Yes. Black Peter is an incredibly racist tradition. Sorry Dutch people, but you're perpetuating a racist tradition. Get rid of it.

Why do we insist on holding ancient practices to modern day standards?

Friskya: Why do we insist on holding ancient practices to modern day standards?

1. It's not ancient, it's less than 200 years old
2. Because we are not ancient, and we, the modern people are the ones making the decisions to continue to do these things.

Saint Nicholas was just ahead of his time. At a time when Africans were discriminated against in Europe, he hired a Moorish man as his executive assistant. He should be lauded as a pioneer in fighting racism.

Friskya: Why do we insist on holding ancient practices to modern day standards?

This argument could also apply to human trafficking.

Yes. Yes, this is racist.

I don't care how much happy memories you attach to it - just because a tradition is old and makes kids happy does NOT mean it isn't racist as all get-out. I do _not_ understand this place, or how they've sold the rest of the world the image that they are tolerant and welcoming. The fact that tolerance is not the same as acceptance is a lesson that I've learned quite well here (it is stunning to realize how differently my white friends here view the Dutch vs my asian and black friends - regardless of their nationality). I bet it has to be fun to be a fly on the wall at some of the embassies here around this time of year, when the fresh expats figure out that this is real, happening, and everywhere.

The images are EVERYWHERE. 80% of shop windows either have photos or dolls - even wrapped around oranges (which I discovered after I brought home a box of Mandarins), and parachuting into the snack area at the movie theater. I particularly love the burlap sacks they sell here, with the picture of a black person with big, fat, red lips (http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3034/3043735415_a594373cfd_z.jpg).

Want a mindfark? How about a black child in blackface (http://kaganof.com/kagablog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/0101.jpg)?

Better: a black friend of mine in Amsterdam sent her daughter to school in whiteface on this day when she was a kid, so she could be Sinterklaas instead of the clumsy, bumbling, stupid helper who hands out candy. 

Regarding the "but... it is TRADITION" bullsh*t" - so was slavery, so were women as chattel, so was Prima Nocta/ droit du seigneur, and a whole lot of other things that modern society finally saw as inappropriate relics from a bygone era.

mekki: McManus_brothers: But, but, they're Europeans! And we know they're never racist! So it's cool!

The funny thing is, I've heard from many Europeans that they are offended by this. Not in the usual way you would think so. That is, Black Pete being a racist caricature. But that the ones who are complaining about Black Pete the most are Americans. And how dare Americans be fascist bullies and think what they find offensive should be standard to what everyone finds offensive. That in their non-American culture, they doesn't have a history of blackface or at least blackface that is found offensive by the public, so therefore they should be able to do it and NO ONE should complain.

Very much this.

If you get offended by Zwarte Piet, it is because of your own country's racist history and your thin skin. People literally get violent over it! It has nothing to do with the fact that nationally celebrating a holiday by dressing up and acting as a racial stereotype is offensive.

And anyone who thinks the Dutch don't have a history of racism even longer and more brutal than America is ignorant or fooling themselves.

sodomizer: Everything is racist, which means nothing is.

Seriously: at no time in history has any group gotten along with others. We're different for a reason.

The great multicultural dream, like ending poverty and other liberal wet dreams, is an illusion and it doesn't work.

Let's just grow up, accept that, and move on.

I'd give you a slow clap, but your pointless rant about those dirty librulz was so off topic that you just get snark instead.

eldezod: sodomizer: We're different for a reason.

The great multicultural dream, like ending poverty and other liberal wet dreams, is an illusion and it doesn't work.

You've convinced me. RAAAAACCEEE WAAAAAARRRR!

FREEEEEE BIIIIIIIIRD!