Now that Ray works downtown, we have lunch every so often.  Today he IM’d me and proposed that we go to Torchy’s Tacos because the Lean Cuisine he brought wasn’t making him look forward to lunch so much.  Since Wednesday is a late day for me (I usually don’t get home until 9), and because the Lean Cuisine that I brought wasn’t speaking to me, either, I agreed and off we went.

Torchy’s is one of those places that’s small and has good food but in no way inspires one to remain seated for any longer than it takes to eat your food.  Hence, we were done with the place by, say, 12:10.  I suggested that we wander in to Toy Joy down the street to kill some time.

Every so often I find one of those places that deals in kitsch–you know the type.  In amongst actual toys, there are things on higher shelves that are clearly for more mature minds: Jesus soap, finger puppet nuns, “Convert to Judaism” breathspray.

One of the things that strikes me, though, is how Hinduism and Buddhism have managed to strike up the kitsch quotient.  You can buy Buddha soap, Buddha keychains, napkins, paper plates, desk devotees, refrigerator magnets, and piggy banks.  Hemp bags imprinted with half a dozen Hindu gods and goddesses are on offer, as are a striking variety of lunchboxes, postcards, T-shirts, and other trinkets no one actually needs with faux Indian or “Asian” designed featuring Buddhist or Hindu (or more generally Indian) motifs and figures.

I was struck today at how I feel like the Arab world has missed an opportunity here.  You know, there are Hindu extremists given to blowing stuff up, but the kitsch–whether intentional or unintentional–provides a nice counterweight.  In the entire store, the only stuff I saw that came close was a set of Egyptian hieroglyphic building blocks and a clock that had a light up photo of the Kaaba in the background.

What a missed opportunity!  We could poke light fun at stereotypes: who wouldn’t want a set of Hamas vs. Israeli Settler rock-’em sock-’em action figures (with said action figures wearing boxers with hearts on them)?  Or Osama bin Laden finger puppets? Or Bad Dictator playing cards?  (Or even a bad dictator a day calendar?)

But past that: the image of Oum Kolsoum, Egypt’s Grande Diva, begs to be sequined and put on T-shirts (in fact, one such vendor is doing just that, but they’re only available in a Cairo boutique that has to approve you for entry before you can even get in the store):

The stylish Queen Rania of Jordan needs a paper doll set to match her apparently legendary shoe collection (OMG, shoes…). Proceeds will go to repaying the Jordanian treasury.  How about Golda Meir holding a daisy?

I have been longing for lanterns and mashrabiyya screens since my first days of going back and forth to Egypt.  Arabesque designs and geometric patterns used to be all the range once — why not again, in a fun, colorful, kitschy way?

And, when it’s all over, you can wash up with soap in the shape of a belly dancer.

It’s not that I’m trying to be (more) disrespectful (than normal), but winning over pop culture is a huge step in changing American attitudes.  I firmly believe that in order to take something seriously, you have to be able to laugh at it, too.

Besides, Lord Ganesh has been made into an air freshener, for heaven’s sake! It’s our turn!