TIKI OASIS IV - How was the Event? How was the Resort? How was The REEF? - California Events

AC Atomic Cocktail Tiki Socialite Land O' The Next Big One-L.A. Joined: Jun 25, 2002 Posts: 929	AC Atomic Cocktail Posted posted on Wed, May 19, 2004 10:25 PM AquaZombie, No one is disputing that the Mid-Century Tiki movement had racist aspects to it or even that it is an appropriation of Polynesian Culture. One can look at the works of Guy Huze or William M. Kay for the former. You also cite some good examples. If you want to start a post dealing with racism in the Tiki Movement please do so with all possible vigor. I whole heartedly approve. What I disagree with are your following statements: "I didn't know white people had their own culture!" she exclaimed. "They don't - that's the point," I said..." Just remove "White" and add, for example, "Filipino","Mexican","Korean" or "Persian". Would you consider that racist? I sure would. So what makes using "White" any different? Nothing at all. Your ethnicity, your wife's ethnicity, my ethnicity and Conga Mike's ethnicity are irrelevant. It does not matter who it comes from or to whom it is directed; Racism is hateful and divisive. You can claim it is humor (though I fail to see the humor in it). It is mean-spirited. Additionally, it's generality makes it even more demeaning. It is stereotyping at it's worst. I think Herman Melville, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Cole Porter, Sylvia Plath, Harold Pinter, Aaron Copeland and John Updike, (just to name a random few) would also take exception. What I find ironic is that Polynesian Pop makes a few suggestions on how to improve a PARTY, and a certain group acts as if the very GODS themselves have been insulted! In fact, they should swoop down from the airy perch on Olympus and smite him with all their mighty powers. Yet, one of their group makes a blatant racist statement and the tepid response is, "It's just his opinion" and "Your being too sensitive." Am I the only one who finds this wrong? And talk about being sensitive: Brother, you are ready to quit after this one thread! This is a public forum and if you make such bold statements you had better be ready to defend them! If you can't take the heat you had better leave, because I've seen a lot worse over a lot less on Tiki Central. If you leave perhaps the board will be improved, perhaps it will be worse. I cannot tell as I am not a fortune teller. I would like to think it would be the latter. It is up to you. I know this post goes against what Martiki has asked us not to do, and will most likely lead to a locking of this thread. For that I most humbly apologize to him, to Hanford and the board as a whole as it is not my intention. I also apologize for going so far off topic. However, I feel such statements cannot go unanswered.

AquaZombie,

No one is disputing that the Mid-Century Tiki movement had racist aspects to it or even that it is an appropriation of Polynesian Culture. One can look at the works of Guy Huze or William M. Kay for the former. You also cite some good examples. If you want to start a post dealing with racism in the Tiki Movement please do so with all possible vigor. I whole heartedly approve.

What I disagree with are your following statements:

"I didn't know white people had their own culture!" she exclaimed. "They don't - that's the point," I said..."

Just remove "White" and add, for example, "Filipino","Mexican","Korean" or "Persian". Would you consider that racist? I sure would. So what makes using "White" any different? Nothing at all. Your ethnicity, your wife's ethnicity, my ethnicity and Conga Mike's ethnicity are irrelevant. It does not matter who it comes from or to whom it is directed; Racism is hateful and divisive. You can claim it is humor (though I fail to see the humor in it). It is mean-spirited. Additionally, it's generality makes it even more demeaning. It is stereotyping at it's worst. I think Herman Melville, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Cole Porter, Sylvia Plath, Harold Pinter, Aaron Copeland and John Updike, (just to name a random few) would also take exception.

What I find ironic is that Polynesian Pop makes a few suggestions on how to improve a PARTY, and a certain group acts as if the very GODS themselves have been insulted! In fact, they should swoop down from the airy perch on Olympus and smite him with all their mighty powers. Yet, one of their group makes a blatant racist statement and the tepid response is, "It's just his opinion" and "Your being too sensitive." Am I the only one who finds this wrong?

And talk about being sensitive: Brother, you are ready to quit after this one thread! This is a public forum and if you make such bold statements you had better be ready to defend them! If you can't take the heat you had better leave, because I've seen a lot worse over a lot less on Tiki Central.

If you leave perhaps the board will be improved, perhaps it will be worse. I cannot tell as I am not a fortune teller. I would like to think it would be the latter. It is up to you.

I know this post goes against what Martiki has asked us not to do, and will most likely lead to a locking of this thread. For that I most humbly apologize to him, to Hanford and the board as a whole as it is not my intention. I also apologize for going so far off topic. However, I feel such statements cannot go unanswered.

Post #92025 by Atomic Cocktail on Wed, May 19, 2004 10:25 PM