Dutch Christmas tradition branded racist

[IrishBlood]

http://observers.france24.com/conten...cism-blackface

Not that I have anything against it, I think its pretty harmless, but Im honestly surprised the age of political correctness hasnt caught up with this tradition sooner!

So what say you people of TWC!? Is it down right racist or Is it a harmless cultural heritage being undermined by excessive political correctness?

[The.Delegate]

What a load of crap, there is nothing wrong with this tradition. If people get offended, then too effing bad for them, they can deal with it.

[Machiavelli25]

Yeah...

That does look racist to me though its all about the intent by the people who celebrate the tradition

[IrishBlood]

Yeah...

That does look racist to me though its all about the intent by the people who celebrate the tradition

agreed,as it says in the article children are no longer told the helper is black, rather he's covered in soot, its all about the context. The tradition is for children, and if they dont see it as racist then there shouldnt e a problem

[PointOfViewGun]

Too many people with compensation issues... There is nothing racist about that.

[Heavy Weapons Guy]

Nowadays everything is Racist except when it's aimed at White Race.

[Menelik_I]

http://observers.france24.com/conten...cism-blackface

Not that I have anything against it, I think its pretty harmless, but Im honestly surprised the age of political correctness hasnt caught up with this tradition sooner!

So what say you people of TWC!? Is it down right racist or Is it a harmless cultural heritage being undermined by excessive political correctness?

Of course we should blacklist noncolorspecificlist just racist tradition.

[Armenum]

Who's getting offended by this?

[hellheaven1987]

I am not sure which part is racism... Does Dutch government try to say Zwarte Piet cannot be a black?

[Treize]

Christmas tradition

As for traditions...
On the island of Ameland they have a unknown and obscure tradition called Sunneklaas which is even cooler. At 2 or 3 December the men dress up in costumes, stroll the streets and beat up all women and children with clubs who are still outside. The men will enter houses and force women and children to dance otherwise they beat them with their sticks. A TV crew tried to film this odd happening and they got beaten too, and their camera did not survive. They are being very secretive about all this and they don't like outsiders on the island that time of the year. All in all reading about it reminded me of the Midsomer Murders episode The Night Of The Stag minus the sex part but with more violence.

Oh and all houses have to be completely dark or they will throw stones through your windows...

[IrishBlood]

Who's getting offended by this?

I am not sure which part is racism... Does Dutch government try to say Zwarte Piet cannot be a black?

presumably the Neatherlands resonably large black minority, i guess the article wasnt very specific

EDIT: this group = http://zwartepietisracisme.tumblr.com/

anyone speak dutch?

[Treize]

presumably the Neatherlands resonably large black minority, i guess the article wasnt very specific

EDIT: this group = http://zwartepietisracisme.tumblr.com/

anyone speak dutch?

NEDERLAND, HET IS TIJD OM VAARWEL TE ZEGGEN TEGEN ZWARTE PIET.

Want hoe je het ook wendt of keert, het blijft achterbaks, hypocriet, lomp, offensief en kwetsend.
Waarom niet “SINTERKLAAS EN MALLE PIET”?
We kunnen ze laten schminken in alle kleuren van de regenboog…geel, groen, oranje, rood en paars. Hoe leuk!
Een kleine moeite toch ?
Kom op mensen, we gaan bijna het jaar 2012 in. Het jaar van grote veranderingen, laten we het gewoon doen.
Het is tijd. -Anouk source facebook

NEDERLAND, IT IS TIME TO SAY FAREWELL TO ZWARTE PIET.

Because no matter how you look at it, it stays underhand, hypocritical, rude, offensive, and hurting.
Why not "SINTERKLAAS AND SILLY PIET"?
We can paint there faces in all colours of the rainbow...yellow, green, orange, red, and purple. How nice!
A small favour, right ?
Come on people, we are almost in the year 2012. The year of great changes, let us just do it.
It is time. -Anouk source facebook

There you go including silly mistakes, but was it that difficult?

[mrmouth]

We do this thread every year.

I dont know, its the Dutch. They aren't racist, just odd sometimes.

[Sogdog]

Those that emigrate to new countries need to remember that they ought to respect their adoptive country's traditions. Why did they move there in the first place?

[The Dude]

This subject is raised literally every year. Yes, yes, we get it. Some people get offended at the notion that we have a festival that involves blackfaces.

Big whoop.

[Heinz Guderian]

Is this like Pedro Negro? I like Pedro Negro.

[cupoftea]

I don't think I ever heard about any problems involving Sinterklaas and his black buddies here in Belgium..

Now, we do have what seems a racist comic book character though "coughtintincough"

[Tiberios]

I really don't see a problem with this. At all. No reason to ban this or anything.

[Treize]

Is this like Pedro Negro? I like Pedro Negro.

We only have a Brabo Negro.

[priam11]

The only problem I have is that second photo. Bloody hell that's freaky.

Have fun paying for that kid's therapy bills for the next 15 years.