branded a terrorist sympathizer for wearing a black and white patterned scarf in a Dunkin’ Donuts ad (because of its alleged resemblance to headgear worn by Yasser Arafat and other Palestinians), one cannot blame Obama for being extra cautious in this regard.
When word gets out that green is the color of Islam, next thing you know, the Green Bay Packers and all other teams that wear green jerseys will be placed on the terror watch list and Homeland Security will be placing St. Patrick’s Day parades under surveillance. Come to think of it, I always did suspect that green beer and Shamrock Shakes were some kind of terrorist plot : )
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