Outrageous Halloween Costumes: Arab suicide bomber

I think it's kind of funny. Dark and twisted, sure. But put into the *American* cultural context, it's a way of mocking terrorists rather than extolling them. I mean, really - in our day and age, what could be more frightening?

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Isn't the saying "One person's comedy is another person's tragedy?" Or similar to that? Carol Burnett once said "Comedy is tragedy, plus time."

There can be no denying that the mutilated torsos and bodies of those affected by suicide (or any other kind of) bombers, are horrifying and affecting. However, study for a moment, ANY macabre costume that has gore, terror, blood, death, bandages, you name it, as a central theme. You're going to have to start being appalled by quite a number of costumes, and not just this one, if you start to judge costumes.

In downtown Guam, there is a famous statute of the Pope, and he rotates on a reolving pedestal. My brother thought it would be funny, while he was a resident of Guam, to go as "Roto-Pope" to a costume party. The silence which fell over the party, the minute he arrived, and waved to the crowd, while slowly turning in a circle, was palpable. The hostess, beyond angry and offended, demanded that he leave. He did of course ... but not before noting that her husband was dressed as a WWII Japanese Prison Guard soldier, with little round glasses and fake buck teeth, carrying a bloody sword.

Things we laugh at, are appalling to others. Things which are appalling to us, will be laughed at by others. So it goes, and it so it always will.

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I don't think it's even a little bit funny, and I have a pretty belligerently sarcastic sense of humour.

I think if you'd even consider embracing this within an American cultural context, then the American cultural context needs a serious boot to the head -- mockery is too halfassed a response to that level of insanity.

There's a profound difference between irreverence and coldbloodedness.

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Whatever. It is always going to offend someone and it is always going to incite a riot.

Parents + kid who doesn't know any better = brainwashed.

Extremists + kid who doesn't know any better = brainwashed.

Oh, how odd.

I say, quit using your kids for your stupid jokes, if you want to be an idiot, dress up yourself. Jesus, this is worse than dressing your kids up in huge chicken costumes because they are 6 months old and can't contest.

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I wouldn't be troubled by an adult wearing this costume. still bad taste, but I have nothing against bad taste.

I just have a problem with this costume being imposed on a kid.

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I do actually think this costume goes beyond good taste and would be annoyed at the parents of any child dressed like this who showed up at my door on Halloween. I find it to be in the same league as the Nazi uniform Prince Harry wore to a costume party last year.

Scary costumes are great, political costumes are funny, I grew up with Mardi Gras and love costumes in general. But in this case you have to realize that there are people alive who had their husband, parent or child killed by a suicide bomber. Out of respect for the victims, I think this or even the suicide bomber T-shirt making a splash on the web should not be worn.

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I am almost speechless... not funny in any shape or form.. deeply offended..

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Not even a little funny.

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Dutch:

My point exactly. If as the 'grown-up' you would like to dress up and make a fool of yourself...then by all means.

But to impose it on a child and have them obviously making a mockery of it -when they can not even possibly grasp the concept of it- is beyond me.

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What I find most troublesome about this costume is the conflation of "arab" (based on the head covering) and "suicide bomber." Totally racist.

Doesn't anyone else find that disturbing?

And what if your kid knocks on the door of your very nice neighbor who barely escaped from Gaza after the Israelis bulldozed their house? How incredibly offensive.

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I agree this this costume is completely tasteless.

However, some of the comments have been bugging me, in that they imply that the kid's parents dressed him up in this costume. Based on the kid's expression & the number of adult teeth showing -- he is old enough to have picked out and made his own costume. Now, there is something to be said for ALLOWING your kid to dress like that, but my parents had a hard time preventing me from dressing the way I wanted to.

That said -- poking fun of tragedy like this saddens me.

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I hope the parents get eggs thrown at them for this stupidity. Really, it's just pure bad taste no matter how you spin it.

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It is offensive at EVERY level, not just because it's a child, but because it pokes fun at KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE. If an adult had that costume, I'd find it just as offensive. Geesh, why not dress your kid us as Hitler and you can go along as Idi Amin? Hahaha. Not.

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Are you kidding me Daisy? Did you maybe think about the Israeli families whose family members were completly blown to pieces because of a stupid suicide bomber who was promised 72 virgins in heaven!! Did you know the Israeli army bulldozes houses of terrorists or people who were using their homes to make bombs!! The costume is very offensive whether it be an adult or child.

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This is beyond offensive. I think the picture made me throw up in my mouth a little. It's not mockery; it's an imitation (the sincerist form of flattery). I don't like gory costumes either, but I dislike horror movies. People who dress up as grotesque, bloody creations, while gross, at least have a context (a genre with many fans). A suicide bomber is liked by few. I just don't understand how any reasonable person, at least in America, could dress up as a terrorist (adult or child), unless that person likes the idea of terrorism and suicide bombing. Ugh, I have to go wash my hands and the bile out of my mouth now.

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Some things should not be imitated, plain in simple.

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Layla, the Israelis have blood on their hands too. There are plenty of innocents in Gaza, like this lovely family:
http://a-mother-from-gaza.blogspot.com/

Furthermore, I'm quite certain you'd never see an Israeli person, or an American Jew, dressing up as a suicide bomber!

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LOL, that is sick and funny at the same time. Now is it offensive, sure, but thats what makes it funny. All the people here who are so offended by it are bitchs about the whole thing. Also to the person who said they threw up, christ its just an outfit, if that makes you want to puke try going out into the real world some time, or you could just look in the mirror, either way.

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Chuck, I'm the one who's disgusted to nausea by this outfit. I have lost a few good friends to people who wear similar 'costumes' to the one in the picture. I have been in the real world, Chuck, and I think it's repulsive to glorify suicide bombers and their ilk. Maybe if you've had recent military service, or are close to someone who has, you'd understand my disgust. Do not insult me because my reaction is not as 'manly' as yours. If you've ever seen the mangled body of a friend, blown apart as the result of a bomb, you'd throw up a little too.

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I do not know where to begin with this picture. The child in the picture should come and live in the Middle East, and see if he would still wear that costume and have that smile on his face. There are many lovely people in the Middle East, and some that I would consider as close as family. See I live in the UAE and here there is so many different cultures living in one place, that you realize just how small the world really is. What is happening in Israel and Palestine is horrible, and both sides have a lot to answer for.

I would also like to remind people that Arabs are good, caring people, and for the most part just like people anywhere else, and after living here for a time, I am finding it hard sometimes to understand whom is an Arab and whom is a Muslim. So be careful in assuming that the kid is dressed as Arab and not just a Muslim or if it is the other way around. An Arab is not always a Muslim, as there are many Arab Christians. Also there are probably more Muslims living in other parts of the world, than live in the Arab countries.

By the way the Muslims just finished Ramadan (their Holy month of fasting and trying to get closer to God) and are now in the Eid-ul-Fitr (well today finished it). So to all the Muslims, Eid Mubarak to you and all your family!

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