[jjm2111]

This is quite old, but I didn't see it posted here on FR. It's amazing how out of touch the people are at State and it's a good thing that the most contact Arabs have is with our military. Real men who actually share some cultural values with them; not sissified metros.

I'm a reservist and served overseas in Kuwait. I also work in NYC and know quite a few metros. The very thought of them trying to relate on any level with a grizzled desert bedouin or even a modern city-dwelling Arab is so laughable.

In Afghansistan, Army SF has to fight the brass to wear beards because the locals only respect men with beards. A 'man' who exfoliates and can tell a brand of shoe by looking at it would be as alien to them as a Martian to us. They would think he was gay and try to stone him.

[MeanWestTexan]

Well, maybe not stone him until a few hours later.

[dirtboy]

‘Real Men Moisturize’

The only time I moisturize is when I spill some beer when swilling it.

[IndyInVa]

I don't know any men that moisturize (unless they're in the closet about it.) Heck, I don't even know too many women who moisturize. Most of the people I know are leading full lives and have better things to worry about than vanity.

[TexanToTheCore]

‘Real Men Moisturize’

No. They don't.

[saganite]

It wouldn't surprise me if the State Department was publishing this with the clear understanding that it would elicit contempt in men of those cultures.

[goldstategop]

The State Department liberals promote the idea of America as a nation of metrosexual girly-men. BARF!

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[TenaciousZ]

Real Men Moisturize

The corner of the backyard after a couple of beers, sure.

[LaineyDee]

I don't believe I have ever met a man who "moisturizes" and "exfoliates". :)

[adamsjas]

State Department funded magazine aimed at youth in the Arab

Why the hell would people who seldom bathe bother to moisturize?

Sombody tell Condi to Kick com Butt...

[sit-rep]

I know a few different types in this big world. The first, which I fit into, are the rough, not really caring what their hair looks like, biker crowd. Never had a problem finding a girl, or keeping one. The second, is the manicure type dudes..."rub"s as we call them. Have a hottie wife and life is good they got a bike, but you have to remind them from time to time that white sox and dock siders don't really belong on a heritage classic, but that's another story... then there is the altra male...Manicure, baby powder on his privates, and a woman who bosses him around...most likely sex is rare, and regrettable afterward...

These guys who clean up like this, be careful. it is one thing to be clean, but it is another to either scare them away, or get yerself into a relationship you can't have any control over. And I use control meaning you have none, over anything!

[dfwgator]

‘Real Men Moisturize’

If they're 'faygs.'

[SampleMan]

"Real Men Moisturize"

Concur. I prefer single malt scotch, taken internally.

[AmericanChef]

-In a word, he's a metrosexual.-

In my words, he's a woman.

[knews_hound]

 A 'man' who exfoliates and can tell a brand of shoe by looking at it would be as alien to them as a Martian to us. They would think he was gay and try to stone him.

Personally, I would say they would have about a 100% chance of being right in that thinking

Cheers,

knewshound

http://knewshound.blogspot.com/

[Alberta's Child]

"I don't think so" ping. LOL.

[Trampled by Lambs]

I don't even know what exfoliating is. Nor do I care.

I do, however, have extremely dry skin and in dry climates (like where I live), if I don't slap some lotion on my face from time to time, I look like I've been lost in the desert for a month... my face gets all flaky.

So am I metro?

[shudder]

[SIDENET]

Nice to see that the State Dept is promoting (probably intentionally) an image of the American male as some pedicured flamer. The State Dept needs to be purged.

[Recovering Hermit]

Gustman exfoliates. He gets pedicures. He gets facials. He accessorizes. ... In a word, he's a metrohomosexual.

Fixed.

[Wiseghy]

Any government foray into popular culture is bound to be open to criticism.
This might be a clumsy attempt at propaganda, but maybe not.
They may have a good idea on their hands if they seek to build bridges to young city people, who may in fact be tired of the old mullahs and their strict rules and outdated outlooks. That seems to be the only decent long term outlook for Iran, for instance.This stuff seems silly, but there are precious few options in building dialog in this region and experimentation is probably a good thing in the long run.