Old White Guy Talking About Cultural Appropriation

Uh oh the old white guy is up on his soapbox again, this time talking about Cultural Appropriation. Watch the video to appreciate the passion, which as a dispassionate white guy is a little remarkable for me. I think cultural appropriation is bullshit – and maybe that’s because I’m an American, and I’m not quite sure what “American culture” actually is – but I think it is an amalgamation of many different cultures, and in fact, to be an American does not mean that you have any particular culture, but rather, you subscribe to American ideals and values. That is the beauty of the American experiment, if you can call it that. So as an American – nay, as a Californian – I have a hard time when people say we can’t have piñatas at a party because I myself am not Mexican. Or my kids are not Mexican. But my wife is Peruvian, and hey – newsflash – Peruvians do the piñata thing too. But even if you’re 100% Swedish, does that mean you should not be allowed to have a piñata at a party? Does it mean that Mexicans can’t shop at Ikea because they should all just sleep in hammocks? This is bullshit if you ask me. It’s just some ridiculous shit that people need to get over. I do think that we need to appreciate and recognize the heritage that comes along with these items we enjoy and celebrate – of course we should. But it does not mean we can’t share, enjoy, and appreciate world culture. I think we should. But that’s just an old white guy talking. Just wanted to get it off my chest. Thanks. 🙂