| SuperNova said: Cultural appropiation, just like toxic masculiniy is one of those often missunderstood terms, among the left and right alike. At it's heart it's a neutral term describing a phenomenon that has happened forever. I don't subscribe to the notion that cultural appropiation is something that is automatically bad. I also don't subcribe to the notion that it is somehow preventable or should be prevented. It certainly doesn't give anyone the justification to bully people. Yes, some forms of cultural appropiation can be problematic or harmful, especially if it is the dominant culture appropiating a surpressed, marginilized or misstreated culture. That is why people take offense to 'Sexy Pocahontas' halloween costumes, when naive americans where raped and massacred on a regular basis. It's sort of like me, a german, going as sexy Anne Frank for halloween. Basically? Have a minimum amount of respect and appreciation for the culture you're borrowing from and don't just reduce it to a stereotype. Think about what you're doing and don't be an insensitive dick and you're fine in my book. |
It bothers me more that my native heritage was wiped away so I don't have the connection to it. I wish it was taught more in school and society, that people were more aware that culture did exist here before colonization. That the tribes are still here today and have value. It honestly bothers me more when a European said to me how our (meaning American) history is "so young" acting like 1492 was day 1 of history in the "new world".
People being stupid and drunk dressing up on Halloween as caricatures pales compared to the legacy of poverty on reservations or the loss of culture of my own ancestors who were taken and forced to lose their "savage" nature. I don't think we get much of anywhere picking on these superficial issues, the deeper roots of division are what interest me and working to a more knowledgeable and equitable society.
Bold: A good general sentiment in life.
