With Sinterklaas about to arrive at countless locations across the Netherlands in mid November, we give you space to debate on the continued existance of 'Black Piets'.
Read more about Sinterklaas in our Sinterklaas survival guide for parents.
http://www.expatica.com/nl/leisure/arts_culture/Celebrating-Sinterklaas-in-the-netherlands-A-guide-for-parents_9240.html
Editor said:
With Sinterklaas about to arrive at countless locations across the Netherlands in mid November, we give you space to debate on the continued existance of 'Black Piets'.
Read more about Sinterklaas in our Sinterklaas survival guide for parents.
http://www.expatica.com/nl/leisure/arts_culture/Celebrating-Sinterklaas-in-the-netherlands-A-guide-for-parents_9240.html
Geesh, who cares?
Why are you trying to start a fight with these crazies over a topic they never seem to understand?
My favorite: "Six to Eight Black Men" :) http://youtu.be/UCUHTDrca4s
invader_stu said:
Insensitive? Maybe Racist? I don't think so I don't think the Dutch mean anything spiteful or horrible with Zwart Peit. He is a much loved character. Maybe it's easy for me to say that as a white guy but I don't think they are setting out to offend.
Oblivious rather than insenstive---good one Stu! I agree that their intention certainly isn't to be racist...
Editor said:Oblivious rather than insenstive---good one Stu! I agree that their intention certainly isn't to be racist...
sambatullips said:
It just infuriates me when they say ZP is not black… he looks like that because he came down the chimney. Right…. So the ashes gave the poor Piet a weird allergy that curled his hair and made his lips bigger.
But kept his clothes sparkling clean!!! :)
sambatullips said:
It just infuriates me when they say ZP is not black… he looks like that because he came down the chimney. Right….
I noticed just this week when I went to my local V&D store that the big poster of a kid in the window as a Zwarte Piet was actually a really cute kid with a tiny smudge of black on his cheeks - just like it actually was a smudge, rather than a racist p iss-take. Perhaps the retail giants are beginning to realise that the ZP tradition is alienating customers (as it's obviously the retailers who have the power to change these perceptions) and have decided to make the changes to be more inclusive.
I always laugh when people try to use the chimney justification. I mean, really? Lost touch with reality much?
canuckywoman said:
Times they are a-changin'? http://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2011/11/antizwarte_piet_activists_arre.php
They certainly are. I saw a video of Sint coming into one Dutch port this year, and the protestors were jumped on in a very aggressive manner by the police. It was quite disturbing to watch - but I wonder how much coverage it received in the media. I wish they wouldn't bury stuff here as it gives the wrong impression to the outside world.
A friend of mine had originally found this link and posted it on Facebook.
One comment (from a Dutch woman) said that she agreed with the need for change and with the spirit of the protest, but said that they shouldn't protest in front of the children.
Besides the fact that I don't believe in wrapping children in cotton wool to "protect" them from reality and rather use it as a teaching tool, my first thought was, "and where exactly are they supposed to protest?" Kids are ALWAYS around where there's a Zwarte Piet!
This is probably at least in part an excuse why you don't see it on TV...so they don't upset the children... [edit] I plead ignorance pepe...I haven't watched Dutch news in eons!
pepec said:
That was in all the regular media, MN.
Was it reported in the Het Parool? Didn't see anything. Personally I was shocked to see how the protestors were treated by the police, for just having a different opinion. It appears the public are very scared of anybody voicing their opinion when it comes to this subject.
