This has been bugging me. This has been on my conscience for the last 2 hours.
I apologize. I apologize for my cultural appropriation. Even though I was born in the United States and adopted and raised by a white dad, my ethnic makeup is still “not from here”. I apologize for my insensitivity 42 years ago to all Second Nation white Anglo-Americans. I can’t even use Halloween as an excuse; because it wasn’t that time of the year. I- an Oriental- dressed myself up to look like an American cowboy from the wild west. I had no right to do this. I wasn’t even trying to show solidarity with my white brothers; I was just playing make-believe cowboy for my own imaginative entertainment. I didn’t realize the harm I was doing. I was stupidly unaware of the offence this may have caused and the sensitivity around this issue. I sincerely and unreservedly apologize to all Second Nation people (the white colored ones, at any rate) for this thoughtless action. I now appreciate that there is a great need for a deeper understanding of the complex and extensive issues facing non-indigenous communities. I hope that in highlighting my own ignorance I can help in some small way.
I still have much to learn.
Kind of like the Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth:
Chris Hemsworth has apologised for his poor choice of costume during a New Year’s Eve party last year, while also pledging his support for the Standing Rock protests in the US.
‘Standing with those who are fighting to protect their sacred land and water,’ he began his Instagram post on Friday.
The 33-year-old actor added: ‘I would also like to take this opportunity to raise something that has been bothering me for sometime.’
The Australian actor went on to provide context for his apology, before saying: ‘I was stupidly unaware of the offence this may have caused and the sensitivity around this issue. I sincerely and unreservedly apologise to all First Nations people for this thoughtless action.’
The former Home And Away star continued: ‘I now appreciate that there is a great need for a deeper understanding of the complex and extensive issues facing indigenous communities.’
‘I hope that in highlighting my own ignorance I can help in some small way,’ Chris concluded his post.
Meh…I suppose I should apologize to Hemsworth for plagiarizing his apology as well.
He’s still got a long way to go, however: When is he going to apologize to Scandinavians for dressing up and mocking their ancestral worship of their Norse god, Thor? He’s had over 5 years to do so; and yet has remained silent on the non-controversy.
The lengthy apology was accompanied by a photo of the Marvel star posing alongside Thor: Ragnorak’s Indigenous director Taika Waititi.
The men were both holding up a sign that read: ‘We stand with Standing Rock.’
There have been heavy protests and many arrests in recent days as people fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline that’s being built at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota.
Chris and his wife Elsa were both previously slammed when their costumes were deemed culturally insensitive.
The Melbourne-born actor was attending a Lone Ranger-themed party at the time.
Fans were quick to condemn the married couple for their choice of attire, with one Instagram user commenting: ‘This is so disappointing to see. Native Americans are real, their culture is real.’
Meanwhile, another suggested the couple’s costumes were an example of cultural appropriation, writing: ‘Can’t put into words how wrong this is.’
On an aside: Thoughts on Standing Rock?
A former fetus, the “wordsmith from nantucket” was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1968. Adopted at birth, wordsmith grew up a military brat. He achieved his B.A. in English from the University of California, Los Angeles (graduating in the top 97% of his class), where he also competed rings for the UCLA mens gymnastics team. The events of 9/11 woke him from his political slumber and malaise. Currently a personal trainer and gymnastics coach.
The wordsmith has never been to Nantucket.