Dress up for the party as a ...

[naraht]

Just some thoughts that went by while driving on the subject of theme parties where dressing up as a specific group might be proposed.

1) A specific race: This *never* ends well.
2) A specific group on the GLBTQ (etc.) spectrum: Ditto
3) A specific job, generally OK if it is a job that you'd admit that you had to your HS principal. Accountants OK, Pimp/Whore, nope.
4) A specific nationality/ethnic group: Generally OK if there haven't been any for at least 400 years like Vikings, Romans, Aztecs and bad if they are still around like French, German and Korean, but a few exceptions.
Greeks: The Greek system in the US annoys people from Greece enough that Athenian or Spartan themed parties aren't going to make a difference
Mayans: Yes there are still Mayans, but if you can pull of a dress as a Mayan for the December 2012 party, that's impressive.
Egypt of the Pharoahs: An odd one on a couple of levels, you've got the entire question of whether those of African descent are inheritors of that culture and then you've got the Alpha Phi Alphas having a particular tie in their traditions to it. So a white Fraternity might have the Black Student Union and the Alpha Phi Alpha brothers objecting, but might have the brothers of the other NPHC (Historically black) fraternities passing around popcorn.
"Southern US": Some fraternities founded in the southern US have parties based on Ante-bellum Southern themes. If yours does, you know the issues already, if you don't, find another theme, you don't want the headache.

Comments?