The Jewish people survived 3500 years of oppression at the hands of our friends and enemies with our faith, our strong will (described in the Bible as "stiff neck"), and our sense of humor. Those of us who watch the culture war in the West, marvel at the deterioration of the West's ivy league universities, its leaders, its education, and its policies. "Cultural appropriation", was first used in "the academy" in the 1980's, according to the encyclopedia Britannica, and happens when members of a majority group adopt cultural elements of a minority group in exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical way. Cleveland Indians or Washington Redskins as names for sports teams is cultural appropriation. Shame on the owners of these teams, a hundred years ago, who did not know how insensitive they were.
Of course, we Jews have been too busy trying to establish a place in western society, after being persecuted everyplace else, to worry about cultural appropriation. We have not been vigilant about watching and reporting those non-Jews, from the majority culture, who might purchase gefilte fish from the kosher food aisle in their local supermarket. We are considering, as a minority group, submitting legislation that would require some kind of ethnic test before our ethnic foods could be purchased by anyone outside our distinct group. We also deplore Klezmer Bands made up of ethnic Germans and Poles. Who would think!
It has come to the attention of the Jewish People that Yale University may in fact be in violation of cultural appropriation. What follows is a recording of an actual call to Yale to straighten out this abuse.
Of course, we Jews have been too busy trying to establish a place in western society, after being persecuted everyplace else, to worry about cultural appropriation. We have not been vigilant about watching and reporting those non-Jews, from the majority culture, who might purchase gefilte fish from the kosher food aisle in their local supermarket. We are considering, as a minority group, submitting legislation that would require some kind of ethnic test before our ethnic foods could be purchased by anyone outside our distinct group. We also deplore Klezmer Bands made up of ethnic Germans and Poles. Who would think!
It has come to the attention of the Jewish People that Yale University may in fact be in violation of cultural appropriation. What follows is a recording of an actual call to Yale to straighten out this abuse.
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