Free yoga class cancelled - is guilty of "cultural appropriation"

[LaCroix]

She said she was a Canadian of Indian background.

And she said they did not ask her if she was going to teach the class any different and did not plan on doing so. So what exactly did they fire the previous instructor for? Hmmmm....

(1) "canadian of indian background" has nothing to do with how culturally indian someone is. for example, I know someone who would say, "I'm canadian of indian background." this person got arranged marriaged and does all the other indian stuff, including that painted hand thing they do. I also know an american indian-indian who's the same way. very culturally indian but identifies as an american and has never been to india.

(2) maybe the white chick did yoga the right way and there wasn't anything to complain about, and she got canned because the university made a stupid decision. we're not taking about that first incident, remember? you're focusing on that again.

[grumbler]

we're both relying on the same evidence  that's my whole point. your conclusion and the possible conclusion I raised differ based on the same evidence. my whole point has been that your conclusion might not be true because there's another possibility that existed. jesus 

No, we are not.   That's my whole point.  My conclusion is based on the actual evidence (like the fact that the new teacher, when discussing her experience, mentioned that some members of her family practiced yoga, but didn't even observe that she practiced it herself) while yours is based on assumptions (like the assertion that the new teacher is "culturally Indian" and the one that being "culturally Indian" is somehow significant.  The difference between my evidence and your assertions is that my evidence comes from the story, and your assertions come from your ass. 

When quoting someone, it is a whole lot more honest to quote what they actually said, not what you wish they'd said.

yeah, I did that. just a few posts ago. you ignored that post 

And you lied when you quoted me as saying that "she's not culturally indian." 

That's just an observation.  I fully expect some people here lie when they think it advances their argument. 

I dunno, I'm a freakin' north dakotan. isn't "indian" a race you can check off on some lists? (indian-indian, not injun)

I dunno.  You are the one making an issue of it.  If you don't even know what it means, it's probably best that you not use it.

[Valmy]

(1) "canadian of indian background" has nothing to do with how culturally indian someone is. for example, I know someone who would say, "I'm canadian of indian background." this person got arranged marriaged and does all the other indian stuff, including that painted hand thing they do. I also know an american indian-indian who's the same way. very culturally indian but identifies as an american and has never been to india.

That makes no sense in the context of the quote. It sure seemed like she was distancing herself from being some kind of Indian cultural ambassador. She could have easily said 'me and my family are very Indian and I look forward to transmitting this important piece of our culture.' Instead she hedged and said that she is of Indian background but she really considers herself a Canadian.

(2) maybe the white chick did yoga the right way and there wasn't anything to complain about, and she got canned because the university made a stupid decision. we're not taking about that first incident, remember? you're focusing on that again.

Of course I am doing that again. I never agreed to your condition that they are somehow separate incidents. I completely disagree with this assertion.

[grumbler]

so, we first start with "the new teacher isn't indian herself." what does "indian" refer to here? the next two posts seem to say grumbler wasn't referring to culture OR race. so I guess I'm left to ask: wtf does grumbler think an indian is

"Indian" refers to a person from India.  I thought that that was self-evident.  It is at least as self-evident as "North Dakotan" in the phrase "I'm a freakin' north dakotan."

[grumbler]

She said she was a Canadian of Indian background.

And she said they did not ask her if she was going to teach the class any different and did not plan on doing so. So what exactly did they fire the previous instructor for? Hmmmm....

That smell you smell is racism.

[LaCroix]

No, we are not.   That's my whole point.  My conclusion is based on the actual evidence (like the fact that the new teacher, when discussing her experience, mentioned that some members of her family practiced yoga, but didn't even observe that she practiced it herself) while yours is based on assumptions (like the assertion that the new teacher is "culturally Indian" and the one that being "culturally Indian" is somehow significant.  The difference between my evidence and your assertions is that my evidence comes from the story, and your assertions come from your ass. 

And you lied when you quoted me as saying that "she's not culturally indian." 

That's just an observation.  I fully expect some people here lie when they think it advances their argument. 

I dunno.  You are the one making an issue of it.  If you don't even know what it means, it's probably best that you not use it.

your assumption based on the evidence, yeah

lie requires intent. you're assuming I intentionally misconstrued what you said to make a point... for some reason

my "issue" was pointing out that the replacement could be culturally indian

"Indian" refers to a person from India.  I thought that that was self-evident.  It is at least as self-evident as "North Dakotan" in the phrase "I'm a freakin' north dakotan."

yup. a canadian is someone from canada. a canadian who is culturally indian is a canadian who is culturally indian. whether the replacement fits this category... well, we don't know because we have insufficient evidence. sometimes, articles don't tell the whole story. you know this.

That smell you smell is racism.

[Barrister]

I don't know what you're trying to say Lacroix.  I think you're overthinking this.

The story really is quite simple.  The Students Federation said why they were cancelling the first yoga class - a white girl teaching yoga is "cultural appropriation".  According to them, yoga can only be taught by someone of the right cultural heritage.  So they found an Indian-Canadian instead.

[LaCroix]

I don't know what you're trying to say Lacroix.  I think you're overthinking this.

The story really is quite simple.  The Students Federation said why they were cancelling the first yoga class - a white girl teaching yoga is "cultural appropriation".  According to them, yoga can only be taught by someone of the right cultural heritage.  So they found an Indian-Canadian instead.

there was criticism re: the indian-canadian, that the university selected this person solely based on race/skin-color. all I've been trying to say is that this replacement might actually be a little more indian than some people itt think. she might not be, too, but there's just not enough evidence either way.

[The Brain]

Is it an ethnic Hindu?

[LaCroix]

Is it an ethnic Hindu?

if it turns out she's jewish, then I won't know what to think

[grumbler]

your assumption based on the evidence, yeah

lie requires intent. you're assuming I intentionally misconstrued what you said to make a point... for some reason

So you concede that you lied, but argue that somehow it's not a lie because you were just incompetent in your quote attributions?  Okay.  I'm not sure how that helps your case, or who you have us believe you were really quoting, but whatever.

my "issue" was pointing out that the replacement could be culturally indian

I have no idea what "culturally Indian" means.  India has many cultures.  Your term makes no sense in light of the facts.

yup. a canadian is someone from canada. a canadian who is culturally indian is a canadian who is culturally indian. whether the replacement fits this category... well, we don't know because we have insufficient evidence. sometimes, articles don't tell the whole story. you know this.

Again with the made-up terms.  You can't define "cultural Indian" as "a person who is culturally Indian" - it's a completely circular argument.  I suspect the reason why you don't know if this person is "culturally Indian" isn't because the story doesn't tell us how "culturally Indian" she is, but because the concept of "culturally Indian" is self-identifying at best. The new teacher doesn't seem hung up on cultural anything, so she's not talking about cultural anything.  She's just talking about teaching the course, and wondering if she was hired for racist reasons (which it certainly seems she was).

[LaCroix]

So you concede that you lied, but argue that somehow it's not a lie because you were just incompetent in your quote attributions?

does a lie require intent to lie, yes/no?

I didn't concede I misconstrued your post. I implied you thought I misconstrued your post. I don't think I misconstrued your post, but if you'd like to explain what you originally meant...

(edit) I asked an indian classmate today (one born in india who is also culturally indian) whether her husband would identify himself as an "american who is culturally indian." she said yes. so, I think your hangup on this point is divorced from reality

[Valmy]

there was criticism re: the indian-canadian, that the university selected this person solely based on race/skin-color. all I've been trying to say is that this replacement might actually be a little more indian than some people itt think. she might not be, too, but there's just not enough evidence either way.

What would be sufficient evidence? I mean if we cannot use what seem to be pretty damning quotes from the new hiree.

[Valmy]

Is it an ethnic Hindu?

if it turns out she's jewish, then I won't know what to think

Judaism has been in India for thousands of years. Just saying.

[grumbler]

if it turns out she's jewish, then I won't know what to think

Judaism has been in India for thousands of years. Just saying.

Indeed.  Mohandas Gandhi said he was Jewish (also Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, etc).