Thread: Cultural Appropriation

Look at this shit.

https://www.breakingnews.ie/lifestyl...e-1084840.html

This guy comes to my country and turns an important part of my culture in to what? A money making racket? I wonder how he would feel if I went to Zimbabwe and did the same to one of their ancient ‘tribal’ dances?

For those that don’t know, Sean Nos is a traditional Irish dance, similar to Irish Dancing but with more upper body movement. There’s arm flailing and shit. It has very deep roots in Ireland and is taken VERY seriously by many. I’m not one of them and couldn’t care less if I never seen it performed again – but – others are not of similar mind to myself. They can be VERY offended at even the smallest of slights.

Just in case you haven’t realised yet I’m kinda taking the piss. But only kinda.

Cultural appropriation became a buzz phrase a few years ago. If you wore clothing appropriate to a different culture you were demeaned, but only if you were from a certain, er, background – let’s call it ‘White Privilege’ for want of a better term.

You can’t wear saris, you can’t wear kimonos etc. etc. It’s not your culture so fuck off. So you like the way it looks and feels? I don’t give a fuck! It’s ours not yours!

And that’s only the clothing side of things. Let’s not forget the woman that claimed to be Native American to advance her career (Pocahontas) and that other one (again female) that claimed to be black even though she wasn’t; (Rachel something or other).

This fucker is appropriating a national dance, something that is akin to sacred to my brethren, and turning it in to what? A gaycercise routine?

Once lockdown is removed you can show people the new skill that you have learned.

What a complete load of bullshit. Modern Irish people couldn’t give a rat’s ass about Sean Nos, they’re too busy with their twitter (etc.) accounts. Older generations (over 60’s) and a few hard core republicans (not the U.S. kind) might be interested in seeing it but most of us couldn’t give a fiddler’s fuck!

You might think: “Maybe it will re-ignite interest.”

Maybe you’re right, but I doubt it. For our U.K. members it would be like trying to re-ignite interest in Maypole Dancing.

Personally, I think this guy should at least be castigated for his actions. I would say more but that would be beyond the rules of this site. As I say I really couldn't give a shit about the 'appropriation' as it were, but rules for one should be rules for all!

But this won’t happen.

Why?

Because he’s an activist. More than that he’s a BLM activist:

A Black Lives Matter campaigner is spending lockdown teaching online Irish dance classes.

Ya can’t say shit against a BLMer in this country! And yes, I’m talking about Ireland.

IIRC, the reason for the "no hands above the waistline" rule in Irish Dancing is that the English - back in the day - outlawed public amusements of any kind.

Originally Posted by Mr Wombat

IIRC, the reason for the "no hands above the waistline" rule in Irish Dancing is that the English - back in the day - outlawed public amusements of any kind.

They outlawed many things here, but as you say that was 'back in the day'!

This is the problem with remembering the past:

There are those that say that if you forget the past then you forget the lessons learned. This is obviously true.

However,

What of those whose motives are less than what one may describe as 'for the common good!; those that wish to look to history to see the mistakes of the despots, correct said mistakes, and become the all encompasing overloard.

These people can learn from history just as much as the rest of us.

From what I see of 'this is our history' type stories, no matter the truth in them, they seek to inflame and keep us in our place.

'You are from this background so you should see it this way!'

From my perspective, this only serves to promote the differences. It serves to promote division.

History is bunk and only serves to divide. Yes it can unite those in a common cause, but it divides them from the 'enemy', whatever that is.

That's my view anyhow.