I align well and easily with most things from the left side of politics.
But there are some exceptions.
I've had a hard time with cultural appropriation.
Because in my mind, cultures should learn from each other and share.
And really...if we're not supposed to wear and experience things from different cultures, what does that do to all those stores in Epcot's World Showcase? And if we actually travel to a REAL foreign country, is it horrible if we buy traditional clothing?
Are we being offensive by eating sushi at home?
Was it wrong of us to make Pavlova and Lamingtons?
Is it okay for us to make Kimchi at home, because Tim was born in Korea, but it wouldn't be okay for my cousin to attempt to make it?
I just don't like a world in which we're supposed to wear, use, eat, and celebrate only what's from our own family's culture/cultures.
Also, whenever I've heard of Gentiles doing Jewish things like having a Seder or celebrating Chanukah, I'm not at all offended. In fact, I feel the opposite. I'm very touched and excited by the whole thing.
A few months ago, I read this article that helped me understand things better.
A Black woman defends her passion for Irish dancing. The idea is she makes it okay by learning about the origins of the dancing and giving the Irish proper credit.
So I thought about things and this is what I decided:
If I heard about some Gentiles wanting to learn more about Judaism, so they read about Dreidels, learned how to play the game, and held a Chanukah party, I'd be super cool with that.
And they don't have to do all that for me to be content. Simply playing the game and knowing that it's a Jewish custom...that would totally be enough.
Here's what would not be at all cool:
I come across people playing a game. It has a name I've never heard of before. I watch them play and see it has the EXACT same rules as Dreidel. It's just all the words are changed. There are no Hebrew letters.
I ask the people playing if they know the origins of the game. They shrug their shoulders. It's obvious they don't care. They just want to be left alone.
I start to tell them it's a Jewish game we play at Chanukah. They do their best to ignore me. They show no interest in the origins.
If THAT happened, I'd be very offended.
Edited to add: 5/23/2025: This post has aged...strangely. At least within my head. I now have an even stronger disdain for the left-wing view of cultural appropriation.
I won't accuse religious Christians or religious Muslims of cultural appropriation when it comes to the Torah and other Jewish mythology, history, texts, etc. Because in their worldview, it's not taking, borrowing, stealing, fan-fictioning, etc.
But for non-believers, left-wing, anti-cultural appropriation folks? They should be taking a stand against the massive appropriation of Jewish culture and literature.
How are they okay with Muslims taking a sacred and central story about Abraham almost sacrificing his son Isaac and tweaking it to make it be Abraham almost sacrificing Ishmael instead?
How are they okay with a group of people writing a fan-fiction sequel to a tribe's sacred text that pretty much says all people can follow this God, and we can all disregard the rules written in the Torah and instead accept salvation through our new character Jesus?
The pervasive hatred of the people who created the characters and texts that have become so popular worldwide makes it all the worse. Of course.
So you who whine that the Jews stole hummus from Muslims...What the fuck???
I will give you a pass if you're personally a believer in the Abrahamic-religion.
But.... If you believe religions were created by human creativity; then the Muslims stole something much much more significant than a damn chickpea dip.
Disclaimer: I don't actually know who invented hummus and don't care. But if you think it was Muslims, and cultural appropriation is on your long list of why your Jew-hatred is justified, and you're not a believer in the Abrahamic stuff....
Again, what the fuck? Why the fuck? And also: Consider trying out for the mental gymnastics if it ever become an Olympic sport.
Read my novel: The Dead are Online
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