Finland accuses Russia of deliberately ushering migrants - most of whom are seeking asylum in Finland - to the border zone, which is normally heavily controlled on the Russian side.
I think it’s reasonable to complain about cultural appropriation when someone is taking something from another culture with no appreciation or understanding for the meaning of that thing in the context of that culture.
For example, if I was to go around wearing a purple heart despite the fact that I haven’t served in the military nor have I been wounded in action, many people would be rightfully offended. Many people don’t want to actually learn about other cultures, they just want to wear them as a costume or fashion statement which is what gets them into trouble.
I don’t think that’s a problem. Even if a person has no idea why a culture does something, but they like how it looks, I smile when I see them attempting to copy it. Even if they get it wrong, they thought that part of the culture was cool. And maybe them replicating incorrectly can lead to a new emergent culture.
I think a military medal is a bit different from something like cultural specific clothing, foods, or music. That calls into it stolen valor, which is a different issue. But putting a purple colored heart shape onto something isn’t a problem.
Additionally, costumes aren’t a problem either, so long as it is worn in an appropriate place. For example, wearing a military costume to a costume party, or other event where people are expected to wear costumes. It wouldn’t be appropriate to wear a military costume when trying to enter a military complex or parade, but that is generally pretty obvious to anyone regardless of culture.
People wear Native American headdresses even though those are directly tied to martial feats just like a Purple Heart is. I see it at Chiefs games in Kansas City. Is it not still stolen valor? What if I dressed up as a Muslim Sheikh and proceeded to get wasted at a party? My actions would be incongruous with how someone from that culture would act.
I think intent matters and so long as a person attempts to be respectful and actually learn about the culture they’re imitating it’s not a big deal but I find that’s often not the case.
Wearing a native american headdress to a Chiefs game would not be considered stolen valor unless the person is implying that they are actually a native american chief, just as wearing a purple heart previously mentioned would constitute stolen valor if the person implies that they were injured in the military but infact were not.
If there was a football team like “New Jersey Admirals,” then I don’t think it would be unusual or stolen valor for people attending to dress in an admiral costume. They are replicating the mascot of the sport team, not implying that they themselves are actually admirals of a military.
If you dressed as a Sikh and attended the party, intent may come into play if the party was not one where attendees would be wearing costumes or clothing not common to the culture of the surrounding area. Was the person wearing the clothing because they liked it, or were they intentionally trying to slander people of a specific culture? Is targetted slander the same as wearing something you like the look of? Even if the person is not being respectful and makes no effort to learn about the culture, is it really worth it to be mad about instead of being happy to see some elements of your culture being spread to places where it may not have otherwise?
For example, Americans are often called fat, lazy, unintelligent, gun crazy anarchists, and are portrayed by many foreign media as such. I don’t get offended at charicatures of Americans from other countries or nations. Partially because its kinda true, but also it means that the other nation is being introduced to Americans. Some people may see that and think “That’s ridiculous, they can’t all be like that,” leading those interested to look it up and see what America is about or like. Some may choose to vacation where they otherwise may have never taken an interest in America. I mean, I wouldn’t recommend it because America kinda sucks depending on where they go, but its only an example.
I think it’s reasonable to complain about cultural appropriation when someone is taking something from another culture with no appreciation or understanding for the meaning of that thing in the context of that culture.
For example, if I was to go around wearing a purple heart despite the fact that I haven’t served in the military nor have I been wounded in action, many people would be rightfully offended. Many people don’t want to actually learn about other cultures, they just want to wear them as a costume or fashion statement which is what gets them into trouble.
I don’t think that’s a problem. Even if a person has no idea why a culture does something, but they like how it looks, I smile when I see them attempting to copy it. Even if they get it wrong, they thought that part of the culture was cool. And maybe them replicating incorrectly can lead to a new emergent culture.
I think a military medal is a bit different from something like cultural specific clothing, foods, or music. That calls into it stolen valor, which is a different issue. But putting a purple colored heart shape onto something isn’t a problem.
Additionally, costumes aren’t a problem either, so long as it is worn in an appropriate place. For example, wearing a military costume to a costume party, or other event where people are expected to wear costumes. It wouldn’t be appropriate to wear a military costume when trying to enter a military complex or parade, but that is generally pretty obvious to anyone regardless of culture.
People wear Native American headdresses even though those are directly tied to martial feats just like a Purple Heart is. I see it at Chiefs games in Kansas City. Is it not still stolen valor? What if I dressed up as a Muslim Sheikh and proceeded to get wasted at a party? My actions would be incongruous with how someone from that culture would act.
I think intent matters and so long as a person attempts to be respectful and actually learn about the culture they’re imitating it’s not a big deal but I find that’s often not the case.
Wearing a native american headdress to a Chiefs game would not be considered stolen valor unless the person is implying that they are actually a native american chief, just as wearing a purple heart previously mentioned would constitute stolen valor if the person implies that they were injured in the military but infact were not.
If there was a football team like “New Jersey Admirals,” then I don’t think it would be unusual or stolen valor for people attending to dress in an admiral costume. They are replicating the mascot of the sport team, not implying that they themselves are actually admirals of a military.
If you dressed as a Sikh and attended the party, intent may come into play if the party was not one where attendees would be wearing costumes or clothing not common to the culture of the surrounding area. Was the person wearing the clothing because they liked it, or were they intentionally trying to slander people of a specific culture? Is targetted slander the same as wearing something you like the look of? Even if the person is not being respectful and makes no effort to learn about the culture, is it really worth it to be mad about instead of being happy to see some elements of your culture being spread to places where it may not have otherwise?
For example, Americans are often called fat, lazy, unintelligent, gun crazy anarchists, and are portrayed by many foreign media as such. I don’t get offended at charicatures of Americans from other countries or nations. Partially because its kinda true, but also it means that the other nation is being introduced to Americans. Some people may see that and think “That’s ridiculous, they can’t all be like that,” leading those interested to look it up and see what America is about or like. Some may choose to vacation where they otherwise may have never taken an interest in America. I mean, I wouldn’t recommend it because America kinda sucks depending on where they go, but its only an example.