Posted on 11/16/2014 7:11:38 PM PST by Impala64ssa
Dutch police have arrested dozens of people during a protest over Black Pete, a controversial black-faced sidekick to the local St Nicholas.
The police said most of the 90 people were arrested for protesting in a non-designated area in the city of Gouda.
Many in the Netherlands see Black Pete as a racial stereotype, but others say the tradition is not linked to race.
The Dutch version of the St Nicholas legend depicts him arriving by boat from Spain with armies of Black Petes.
Trouble broke out in Gouda, selected as the city to kick off this year's festivities, during a re-enactment of the arrival of Nicholas and his Black Petes.
State TV showed footage of scuffles as protesters unfurled banners reading "Black Pete is racism".
Police said protesters had been forbidden from demonstrating at the re-enactment, but refused to move away.
The Black Pete character is causing mounting controversy in the Netherlands.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Cheesy
“Black Pete” is a freaking CHIMNEY SWEEP! The very nature of his job is what turns him black. It has NOTHING to do with Africans or other black people.
The ignorance of these people is staggering in its depth.
I’m not sure how blacks even figure into any Dutch Christmas tradition; are they whites covered with soot? I don’t think the tradition will take hold here; imagine telling your children that black men will come down your chimney while they’re sleeping...
Remember, the definition of "controversial is something that liberals disapprove of. In the history of Black Pete in the prior decades (centuries?), there has never been a problem about Black Pete. And today he's call 'controversial'. BS. Protestors, get a life.
Great minds think alike!
Why do they hate the lovable Pete? Are they some kind of racists?
Mr. Lurkin! Mr. Leahy.
Oh Mr. Lurkin, the Dutch sure have liberal office dress codes!
And that lady ... that Dutch lady in her underwear and pointy shoes. Uh, huh. Dr. Heh. She, uh. She, um ....
She makes Herr Wiener stand straight up, ja wohl!
Sinterklaas! please bring me some salty licorice.
CC
Several Central European countries depicted Black Pete as tall and gaunt, dressed in dark clothes, with a dark beard. Like a visual opposite of St. Nicholas, which becomes even more obvious when the older depictions are compared - that of Black Pete with goat's horns, hooves and tail, and a long red tongue. The Devil, basically. St. Nicholas, the representative of God, was shown having made the Devil his servant and tasked him with dealing with the naughty children.
I guess some folks these days are uncomfortable with a reminder of divine punishment, so they're doing what they can to destroy an ancient tradition. May Black Pete visit each and every one of them.
The story of the chimney sweep is supposed to be of late 20th-century origin.
Anyhow, the film "Bad Santa" reminds me of the traditional St. Nick/Zwarte Piet roles.
Maybe they should switch to "Cuban Pete" instead.
That is Krampus or one of his associates, not the Dutch Piet. Our family celebrates both traditions, and the devil-like Krampus is 100% separate from Zwarte Piet (Black Peter).
Krampus comes out to punish children with switches in late December, and looks like a cross between Satan and a bear. He’s downright terrifying.
He’s a Moor from Spain. The chimney sweep thing came later. He’s dressed more like a Moor.
I have carefully preserved Dutch coloring books and a few Piet decorations and crafts which go up annually before Christmas.
I don’t think Piet is racist, and would remind people that not every country has the same history or traditions. The Dutch didn’t have a history of black face comedy, and so while on the surface it looks similar, it is not.
Swaarte Piet will be completely gone in 5 years. Christmas will be gone from public life in 20.
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