Odd Reason Southern Utah Man With Long Beard Connected With Kurdish Women

If you have ever run into Jared Hardy in Southern Utah, you will remember him because of his amazing red beard that extends to his waist. This beard has won him local fame, popularity on social media, and now you might hear about him in the middle east. 

Kurdish Women Braid Hair as a Symbol of Resistance 

Most of the Kurdish people live in a mountainous region of the middle east that is partly in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. They have had a tumultuous relationship with the populations and nations around them. 

Because they do not have a country of their own, there have been many conflicts. The Kurds are known as fierce fighters and have at times worked with the United States in wars that have taken place in the area. 

Recently, in a conflict with Syria, a female Kurdish soldier was killed, and the braid of her hair was cut off and shown off on social media. In an act of solidarity, Kurdish women across the globe began to braid their hair. 

Video Showing How to Braid a Beard Becomes Part of a Cause 

This is where Hardy comes in, or as he is known on Instagram as jradthered. He often posts clips of how he cares for his magnificent beard and in one of these he shows how to braid it. 

This was seen and forwarded by Kurds living around the world who saw it as an act of solidarity. Hardy woke up one morning to find a never-ending stream of Kurdish comments on his feed. This was pretty overwhelming at first. 

What do you do when overnight you went from a guy giving beard tips to a spokesman for a people deep in a middle east conflict? For Hardy, it became a chance to become educated. 

Man in Southern Utah Helps Kurds Get Their Story Out 

Hardy did some research on the Kurdish people and their history. He consulted a local expert who had spent some time in the area and was familiar with the dynamics of the people living there. 

He has brought awareness to the plight of the Kurds without getting into the politics of it. “I tell these people that I’m learning right now,” said Hardy. “I’m doing my best. There’s not a ton I can do about it, but if I talk about it, at least people can find out.”  

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With the way the internet works, you just never know where it will go. One day you are giving beard tips and the next day you are in the middle of a national conflict.