• NOT_RICK@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    People wear Native American headdresses even though those are directly tied to martial feats just like a Purple Heart is. I see it at Chiefs games in Kansas City. Is it not still stolen valor? What if I dressed up as a Muslim Sheikh and proceeded to get wasted at a party? My actions would be incongruous with how someone from that culture would act.

    I think intent matters and so long as a person attempts to be respectful and actually learn about the culture they’re imitating it’s not a big deal but I find that’s often not the case.

    • RightHandOfIkaros@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Wearing a native american headdress to a Chiefs game would not be considered stolen valor unless the person is implying that they are actually a native american chief, just as wearing a purple heart previously mentioned would constitute stolen valor if the person implies that they were injured in the military but infact were not.

      If there was a football team like “New Jersey Admirals,” then I don’t think it would be unusual or stolen valor for people attending to dress in an admiral costume. They are replicating the mascot of the sport team, not implying that they themselves are actually admirals of a military.

      If you dressed as a Sikh and attended the party, intent may come into play if the party was not one where attendees would be wearing costumes or clothing not common to the culture of the surrounding area. Was the person wearing the clothing because they liked it, or were they intentionally trying to slander people of a specific culture? Is targetted slander the same as wearing something you like the look of? Even if the person is not being respectful and makes no effort to learn about the culture, is it really worth it to be mad about instead of being happy to see some elements of your culture being spread to places where it may not have otherwise?

      For example, Americans are often called fat, lazy, unintelligent, gun crazy anarchists, and are portrayed by many foreign media as such. I don’t get offended at charicatures of Americans from other countries or nations. Partially because its kinda true, but also it means that the other nation is being introduced to Americans. Some people may see that and think “That’s ridiculous, they can’t all be like that,” leading those interested to look it up and see what America is about or like. Some may choose to vacation where they otherwise may have never taken an interest in America. I mean, I wouldn’t recommend it because America kinda sucks depending on where they go, but its only an example.