Post #803249 by SouthSeasKat on Thu, Apr 28, 2022 7:42 AM

I've been online since 1996. I'm trying to be delicate in my commentary because of the rules on politics.

I'm also aware that there are necessarily changes to behavior communities should make so as to continue to be inclusive in practice and not just in claim. Just because I'm functionally new to TC as a can-now-speak-member doesn't mean I am new to TC as a reader or Tiki in general. I'm well aware of the debate over Tiki and cultural appropriation and feel that the long participation of Asian-Americans and Polynesians in the community from the beginning (the bartenders, the carvers, musicians like Tak Shindo) leaves such arguments wanting.

It is true this is the first time I had actually seen what started this thread. It's history, fine, I don't believe in hiding history. I was just expressing my shock at seeing it. I wasn't asking it be taken down, but I did think we might have to answer for it with newer members of the community. As well we should.

I don't think having that opinion is the same as a vegetarian going into a steakhouse and complaining about meat being served.

We're more enlightened on identity in 2022, that's all, and our Tiki community is more inclusive for it.