Cross Cultural Sensitivity, or not

[Spiky Bugger]

This attempt to teach cultural sensitivity WAS on Twitter, but was then deleted:

Fellow goys, please do not wish anyone a “Happy Yom Kippur.” We have been over this.


So, I guess that in trying to teach goyim that such a comment was kind of equivalent to saying “Have a FUN Memorial Day weekend!” the Tweeter got culturally INsensitive to snowflakey goyim who don’t want to be called a “goy.” Life is very hard these days. From now on, no matter the holiday, maybe we should say something like:

Be well.

…and then let it go?

 

[Larra]

Oddly enough, I was just discussing this with a friend this morning. Personally, I would not be at all offended if someone wished me a Happy Yom Kippur. I appreciate that people care about me and wish to acknowledge a day that is important in my faith, even if they don't fully (or at all) understand what Yom Kippur is all about. They are wishing me well, aren't they? That's all that matters.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

Hey, Larra!

Be well!

 

[Spiky Bugger]

Just teasing.

 

[Larra]

You be well too, Spiky!

 

[Spiky Bugger]

 

[k9ophile]

Oddly enough, I was just discussing this with a friend this morning. Personally, I would not be at all offended if someone wished me a Happy Yom Kippur. I appreciate that people care about me and wish to acknowledge a day that is important in my faith, even if they don't fully (or at all) understand what Yom Kippur is all about. They are wishing me well, aren't they? That's all that matters.

I've seen similar responses/reasoning for those occasions when people say, anything about any holiday/occasion. Admittedly, I try to kindly explain the difference between Veterans day and Memorial day on Facebook. I don't get my panties in a wad when they're mixed up. And especially when someone says something to me. I genuinely believe it's a sincere gesture. Just break out that old chestnut: it is the thought that counts.

 

[MsVee]

I guess you have to examine the intentions behind the remark. When I know that someone is trying to honor or acknowledge my religious or cultural identity, I am grateful for the effort. Sometimes it becomes a teachable moment.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

I guess you have to examine the intentions behind the remark. When I know that someone is trying to honor or acknowledge my religious or cultural identity, I am grateful for the effort. Sometimes it becomes a teachable moment.

But NOT when they say that even acknowledging Kwanzaa means they aren’t good Christians.

AAAARGH!

 

[MsVee]

That remark clearly indicates a lack of knowledge. I can’t even imagine where to begin after that statement.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

That remark clearly indicates a lack of knowledge. I can’t even imagine where to begin after that statement.

I had some seasonal office decor…posters, actually…that ended up living on my dining room table. A neighbor came to borrow something and made a comment about “them and their made up holidays,” and along the Kwanzaa vs Christians line. (I don’t celebrate Kwanzaa and I’m not a Christian, so I was more amused than insulted by her display of ignorance.)

Next day, my cousin showed up with her husband, who worked for the U.N. and was just visiting from his post in South America “for the holidays.” He saw the Kwanzaa poster and said, “Oh! What can you tell me about that holiday? I have seen passing references to it, but not much filters down to my end of the world.”

The neighbor worked part-time as the lunch time cafeteria/playground supervisor at a local elementary school. My cousin’s husband had a PhD in Physics and had been a pen pal of Isaac Asimov (I know, he was obnoxious re touching women, but that doesn’t negate his brilliance in stuff like science and creativity in writing.)

Some people are born able to think/imagine lives other than what they have experienced. To others, if it didn’t happen to them, it didn’t happen. And education seems to help. So does military experience “on the economy” as opposed to “living on base”— where you are a “them” not an “us,” and you have to learn cultural standards you didn’t grow up with, seems to help, too.

 

[Munchkin]

I will celebrate anyone's holiday. Not as good at atonement as I am at eating though.

Have been told more than once in my life that I should have been Jewish.

 

[hilary1617]

More holidays more fun. It's not as if you can't celebrate someone's birthday because they were born on the 4th of July.

 

[Larra]

I'm with Munchkin . We need more happiness and good will and celebrating life, not less. I will happily celebrate St. Patrick's Day, Chinese New Year, etc. It's all good.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

I'm with Munchkin . We need more happiness and good will and celebrating life, not less. I will happily celebrate St. Patrick's Day, Chinese New Year, etc. It's all good.

I guess I didn't word things very well.

I’m all for celebrating holidays that are “not mine,” IF they are “celebrateable“ holidays or if they don’t strongly offend my values. What the person I was quoting was trying to say was instead of randomly slapping a “Happy” in front of the name of the holiday, we should at least have an idea what the day is about.

If someone yells out “Happy Pearl Harbor Day!” I have to HOPE that they’re just clueless, not hateful. And on “Confederate Heroes Day,” I’m just laying low. And Tennessee? In July? I’m not wishing anyone a “Happy Nathan Bedford Forrest Day.” (For those not married to Civil War buffs, Forrest was a Confederate general, he led a group that murdered hundreds of CAPTURED AND IN CUSTODY Union soldiers, Black and White. He was the ORIGINAL KKK Grand Wizard and ran a successful slave trading business.) I just can’t add “happy” to his name.