Text 19690, 113 rader
Skriven 2014-12-07 22:57:52 av Lee Lofaso (2:203/2)
  Kommentar till text 19673 av Joe Delahaye (46006.fidonews)
Ärende: Zwarte Piet
===================
Hello Joe,

 MVDV>>> To all celebrating:

 MVDV>>> Happy Sinterklaas.

 JD>>> What happened to Zwarte Piet?
 JD>>> or is it Rainbow Piet now :)

 LL>> So I will give you an answer -

 LL>> http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30069240

 LL>> If you do not like the news coming from the British
 LL>> Isles, you can always turn to the land that stands for
 LL>> freedom and liberty -

 JD> Lee, you dont have to educate me on that story.  I was there when it
broke.

You were in Gouda, when the anti-Zwarte Piet protesters
were welcomed by far-right hooligans, biased journalists,
and a whole lot of police brutality?

http://tinyurl.com/qxna8pa

 JD> The protesters are nothing but trouble makers.

Dutch people have the right to peaceful assembly.
Including Dutch people of color.  However, not all
Dutch people agree with this basic principle of
freedom - a part of what it means to have a free
and open society.

The "trouble makers" you speak of were arrested
for conveying a message of hope - a hope to make
things better for a diverse country that dearly
needs to change its racist ways.

"They mock our face, but we are very serious
when claiming our equal rights."
- a woman protester in police cell

Wouldn't you agree that Dutch citizens of African
and Caribbean descent should have the same rights
as all other Dutch citizens?

 JD> Zwarte Piet is the same as Santa's elves.

Zwarte Piet is evil, a legacy of the Netherlands'
colonial past that conveys a stereotypical image of
Dutch citizens of African and Caribbean descent.

Not exactly a good role model for young children.

 JD> Are we now going to have protests to ban them, because little people might
 JD> be offended?

Santa's elves dressed in blackface would be
truly offensive.  And not just to little people.

 JD> It had nothing to do with being a black servant.  He is black because he
is
 JD> the one who goes down the chinmey

Black Petes - White actors with blackface, golden
earrings, curly hair and large red lips.

Proud Petes - Adults offering to blackface other
adults.  Not many children choose to be blackfaced.
Not sure if their parents would even let them.

Harry Connick Jr. is an entertainer from New Orleans.
He was recently on tour in Australia and caused a bit
of controversy concerning a Jackson Jive skit -

http://tinyurl.com/kzzy7eo

Blackface is offensive says Harry Connick Jr.

"... Where I come from, blackface is a very specific
and very derogatory thing.  Perhaps this is different
in other parts of the world, but in the American
culture, the blackface image is steeped in a negative
history and consideered offensive.

"I urge everyone in the media to take a look at the
history of blackface to fully understand why it is
considered offensive.

"I also urge you to review the Hey Hey tape and you
will see that I did not ascribe any motives to anyone,
nor did I call anyone a racist.

"The blackface skit was a surprise to me and I was
simply shocked to see this on TV.  I do not believe
that the performers intended any harm.  I appreciate
the folkswho have written in support but please know
thatI allow everyone their own opinions and can only
speak for myself."

The Hey Hey video is included in the above url.

Perhaps the Dutch should adopt a marionette made famous
in New Orleans as a new role model - Mr Bingle.  That
little snowman with an ice cream cone for a hat was
famous for getting himself in trouble, but beloved by
all regardless of color.

--Lee

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb
 * Origin: news://felten.yi.org (2:203/2)