Sorority suspended for "Indian Party."

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

At what point does a theme go bad? For example, many proms and formals may have "A Night in Paris" or some such theme - the food will be ethnic, but everyone wears formal wear. I don't think anyone objects to those - or do they? Is the problem when they bring in costumes and cheesy pseudo-ethnic music?

If you "object" to something like that you need to reevaluate your life. (not YOU, just "you" in general).

Same goes for just about everything.

Sorry, I just find it really dumb when people get up in arms about "themed" parties, celebrations like cinco de mayo, St. Patricks Day, etc. etc. etc.

Sorry if it offends you, or anybody for that matter. Maybe I'm just an asshole. Maybe I'm just not very sensitive. Whatever.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by macallan25

If you "object" to something like that you need to reevaluate your life. (not YOU, just "you" in general).

Same goes for just about everything.

Sorry, I just find it really dumb when people get up in arms about "themed" parties, celebrations like cinco de mayo, St. Patricks Day, etc. etc. etc.

Sorry if it offends you, or anybody for that matter. Maybe I'm just an asshole. Maybe I'm just not very sensitive. Whatever.

Dumb? Naw. I find it dumb that some people feel they can take an observance that means something to a group and use it as an excuse to get drunk. I don't know that I'm "up in arms." I actually think I'm pretty reasonable. I believe that most people do their celebrating unthinkingly - without considering that the "trappings" they appropriate might have a sincere meaning. It would be like another fraternity using your ritual in a mocking way, and as an excuse to drink (do fraternities need an excuse? I digress. ) So I'm more disappointed than anything else. It is tough to see something that is meaningful to you degraded.

[Drolefille]

I'm not sure how one can be reasonably offended by other people partying on Mardi Gras. There's nothing sacred about the day itself, and it is in fact, Fat Tuesday with the purpose of getting all that having fun stuff out of your system. (Of course having fun was limited to the people who could afford it in centuries gone by, now anyone can buy some beer for the job)

[SWTXBelle]

Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras) is an actual church observance for many. I actually don't have a problem with using the theme of Mardi Gras as celebrated in New Orleans for a formal theme - the beads, masks, colours, etc. That's really more of a regional than a religious observance. It's the debauchery on Shrove Tuesday itself which gives me pause. And even that doesn't more than mildly annoy (and amuse) me.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras) is an actual church observance for many. I actually don't have a problem with using the theme of Mardi Gras as celebrated in New Orleans for a formal theme - the beads, masks, colours, etc. That's really more of a regional than a religious observance. It's the debauchery on Shrove Tuesday itself which gives me pause. And even that doesn't more than mildly annoy (and amuse) me.

Although there are certainly Masses on Shrove Tuesday just like any day, it's not traditionally a religious observance. It's pretty much always been eat, drink, be merry for tomorrow we fast.. and the next day. I mean toss in absolution of your sins on that day if you're particularly observant but other than that the debauchery shouldn't be any more shocking on that day than any other from an ecclesiastical perspective.

[SWTXBelle]

I am only speaking from my Anglican (high-church, for what that is worth) experience (I'm married to an Anglican priest) and both Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wed. have specific religious services, which differ from both regular masses and standard confession and absolution. So, while it may be true for you and many others that there is nothing different on that day, for some there is. And that's my only point.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Detroit's in Ireland?

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

How did I miss Detroit in my visit to Ireland last summer??? I can't even find it on the map!

My bad. I meant Irish Americans, not actually Ireland.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Although there are certainly Masses on Shrove Tuesday just like any day, it's not traditionally a religious observance. It's pretty much always been eat, drink, be merry for tomorrow we fast.. and the next day. I mean toss in absolution of your sins on that day if you're particularly observant but other than that the debauchery shouldn't be any more shocking on that day than any other from an ecclesiastical perspective.

OK, OK, I didn't mean for this to get into an argument about Mardi Gras being offensive. My point was that actually most people don't find partying on Mardi Gras offensive, even Catholics. But along those lines, I have to ask whether people celebrating Mardi Gras appreciate what the celebration is for...and if so, do they even observe Lent? I get tired of people celebrating holidays that have nothing to do with them, or holidays that even completely contradict their beliefs. Christmas is the worst in this regard. I can't stand it when people say that Christmas is about Santa Claus, being nice, world peace, etc. Sure, those things are commonly associated with Christmas, but the fact is that Christmas is a Christian holiday and nothing else; if you're not Christian, you shouldn't be celebrating it. Really, Mardi Gras, though not a holiday itself, was established with Christians in mind. But nowadays most people don't even think - or don't know - what it's about.

[SWTXBelle]

Drole, the Anglican tradition came from the Roman Catholic, true, but just because the Roman Catholics have changed ( some, at least - I know Roman Catholics who still celebrate the two religious observances) while we haven't, our beliefs aren't negated, are they? I think the point is that any group, not just the "first", that finds their religous or cultural practices being used for amusement may be offended.


What Peppy said.

[SigKapSweetie]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Christmas is the worst in this regard. I can't stand it when people say that Christmas is about Santa Claus, being nice, world peace, etc. Sure, those things are commonly associated with Christmas, but the fact is that Christmas is a Christian holiday and nothing else; if you're not Christian, you shouldn't be celebrating it.

I disagree. Christmas has, at least in this country, transitioned from a pure religious observance into a mainly secular commercial holiday. I have difficulty getting riled up about this, since Christmas was moved to December in order to coincide with Winter Solstice celebrations anyway. In my understanding, December 25th wasn't originally of special importance to anyone except pagans, and then only when the Solstice happened to fall on that day.