I would so love to be able to wear something this beautiful to work. My culture, however, is not known for beautiful clothes.
Maybe I should buy a sari to wear at home.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
I would so love to be able to wear something this beautiful to work. My culture, however, is not known for beautiful clothes.
Maybe I should buy a sari to wear at home.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
19 comments:
White people wearing saris is an example of blatant cultural imperialism. You only olike it because it's pretty with no concern for how offensive your comments are to the people of India.
You also reduced this female speker to her clothes as if she was nothing more than her colorful sari.
And what have you been smokin', Anonymous?
And may I ask the Anonymous if he/she actually is one of the "people of India", or if he/she just decided that that "people of India" have to be offended?
I don't have to BE from India to defend the people of India from cultural and colonial appropriation by those who possess every privilege in the world as it is!!
I agree that Anonymous must be on something that is really potent. Can I have me some of that? Please?
Insults will get you no where.
One of the biggest surprises of blogging for me is how I can never guess which post is going to provoke the greatest outrage among poeple. You write something you think is controversial, and no one responds. You write something very trivial, and crowds of angry people descend upon you.
---I don't have to BE from India to defend the people of India from cultural and colonial appropriation
Anonymous, don't you think that you are expressing an extremely paternalistic attitude towards the people of India, who, according to you, a) cannot decide by themselves what is and is not offensive to them and
b) need you to defend them from "colonial appropriation" perceived by you???
Have you ever heard a person of Indian origin actually saying that non-Indians wearing saris or liking saris is offensive to them? Or is it just a product of your own internal reflection?
I do not support that walking on eggshells and being overconcerned about my every word being perceived as offensive by various people different from me (or, even more ridiculous, people who are actually similar to me, but who think they have the right to talk on behalf of people different from me). I always make a reasonable effort not to offend other people, and I respect other people enough to expect them to tell me, if, despite my best efforts, I have offended them. Once they (and not their self-proclaimed representatives) do so, I will apologize and make my best effort not to repeat my mistakes.
There are many people who think like me. Read this discussion and maybe you will find enlightment:
http://www.feministing.com/archives/018498.html
It isn't about "walking on eggshels". It's about respect for a different culture.
There is all kind of identity-driven insanity in the world. Maybe I should start getting upset when people like pickles. Those nasty non-Ukrainian pickle eaters are, in fact, encroaching upon my cultural territory.
Well, Anonymous, let me give you an example. If I go to an Indian restaurant, I treat people there exactly with the same respect with which I treat people in any other restaurant or everywhere else for that matter. Additionally, in Indian restaurants in particular, I never order beef. :) But, in the same time I believe that if the owners of that restaurant really considered westerners eating Indian food a manifestation of some kind of cultural imperialism, they could and should have closed their restaurant. If they did not - they are grown-ups and it is their choice. However, I believe that actually everything is much simpler, and most likely nobody "enlightened" them enough for them to be offended. They offer beef bhona, for Pete's sake, without anybody forcing them to do so. Everybody would understand if beef were not served at Indian restaurant.
Anyway, good luck enlightening Indians and making them agree with you...
God, I must be even more unenlightened than you, V. I do order beef in Indian restaurants. I thought about not ordering it but seems kind of mean towards the restaurant owner who have already incurred the expense of purchasing the beef. Besides, I love it. :-)
Maybe I shouldn't have said I love beef because now some people will interpret it as me saying that I want to force all Hindu people to eat and serve beef.
I have been reading the comments above with reference to "Non-Indians wearing Sarees, and the speaker reduced to a mere outfit".
At the outset, I am the speaker shown in that picture. I am born and raised in India and I still hold Indian citizenship.
It is not offensive to me that some one from another culture wants to wear a saree. It is an honor for me, that I am raised in a culture that celebrates womanhood in all possible pomp, colour and glamor (I will not even mention eve teasing, dowry, dominant patriarchal societies).
Though I have lived here for 5 years, I still wear Indian clothes as much as I can. Perhaps, I am more than convinced that it is my character and personality that counts. I may speak English with a non-american accent, dress differently, eat my native food, and yet assimilate and contribute to the society here. It is annoyingly frustrating to me when my Indian expatriates (currently in the US) try to lecture to me that it is wise to cut my hair(which is never happening), dress in western clothes (regardless of whether I am comfortable in them or not) and speak English like them. For heavens sakes, did they not know when they gave me a visa that I am different and will never be like them.
As Clarrisa, I love my own identity, I am happy to be myself. Nevertheless, I can still appreciate other cultures, their clothing and try them out !!!!!
Personality encompasses character, attire, gait, and most importantly a mind and a spirit that is inclined to CONTRIBUTE !
Indians (usually) celebrate Unity in Diversity. If anyone would like some tips on getting a saree, draping it, and carrying it...please feel free to contact me.
In continuation with the enlightenment process - I come from a city in India that is known for its Persian cuisines. There are tons of restaurants that serve Beef!
Also, some parts of the city carries strong remnants of the Portuguese traditions and cuisine (serving Pork).
You can freely take your pick - lamb, beef, pork, chicken, .....you name it.
Most people think that ALL Indians do not eat Beef, pork and the like. I belong to a smaller minority,...but hey...we do eat Beef and it is no sign of imperialism to us.
I'm very happy you came by, Catherine!!! It's great to see somebody who loves their culture and wants to share it with the world. I also hope that your comments will tranquilize people who feel you must have been offended by my admiration of your clothing. :-)
america and whites wanting to steal other cultures, whats new
Are you serious???? Have you read Catherine's comments?
I can't believe some people are as thick as that.
Post a Comment