Cultural Appropriation

Whites sporting dreadlocks is "cultural appropriation." Sexy burka Halloween costumes is "cultural appropriation" ... see: RT! Story. White rapping such as with Eminem is "cultural appropriation." Is wearing moccasins "cultural appropriation?" Is adopting the annoying speech patterns of valley girls "cultural appropriations?" Such silliness! Is one sector of society not allowed to imitate any aspect of another sector without opprobrium?

It would seem to this observer that such imitation is flattery and should not be condemned. When such "cultural borrowing" occurs, it suggests that the borrowing sector somehow admires the passive lenders. Why the lending sector would deny the borrowers such liberties seems selfish and almost paranoid. That famous ditty from My Fair Lady, "Why Can't a Woman be More Like a Man?", suggests that men actually want their idiosyncrasies copied by the distaff side. (And it looks like we may be finally getting our wish.)

We have recently seen that this cultural pilfering has even gone so far as 100% WASPs claiming to be blacks ... and males claiming to be females ... often just for a day or two. (I have no problem with transgenderism as long as one's plumbing is changed.)

So, you grudging lenders of culture ... please relax and consider yourselves flattered by the borrowers. At some point, these borrowers might want to return the things appropriated ... all ragtag and rusty. Then you can get upset.