people getting tattoos they don't understand

[muses_nightmare]

I'd assume that if someone really believes in the belief system of the First Nations then they would have to be in contact with at least a few of them. And if it was based on a friend of theirs and they had permission from that friend is that enough?

People get First nations Tattoos all the time because they think they "look cool" I personally do not (that's a whole other thing with me though), nor do I give a crap what someone has on their body. If any Native person has a problem with it they can take it up with that person.

[Slytovhand]

And we've now demonstrated exactly my point when I replied to Shangri-La! "It's not my culture, but WTF, I'm still going to take it anyway - and I don't give a stuff what they think about it!"

It's... disrespectful.

(sure, when you're talking long dead cultures, or even just words from a different language, then it's not so much a cultural thing.. but what I'm talking about is obviously not towards those things.I'm referring to the icons and symbols inherent within a particular culture)

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Well, in some cases, yeah, it probably is. However, it is certainly not worth getting worked up over, being not something that anyone can do anything about.

And like has been said here, I see a guy with, say, a crucifix on his arm, how do I know the reasons he chose that image? I don't, so it's not up to me to decide he's being disprespectful or not.

And if he IS being disprespectful, it still does not affect me, and I have bigger fish to fry than that.

[DesignFox]

Slyt, isn't it equally disrespectful to just assume that is what someone is doing?

I don't go up to complete strangers and ask them why they got a certain tattoo. I don't look at the painting on my neighbor's wall and proceed to give them a history lesson or tell them why it's wrong for them to display that image in their house.

If I don't like it, I don't hang around that person. Plain and simple. I guess it's because I'm not overly religious and I don't really identify with a particular "culture." I guess I just don't have anything to get offended about. *shrug*

I mean, for me, if I was going to permanently etch something on to my body, I would want it to hold meaning for me. I wouldn't get it just for the "it looks cool" factor. (although, of course, I'd want it to look good!)

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I AM both someone who is religious and someone who identifies strongly with a particular culture.

And it still does not offend me. It really has nothing to do with me at all.

[DesignFox]

<snip> It really has nothing to do with me at all.

Well, this is the root of why I don't give a crap. However, I thought maybe it was just me and my apathy. I really don't care about religion or culture. I like learning about other cultures, and I find many religious ceremonies to be beautiful and fascinating in their own rights...but I don't ascribe to any one thing.

*shrug*

[BlaqueKatt]

There are culturally significant icons and relics of various societies currently strewn across the planet - particularly Europe and the USA - which were taken (ie, stolen) from the native peoples/lands. Due to wars, murders, invasions and other nasty pieces of work that humanity has inflicted on each other, that has left a fairly sour taste in the mouths of those natives.... and now, people want to steal their cultural symbols as well...!

So, it's not 'sharing', it's 'you will give'ing.

Pretty much what I was trying to get at but was not quite articulate enough to express effectively....thanks Slyt...now kindly get out of my brain it's crowded in there and it's a dark and scary place...not suitable for guests...

[jackfaire]

I am a human. My culture is the human culture.

I have no past.

My family in some parts were adopted.

I have no ties to cultures of my ancestors.

By the logic that anything I do is stealing from other people I should sit naked not doing anything because everything I might do is someone else's culture.

I believe saying that you embrace someone else's culture is degrading their culture or stealing it is along the lines of saying gay marriage destroys the sanctity of marriage.

I cannot demean you or your culture by embracing an aspect of it. Only you yourself have that power.

If it offends you that people take things from other cultures then you need to stop doing anything because we all trace our roots back far enough and all of us have taken from other cultures.

Not always through wars, theft, or a sword.

We didn't fight the French we didn't kill them yet we have democracy.

We have pizza. We have pasta.

Our culture is a gift. When you embrace the differences and explore the various cultures that make up the world you are honoring others and seeing them as worthy human beings who have things to share with the world rather than shutting them in a closet and telling them to keep their things to themselves.

I for one would not live in a world where my trying Haggas someday would offend someone.

[Fryk]

The day someone tries to take away my pizza and pasta is the day I TAKE UP ARMS!!!!!!

[Slytovhand]

To Jackfaire - the difference is: a) you were talking about 'embracing' a culture. "It looks cool" is not embracing a culture, b) those cultures came and said 'here, try this'! Some cultures have not. Those who have not don't have to be forced into resigning it ultimately. Why can't some group or culture choose to be insular? Why do they have to forced into 'sharing'?

Besides, using your pizza and pasta example - if you go to Sicily, and say you 'embrace' your Italian side (ok, sure - Sicily =\= Italy), and you will get interesting looks. Unless you've got the bloodline going back to fairly recently, you won't become 'Sicilian' - no matter how many pizzas you eat or how well you can cook one - you'l always be a foreigner.

We didn't fight the French we didn't kill them yet we have democracy.

Slightly interesting take on history....

...my trying Haggas someday would offend someone

Possibly those around you

The day someone tries to take away my pizza and pasta is the day I TAKE UP ARMS!!!!!!

Would you say the same regarding some artefact that had been stolen from some tribe?

[Fryk]

Would you say the same regarding some artefact that had been stolen from some tribe?

That depends, is the artifact as tasty as Shrimp Alfredo?

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Would you say the same regarding some artefact that had been stolen from some tribe?

I dunno, are we talking about old pizza?

[Fryk]

Old pizza is good for breakfast

[Parrothead]

Leftover Chinese makes for a good omlette.

[Fryk]

Thread drift makes for delicious cake.