"Cultural Appropriation"

[bennyboy]

TLDR; cultural appropriation is not bad. Killing people is bad. Other forms of genocide (sterilization, impregnation with "better" races, etc.) are bad. Even what we're doing as far as not limiting our actions so reservations stay clean is bad. Buying a dreamcatcher is not a problem unless you want to make it a problem for the sake of being pissed at something. In fact, I'd say it's a good thing. It shares culture and the person selling it makes some money.

Yeah, you know, I'm trying to get inside Tizheruk's skin, for two reasons: 1) I think the native population is way under-represented; 2) a LOT of people are crying about various forms of cultural appropriation, and my natural reaction is to tell them to fuck off and get a life. But I'm really trying to see something there, to see that these people have a valid point, and to better myself through it.

However, as I said to Tizheruk, while I agree with him/her in principle, I find it very hard to actually care deeply, and almost impossible to find motivation to act on it. So the truth is that whatever I've said about you, I have to look in the mirror as well-- I'm a middle-aged white man and a business owner to boot, an even more hated beast than a young white woman. tbh, I saw you wearing a little dream catcher, I'd be much more likely to say "Who's the cute girl with the little Indian thingy" Than "omg what a bitch, how can she be so insensitive?" even though I've talked to someone who has reasonably eloquently explained why my reaction should be more sombre. (sorry Tizheruk, that's not to undermine your position, but I think it's an honest representation of my actual reaction)