Post #805536 by telescopes on Sun, Sep 11, 2022 8:27 PM

I receive some other feeds from tiki cancelers. What is interesting as I read them, is that this reaction to cultural appropriation is of course much broader than simply Humuhumu pulling Critiki. In a recent post, she referenced the sins of the English Monarchy, especially at it pertains to racism.

What I found interesting is that for anyone who lives in San Francisco or any other high rent district, how could any resident who is doing well not see that they themselves as contributing to the very cultural rampage, appropriation, and continuation of racist practices that befall anyone and everyone. It's easy to throw stones at the monarchy and England, or America, its government, and it historical legacy. But anyone - that is to say really, everyone - who benefits from the privileges one has access to by simply living in a city such as San Francisco or really any area distinguished by it separation of the haves and have nots, is no less guilty.

Of course, one could make themselves sick trying to be so noble and pure as to not be contributing to the sorrow of those less fortunate, but you would be on a fool's errand. One can not erase the sins of appropriation, racism, misfortune by cutting down statues, changing the names of streets, or shutting down tiki websites.

To elevate, if indeed that is the goal, one must work to make the system more fair, not by eliminating standards, but by rather working to support those who are out of reach of making those high standards stand higher.

Eliminating websites, changing street names, etc, all may make one feel like they are doing something, but in reality, it compounds the issue by redirecting the conversation away from those things that can truly raise people up and rather keeping them in victimized status by focusing on issues that ultimately will change nothing.

The creator of any website is free to do as they wish with it. But I am deeply troubled by those who firmly believe that the solution to our world's problems can begin to be resolved by such actions. Noble to cancel - it's not for me to say. But worrisome - I am concerned.