Cambridge students cancel theme party over 'cultural appropriation' fears

I only think of myself as English/British in an integration sense and the fact that I was born here but other than that,being middle eastern and Italian is what I've always identified as coming first

Is it perhaps that as an immigrant you feel more disconnected from your own heritage than you would otherwise be if you were not living in the UK. I'm not saying this as bad thing, merely trying to understand it.

Something I rarely talk about is that I am a 3rd generation immigrant to the UK. But I have never been to my family's country of origin or been involved in the culture.

I think of myself as American first, then Canadian, and then British. (I hold citizenship of all three countries)

But I can never be "just as American" as a native born American. For a start, the Constitution which is the highest law in the land does not recognise me as an equal. Not that I begrudge that law, but it's a fact. All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.

Yes

It's not as simple as that. I am a Levantine,I speak arabic,I follow the culture but I'm not really an Arab?

Oxford dictionary:
Levantine - A person who lives in or comes from the Levant.
Levant (archaic) - The eastern part of the Mediterranean with its islands and
neighbouring countries.

It's about geography, not ethnicity.

I feel they are victims. If they weren't,the university would bother giving them counselling or even cancelling the whole event.

Look,I don't care whether you choose to believe in cultural appropriation or not.

If you don't want to accept that minority cultures are being exploited on university campuses is up to you

I also have never claimed to be an expert on such matters but I do believe such a thing exists and people have the right to voice their grievances to their universities.

Hmm interesting you say this. I can still integrate with other cultures without the need to feel like I have to take advantage of said culture

Exactly! That's how I feel,like a foreigner in the UK.

Except I've already explained why universities are giving in to their demands. Money. Nothing more, nothing less. So you've only got subjective perception on your side as far as victimhood goes.



I don't 'choose' to believe or disbelieve things because it seems nice or sensible or 'common sense' to do so -- that's called wishful thinking. It would be nice if you'd gracefully concede some of the points that you haven't made very well instead of upending the board because you're not pleased with the outcome.



Again, this isn't about what I want to be true; it's about what is true. Whatever you or I want or don't want is irrelevant to what is the case.



So am I to take it that you're going to hold to this view simply because you want it to be true? Well, alright, but in future, please let me know at the start that you're not willing to be convinced. It would have saved 10 pages of fruitless discussion.



No comment. This position has been discredited, and you have not made any reasonable counter-arguments, so it's safe to write this off as deliberate obscurantism, I think.

So you're not the spokesperson speaking on behalf of universities in the UK?

Nothing to do with being nice or common sense. It's to do with justice! What points? Khalas,I'm so tired!

Simply because i speak out where I see injustices. I just told you where I stand,why do you feel that people should have to culturally appropriate other people's culture for them to be integrated into society?

And yes I said earlier you're treating this like a witch hunt because you don't like that people are voicing there opinions on such things just like the issues concerning islamophobia

Injustices have to be proven, I'm afraid. Under your definition, anybody can be a victim by simply claiming to be one, as and when it's convenient for them.



When have I said that I don't like people voicing their opinions? Simply disagreeing with somebody's opinion and arguing against it is not the same as trying to stop them from expressing it in the first place.

I also don't know what 'Islamophobia' has to do with any of this.

It takes a couple of generations. My kids were both born in the USA so are about as American as apple pie.

Are you part of the klan?

If you don't want to accept that minority cultures are being exploited on university campuses is up to you,I also have never claimed to be an expert on such matters but I do believe such a thing exists and people have the right to voice their grievances to their universities.

I have answers your questions and even gave you an example of your wife trying to appropriate middle eastern culture and you chose to ignore it.

AKIA??

Good Lord, what makes you ask that!?

But you keep ignoring our request to explain what this exploitation is, and why it does not apply the other way around. Are you able to tell us?



No. Go back and consider them individually.

As for my wife. You said you can dress as an Arab princess because you are an Arabic speaker and know something of the culture so far as I can make out. You were not born there, are not an Arab, and have never lived there. The only difference between you and my wife is that you can speak Arabic (which is hardly relevant if you are attending a UK fancy dress party, is it?) and she can't, yet you can dress up as an Arab and she can't . Can you not see why we cannot understand what all the confusion is about?

Have a read habibi and tell me what you think:

http://racerelations.about.com/od/diversitymatters/fl/What-Is-Cultural-Appropriation-and-Why-Is-It-Wrong.htm

The article also talks about assimilation and 'culture sharing'

I have explained many times!


So your wife is also familiar with the culture? Like me? She is aware of the customs,the history of the culture?

I've seen the stuff you've been posting...

So your wife is also familiar with the culture? Like me? She is aware of the customs,the history of the culture?

No point denying it, then, is there? Saying that you aren't a member means nothing if you confess immediately afterwards that that's what you'd say even if you were.