Senate Why is cultural appropriation a thing?

I mean, that in particular is not unique to New Zealand. In my own childhood, I remember local Native American tribes coming to demonstrate some of their dances, and teach them to local primary school children. I don't think the question is so much about "willingness" to share. Rather, it's about the larger culture's willingness to let whatever group is in question have control over the process, and dictate what is in and out of bounds. Afterwards, it's about remaining respectful to the cultural practice as shared or taught, instead of learning respectfully at one moment and then mocking or commodifying in the next.

 

Yes I agree with that.

 

I think this is pretty broadly The Point.

Jaypee spoke of how Maori culture is, in New Zealand, integral to the NZ identity (so it's not White NZ and Maori NZ; it's just NZ) and a source of pride.

Maori traditions are NZ traditions, and anyone who mocks it mocks NZ, in other words.

Australia - and I have a reasonable suspicion based on what I've read and what harps has said, America too - does not respect its indigenous people. It does not welcome them into public discourse.

(Wocky, can we just take it as a given going forward that when I personally refer to America's indigenous population I also mean African Americans; and I do this because socio-economically the African-American population has more in common with a disenfranchised indigenous minority than a migrant diaspora, despite not being indigenous the Americas?)

So... can we stop it? I mean, we being white idiots, can always elect not to be ignorant but if the fundamentals are rooted in the respect, reverence and knowledge enough to know something's not to be appropriated and here's why then we need to examine the way in which certain cultures are treated, yeah? We don't have a problem with integrating cultures to our multicultural framework, so... why are indigenous people different?

Do we just take something like a war bonnet or stylised boomerang and thing "it's not that important, silly savage?"

I'm genuinely unsure because I don't see a lot of appropriation here (we dislike aborigines too much to bother )

 

Even though Bomani and I have beefed on twitter in the past... Respect for this.

 

It is getting better (very slowly), though. Some states get it. Mine, for instance, just did away with Columbus Day, and declared the date Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Not sure what you mean by "public discourse" though.

 

Is "beefing on Twitter" similar to sexting?

 

Oh um -

25 of NZ's MPs identify as Maori. Their parliament is I think 120 or 121 seats. So it's a little over 20% of their elected officials are Maori.

We've had... 5 in total. Like, over time. Three of the five serve now. 2 from the conservative Liberal Party, 1 from Labor. Three others identify some indigenous heritage but don't identify as indigenous.

America's had a few over time, but right now, there are 2 serving if I'm reading correctly.

Now of course the American model is a bit different because of the republican model vs bicameral parliamentary model under constitutional monarchy. But I guess what I mean is, when you have 15% of the population as indigenous, more than that percentage in elected office, and identification of Maori culture as NZ culture, you tend to have many more mechanisms for making sure key issues are addressed, respect is afforded etc.

 

Just want to point out that the stereotype for people coming from Caucasus is black hair, not blond

 

"Caucasian" is a pseudo-scientific term for white people based upon outdated (see: racist) anthropological theories.

 

Yes, that satire is undone by its use of a term which is not strictly speaking correct!

Thanks, Darth This Guy:

 

So what do you call people from Caucasus?

 

Caucasians.


See, this is why racism doesn't work!

 

Redeemed it.

 

Indians.

 

I came here to post this image (and was beaten to it) but I think the caricature is supposed to be Trump, so I'm okay with it!

 

Is that supposed to be Trump or Richie Rich?

 

Unrelated, but related: http://jezebel.com/the-hottest-high-school-drinking-game-is-jews-vs-nazis-1769908507

Literally the only good thing from this article is the word "alcoholocaust" -- but otherwise, WTF?!?

(WARNING: Language in the comments.)

 

"I have black friends!"

 

I'd rather not read it. Anything with college kids, alcohol, nazis and the holocaust can't be good.

 

To be fair, I understand the concept as someone would just say "Oh, it's not any worse than Cards Against Humanity and those cards there..." but it is. Not only are there very key differences there, but there's also both the iconography involved, the appropriation of an important symbol of the shoah (Anne Frank), and the fact that you're supposed to say as horrible things as possible to make it funny (which is the only comparable thing to CAH).

I wasn't actually offended, just giving you crap!