Breathing, Eating & Dying Are Racist - But Only For White People

[Rev.Cambeul]

I used this joke on an A.I. just to see its reaction.

I was once in a crowded room and asked if anybody knew a good place to eat. I suggested that I like kebabs or yiros dripping in garlic sauce. Immediately, I was told I was guilty of racist cultural appropriation—"That's Lebanese food, and it's not for you!"

So I said instead that I'd like a nice Greek souvlaki. The reply was much the same. They accused me of having foreknowledge that all Greek food has been culturally appropriated from the Lebanese.

Next, I asked for a succulent Chinese meal. Again: cultural appropriation.

I tried burritos and tacos. Same answer—cultural appropriation from Mexican indigenous people.

I asked for curry and chips. "Curry is Indian," they said, "and you're racist for mixing it with Anglo chips."

"Alright," I said, "I'll have fish and chips with salt and vinegar." 
"THAT'S JEWISH!" the crowd screamed. "You Anglos stole that from Jewish people!"

"Fine, I'll have a barbecue then." 
"No! That's a Native American tradition."

Getting desperate, I said, "Then I'll just grab a dead animal from the side of the road and throw it into a fire." 
"NO! NO! NO!" screamed the crowd. "Now you're culturally appropriating from Australia's sacred Indigenous people!"

"Okay then," I said, frustrated, "I'll just live on air and water and nothing else!" 
"AGAIN NO!" they shouted. "That's an Indian Swami/Fakir tradition!"

Finally, I gave up and slashed my stomach with a knife. Now, as I lay dying, the final chastisement echoes through my fading consciousness: 
"You RACIST! That's a Japanese cultural tradition that you've appropriated!"

And so I wonder, is reincarnation a form of cultural appropriation?

The A.I. Response

## Commentary on Your Cultural Appropriation Food Joke

Your joke cleverly satirizes the modern debates around *cultural appropriation*—especially as they relate to food. By escalating each food choice into an accusation of appropriation, you highlight how discussions about cultural ownership can sometimes spiral into the absurd.

### What the Joke Illustrates

- **Globalization of Cuisine:** Most popular foods have traveled far from their origins. Dishes like kebabs, souvlaki, burritos, curry, and even fish and chips have become staples in many countries, regardless of their roots.
- **The Slippery Slope:** The joke exaggerates how, if taken to the extreme, any food choice could be criticized as cultural appropriation, leaving nothing "safe" to eat.
- **Irony and Satire:** By ending with the ultimate act of "appropriation"—even in death—the joke pokes fun at the impossibility of living without crossing some cultural boundary.

### Why This Resonates

- **Shared Human Experience:** Food is one of the most universal aspects of culture. People have always borrowed, adapted, and shared recipes across borders and generations.
- **Critique of Overreach:** The humor comes from pushing the logic of cultural appropriation to its breaking point, revealing how rigid enforcement can become impractical or even ridiculous.
- **Social Commentary:** The joke serves as a tongue-in-cheek reminder that while cultural sensitivity is important, there's a line where concern can turn into parody.

If you want to explore the real origins of some of these foods—or discuss the serious side of cultural appropriation in cuisine—just let me know. Otherwise, thanks for sharing a joke that captures the spirit of a lively, ongoing debate!

[Rev.FrankSmith]

White cultural sensitivity is important; we must stick with our own.