I was going to respond to the culture wars related-comment in this post.
US cultural values are the only concern, right? Since the concept of cultural appropriation has come out of US politics, wouldn’t it be cultural appropriation for people in Taiwan to adopt the idea of cultural appropriation? Why reduce everything to such simplistic notions, anyway?
Of course, finger pointing is the best way to add value to your life. Remember the old age: one finger pointing out… the others all pointing right back at you.
Cultural appropriation is unfair… boo-hoo? It seems ironic coming from someone who is probably an immigrant to the US, using English and undoubtedly benefiting from the US economically and in many other ways! Culture-appropriation? What are you doing to avoid appropriating a culture that doesn’t belong to you (by your argument)?
I personally welcome the sharing of ideas, language, traditions, clothes, … whatever. It makes everyone’s lives richer. In more than material ways. Taiwan has been a multi-ethnic and diverse population for hundreds of years. It would be foolish to argue that the right to cook rice in a bamboo belongs to some tribe or group of people, wouldn’t it?
If the food is good, eat it! Share & enjoy! Give thanks to the generosity of your forefathers & foremothers, the creativity of people and the bountiful nature of our Earth, too!