Cultural appropriation debates often oversimplify what actually happens when traditions cross borders. I grew up in Mexico and felt uneasy when a US brand sold 'authentic' Day of the Dead decorations without any connection to the community. But my cousin in Chicago loves sharing her abuela's recipes with neighbors, and that exchange feels genuinely respectful. The line seems less about who uses what and more about whether the original meaning gets honored or just flattened into a trend. Should borrowing become appropriation only when it distorts the source culture, or is intent irrelevant once power imbalances exist?