Do you find it disrespectful if non-veterans wear "Veteran" clothing?
For example, a elderly man I know bought two Vietnam veteran hats and had me pick one, and asked me to promise to wear it on Veterans' Day. I told him, "Veterans might be offended when they see me, because I'm not a veteran." He said, "No, they'll feel honored." I doubted it, but I wore it that same year for Veterans' Day.
The only comment someone made was that I looked a little young to be a Vietnam veteran, and it was from someone younger than myself, who said it in a good-natured tone.
One other person spat on the ground as she passed by, but it could very well have been a coincidence, since this happened in the woods, and people were hiking. Regardless, if she did spit because of my hat, it wasn't because she was a veteran who thought I shouldn't wear it. That's not how someone would likely express that.
If you're a veteran, what do you think? If you saw someone who clearly wasn't a Vietnam veteran wearing a hat that said Vietnam Veteran, would you think it was disrespectful?
It reminds me of the "Cultural Appropriation" discussion:
For example, a elderly man I know bought two Vietnam veteran hats and had me pick one, and asked me to promise to wear it on Veterans' Day. I told him, "Veterans might be offended when they see me, because I'm not a veteran." He said, "No, they'll feel honored." I doubted it, but I wore it that same year for Veterans' Day.
The only comment someone made was that I looked a little young to be a Vietnam veteran, and it was from someone younger than myself, who said it in a good-natured tone.
One other person spat on the ground as she passed by, but it could very well have been a coincidence, since this happened in the woods, and people were hiking. Regardless, if she did spit because of my hat, it wasn't because she was a veteran who thought I shouldn't wear it. That's not how someone would likely express that.
If you're a veteran, what do you think? If you saw someone who clearly wasn't a Vietnam veteran wearing a hat that said Vietnam Veteran, would you think it was disrespectful?
It reminds me of the "Cultural Appropriation" discussion:
Reminds me of the saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
One of my oldest friends is Indian and introduced me both to many Indian recipes, and Indian clothing. I now have a small wardrobe of sarees and salwar kameez outfits that I freely wear, usually for festive occasions. (I haven't been quite as successful following her recipes.) Honestly, I have never thought anything of it, but then it always seemed if real Indians are encouraging me, all is good.
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