Mumbai under siege

[CoasterMatt]

Somebody in this thread mentioned something about "crossing a line", and my ears started ringing

I'm not a particular fan of Bollywood, but a Bollywood themed party sounds like fun times - maybe you guys could do some kind of fundraising for victims of the Mumbai terror attacks?

[Stan4dSteph]

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

...maybe you guys could do some kind of fundraising for victims of the Mumbai terror attacks?

I was thinking the same thing. You could collect and donate to the International Red Cross.

[bewitched]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

...my acquaintances who started the argument feel very strongly that ANY wearing/using/decorating with another culture is appropriation and harmful to the culture in question. I don't agree.

Just curious as to whether or not those acquaintances celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday? Did they have pumpkins or dried corn decorating the tables? Did they eat corn, pumpkin, turkey, leeks? I mean, the colonists joined with the Wampanoag Indians in a feast giving thanks for a bountiful harvest-- something Indian cultures were doing for centuries before the English arrived.

I just find it interesting that "offense" is reduced when something has become more commonplace and has "history" behind it, even when it continues to employ "offensive" elements (i.e. appropriating aspects of another culture).

Oh, and I'm 1/4 Cherokee (my grandmother was full blooded). I'm not offended...except by all of the people who take offense in my ancestor's "name"-- even when the offended party remains, in fact, unoffended. (And yeah, I know...some Indian groups get offended by Thanksgiving. Whatever.)

Did that make sense?

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Oh, and everyone who lives in North America must immediately revert to the ways of the American Indian. Blue Corn anyone? Of, is that inappropriate because I have no Native American blood in me - only Native American blood on my hands.

:throws up blood hands in disbelief:

I will don my feathered headdress and commence a war dance immediately.




There...now you all can say, "I'm friends with an Indian/Native American (whichever one floats your boat)..."