Post #751418 by creativenative on Thu, Sep 24, 2015 5:34 AM

I'm a nice guy and not wanting to cause an emotional outbreak for some, but to me Monkeys in a Pacific Island setting is like seeing the limbo at a luau. Some stereotypes and misrepresentations about the Pacific and it's cultures has had a negative history in the west and the many Dorothy Lamour films in her sarong with a pet monkey on her shoulder didn't help this western misconception. I should say, at the same time, there have been many genuine attempts to be culturally correct in the west. I see this here on TC and it's refreshing. Today most westerners are fairly well educated and have access to the internet. There is no excuse for not correcting pass misconceptions. To me the tiki movement is flattering and it demonstrates, for generations, the love and respect westerners have for the Pacific and its cultures but combining sister cultures is one thing, mixing it up with items from another hemisphere is quite another issue. Changing the Monkey icon at Damon's is a great opportunity for correction. It's like growing up as adults, donating the stuff animals to the needy children or letting education overcome emotions. Sorry if I hurt anyone feelings on the matter but we must think of the feelings of the indigenous Pacific Islanders as well, who only see monkeys on TV, the movies or in a zoo, NEVER out of their windows.

[ Edited by: creativenative 2015-09-24 05:37 ]