Anyone in a tipi this year?

[CaledonianGonzo]

My mum was at a fancy dress party a few months back with a 'People Of the World' theme. Two separate people came blacked up :-O

Though she went as a Chinese woman in a Vietnamese coolie hat and kimono, so she wasn't much better.

To be honest, last year there was also a group planning to go dressed up as toffs in 'A Day At The Races' style get ups. I found that almost as bad. Of all places to go dolled up as a member of the Bullingdon Club....

[Ted Dansons Wig]

My mum was at a fancy dress party a few months back with a 'People Of the World' theme. Two separate people came blacked up :-O

Though she went as a Chinese woman in a Vietnamese coolie hat and kimono, so she wasn't much better.

To be honest, last year there was also a group planning to go dressed up as toffs in 'A Day At The Races' style get ups. I found that almost as bad. Of all places to go dolled up as a member of the Bullingdon Club....

[autoinflate]

it's a minefield of a topic to be honest....go to disneyland and take your 4 year old on 'it's a small world', then explain to them why it's not OK to dress up in all the costumes they saw, paint their faces etc?

[russycarps]

it's a minefield of a topic to be honest....go to disneyland and take your 4 year old on 'it's a small world', then explain to them why it's not OK to dress up in all the costumes they saw, paint their faces etc?

Edited June 11, 2014 by russycarps

[CaledonianGonzo]

A kilt can be culturally appropriated - or misappropriated - by anyone.

That's why it's best.

[autoinflate]

I advise you finish your speech by singing at the top of your lungs the Bono line from do they know it's christmas time "Tonight thank god it's them instead of you".

Then buy them a lolly pop or something.

[LondonTom]

Its intresting isn't it? I've never really thought before/realised they found it offensive to wear the mock headdresses before it all came out with Wayne Coyne.

I think the more obvious example than "Blacking up" would b e, would you dress up in a jewish skull cap or as an orthodox jew with Payot and not expect to offend??

[Beaky99]

To the person who asked earlier of there was a campfire last year... I never tried to go to it, but I believe the answer was yes, however supplies of wood were limited and so it was fairly short lived each night (again this was one of the complaints people had after the fest).

J

[russycarps]

Fucking hell, is there anything you toffs didn't complain about last year...

[Sawdusty surfer]

Simply explain that native americans are one of the most persecuted races on the planet and were brutally tortured and slaughtered almost to the verge of extinction and are still massively persecuted today.

Then go on to explain them that is was that childs direct ancestors who were responsible for the carnage, and that they should have the decency to recognise that parading around in a native americans most sacred garb is an utter humiliation and a reminder that they were so thoroughly crushed by the white man.

Then go on to explain that they should carry their guilt, and the guilt for the myriad of other crimes the white man has committed, to their grave.

I advise you finish your speech by singing at the top of your lungs the Bono line from do they know it's christmas time "Tonight thank god it's them instead of you".

Then buy them a lolly pop or something.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

It's not for you to decide whether something is offensive or not.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I've got to come back to this. If we take the thread of if you wear something and it causes offence you shouldn't wear it, where do you stand on transvestites?

[Beaky99]

Fucking hell, is there anything you toffs didn't complain about last year...

[Beaky99]

I've got to come back to this. If we take the thread of if you wear something and it causes offence you shouldn't wear it, where do you stand on transvestites?

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

If you find someone who's wearing an "Indian" feathered headdress because it's inherently that they believe they were born that way, then we can compare the 2...

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

As far as I'm aware, no one feels the biological need to usurp the sacred symbols of another group of people.

[russycarps]

Not even your statement? Who draws the line?

[CaledonianGonzo]

I repeat - who draws the lines?

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

In my opinion, anyone can be offended by anything they choose, but no one can tell someone else that they cant be offended by something.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

In this instance I'd take a steer from the Native American communities who have made it pretty clear that they consider it out of order.

[CaledonianGonzo]

This is - of course - more of a concern in the US where they're living in the remnants of a genocide, but in the UK most of our idea of Native Americans comes at as through Hollywood and it's a safe bet that folk dressing up for the tipis aren't so much honouring or paying tribute to anyone as dressing up with warpaint and plastic tomahawks for sh!ts and giggles.

I wouldn't black up, wear a leopardskin and put a bone through my nose and I wouldn't paint my face red and say 'How' either.

[CaledonianGonzo]

I understand what you are saying but wonder how many Native Americans will be at Glastonbury to get offended, or will be watching it on telly? Should we ban all religious fancy dress outfits on the grounds that they might upset. Where does it stop? Should we all wear the same clobber all the time as those in, say, North Korea?

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I don't need to be a woman to be offended by misogyny, I don't need to be gay to be offended by homophobia and I don't need to belong to a culture to feel affronted when I see it mocked.

[autoinflate]

What I want to know is whether Native Americans can legitimately wear band t-shirts, wellies and straw hats.

[CaledonianGonzo]

I understand what you are saying, but are those people who wear Native American head gear etc actively participating in mocking? Do they have that intent? Are they even aware of the sensitivities?