When Your Burrito Turns Sour

So you're enjoying what happens to be one of the best burritos of your life, when you're approached by a friend. You tell them that you love this Mexican place, that you should come here more often. You're friend looks a little awkward and says: 'Uh, well, don't you think that you're appropriating Mexican culture?'
Now, you're thinking, 'how can a burrito be appropriation?', and I'd have to agree. To say that dressing up as an Native American on Halloween, or that tweeting puns based on hip-hop lyrics is cultural appropriation is a little over the top. 

 It seems that we've gone from incredible insensitivity to obnoxious over-sensitivity on the subject of appropriation.

The definition of cultural appropriation according to the all-knowing Wikipedia is:

The adoption of elements of one culture by members of a different cultural group, especially if the adoption is of an oppressed people's cultural elements by members of the dominant culture.

Ok, I don't know about you, but when I eat a burrito, the last thing on my mind is how much it's going to further oppress the Latino waiter who just served me. In fact, I'm appreciating him all the more. See, this is where you need to think about what you mean - context is important.

There is a vast difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. In the case of my delicious burrito, I fully appreciate the culture behind my meal, I am not using it as a symbol of my cultural superiority. 

Last year, there was outrage at Miley Cyrus for twerking. Apparently, it is appropriating black culture to twerk, as seemingly there are people out there so insecure in themselves that the sight of Miley's swaying booty threatens their blackness. So, what these people are saying is that any time the Macarena is performed at a child's birthday party, the music should be turned off and they should all be given a time out for oppressing and appropriating Spanish culture. 

Now, there are some significant cases where appropriation is still happening - blues and rock music are major ones. While R&B music is acknowledged to be have black roots, Elvis is considered the 'King of Rock', when rock music is actually a combination of African-American music, such as Jazz, Blues, Swing, and Gospel. This is skimmed over as at the time of creation (1940s-50s), every effort was made to stop any credit from going to black people. 

When you use language, styles, art, or food from another culture, the key is context. 

When white people have dreadlocks/cornrows or non-Indians wear henna, it is completely out of context to say that this is appropriation. The majority of these people are appreciating the culture, they enjoy how henna looks, they feel more attractive when they have locs.

Flinging around accusations of appropriation is inappropriate and really just diminishes any true credibility that you may have had when there is real appropriation happening.