I dated a Palestinian/ Muslim man. He taught me about his beautiful culture and his people. I loved him, but his American ex-wife made it very difficult to be happy with him.

We are no longer together and it broke my heart so bad. ?

It depends on how and why its being done. Some examples of overreactions:

Some white guy really had a passion for cooking mexican food, lived down there and perfected a lot of dishes, opens a mexican restaurant and gets flack. Thats pretty lame.

People getting upset about white people with dreads, also pretty lame. All cultures and kinds of people originally had dreads you dumbasses. Thats just what happens when you don't wash your hair.

Some examples of legit complaints:
White people have constantly simultaneously mocked, demonized and stolen black music dance and fashion since the jazz age, often directly ripping off songs and making a killing off em in markets that black artists couldnt sell records in. Thats obviously some bullshit mmkay.

White pseudoliberals using buddha or ancient eastern mystic symbols as decoration to seem more culturally interesting but don't practice or know fuck all about buddhism. Not a crime or worth harassing anyone over, just a lame look.

People dressing as themed stereotypes of mexicans, native americans or heaven help you black face for halloween, costume parties or homecoming week at schoool for damn near any reason, fuck off. Surely you have more sense than that.

Lame white guys who suddenly use ebonics when trying to relate to black people: really fuckin awkward, don't do that, although a certain amount of grey area assimilation of speech pattern mimicking is instinctually natural among anyone with working mirror neurons, still don't ham it up too much, you jive ass turkey.

There are worse examples to really watch out for and there are greyer examples that are just awkwardness at worst. I think most people can judge the intent accordingly and not as many people are rioting over nonsense as grumpy old folks like to think. There are some overzealous social justice warrior exceptions but most of the woke crowd who are watchful of legitimately heinous acts of cultural disrespect know the difference and don't care about the silly shit.

People assimilate culture. My family came from Italy yet we believe George Washington was OUR first President even though my ancestors were back in Italy eating pasta and pizza when George Washington was alive.

The real issue with cultural appropriation is when it’s done in a way that disrespects the culture. It is disrespectful to wear a culture as a costume. It is disrespectful to don sacred symbols as a “fashion statement.” Or people who pretend to be part of a culture because it is “cool.” Another common issue is the implication that “I can do your culture better than you can.” Its really just a matter of respect.

I think the whining about "cultural appropriation" is just so much bullshit.
"Culture" and "heritage" are simply tribal concepts meant to keep people divided, and I have no use for any of them.
Whenever I hear anyone complaining about someone else "appropriating" or otherwise attempting to engage in another culture, I want to punch them in the throat for being a whiny asshole.
Whenever I hear anyone complaining about their "heritage" not being respected, I want to punch them as well, for the same reason.
Fuck being "woke". That's just more bullshit.