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OK, I know this is a rhetorical question that has been asked in many ways over several years, and has no real answer, but the recent controversy over the boy who wore an Indian novelty feathered headdress to a Kansas City Chiefs football game and painted his face in the team colors of black and red causes me to ask again:
If it is wrong for white people of European descent to use or enjoy things of other cultures (American Indian headdresses, Mexican sombreros, black people's dreadlocks, African hoop earrings, etc.), is it not similarly wrong for people who are not white of European descent to use things created by white people? Or to wear warm and water-resistant tweed clothing if you're not of Scottish descent? Or wear suits and ties if you're not white of European descent? What about technology (electricity, telephone, the automobile, airplanes, air conditioning), or music (J.S. Bach, the Beatles), etc.?
(I know, the parents of the boy in the recent Chiefs controversy note that he is an American Indian, but that was not known at the time of the initial controversy, and the initiator of the controversy assumed the boy was "white.")
The whole "cultural appropriation" controversy has never made sense to me, as humans have been taking ideas, food, clothing, entertainment, technology, and pretty much everything else from each other ever since people first interacted with others. To me, it's a compliment to a "donor" culture that a different culture adopts elements of that "donor" culture.
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Discussion (40)
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It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
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It makes complete sense if you know that it's a fabricated talking point for the purpose of angrily accusing one's political opponent of a moral lapse.
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The whole concept of "cultural appropriation" is so d*mn stupid. Just imagine if no society ever took an idea or a technology they saw that some other society had. Humans across the world would still be living at subsistence levels and be barbaric in their actions. In fact the idea is obviously at odds with human nature as people of every group have readily adopted those ideas and techniques which they thought would make their life a little bit better throughout history on every continent.
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I'm descended of Nordic raiders. My culture is appropriation.
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Wide brim, high crown; eminently practical when the sun is high and hot,
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