Another Social Commentary: So, another article was written (and I was dumb enough to read) in the context of Its my culture, not a costume. today. This goes back to my post earlier this week. Im not sure if I should comment on it as it seems so loaded with controversy. Though I have never been one to shy away from controversial debates, being obstinate and argumentative. I guess you could say that is part of my Irish culture. I will type it out and decide if I will press post at the end or if I will surrender. I guess it will be a battle between my Irish culture and my French culture. Usually these articles include a picture of someone who appears to be white wearing a Dia De Los Muertos sugar skull makeup. If you feel this way, I apologize. Not because I think that you dont have a right to your feelings. I apologize because you are limiting yourself and further segmenting and isolating yourself from the American experiment at large. You are also going to be a hypocrite when you have children. There is nothing more sorry, in my opinion, than a hypocrite. If you are limiting your celebration of Halloween, which in the U.S. uses the imagery, totems and custom rooted in the Celtic holiday of Samhain, to just costumes indicative of your own culture, it will be sad for all you with non-Irish kids dressed as fairies. It will be sad for the non Scandinavian kids dressed as Frozen characters. The non-asian kids dressed as ninjas and Power Rangers. The non-Italian kids dressed as mobsters. The non-dead kids dressed as zombies. The non-super kids dressed as superheroes. And so on. What I think bothers me the most in this point of view is the inherent racism. The people who want to preserve their culture (which is code speak for racism when anyone else says it) by preventing non-hispanic (white people seem to be the target here) from painting their faces in sugar skull makeup seem to forget that, much like North America, South America is a melting pot of ethnicity. The Irish have been in Mexico far before the Colonies unionized. MANY Dia De Los Muertos customs have been co-opted from those Irish/Celtic traditions as well. So your culture is a blend of cultures just like the American culture. Just read up on Samhain and wonder at the similarities. So how can you accuse one group of stealing your culture when your culture is built atop other cultures? One last thought. While you are in search for cultural purity and homogeny, be careful where you point your fingers as an example cultural interlopers. My blond haired green eyed daughter or blue eyed son might seem like an easy target to expose your own racism, ignorance and intolerance. But, there is something you should know. Both of my kids are about 1/3 genetically a southwestern Native American tribe. The blood that runs through your veins, runs through theirs. They are just as entitled to celebrate their indigenous culture as you are. They have a legitimate reasons to paint skulls on their pale white skin. Maybe more so since 90% of the whole celebration is based on the other 2/3rds of their Irish/Celtic genetics. Please, this Samhain / Halloween / All Saints / Dia de los Muertos remember that this holiday is about honoring and remembering your ancestors. Also remember that not every Mexican has dark hair, dark eyes and dark skin. To think so makes you more of a racist than a pale face in sugar skull make-up. It also dishonors your ancestors that may not look like you. You never now. You might have a little Irish in you too. For that reason, I will embrace you as a brother or sister come St Patricks Day, no matter what color your skin happens to be.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 17:44:55 +0000
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