Are The Dutch Wrong To Have A Traditional Festive Character Called Black Pete?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2836013/Police-arrest-60-protesters-Dutch-Christmas-festival-disturbances-traditional-Black-Pete-clowns-blacked-faces.html

Would it be more acceptable for them to recruit only black people to play his part?

Or why don't the black population join in the fun and whiten their faces? I am sure the whites wouldn't take offence.

[anotheoldgit]

Peter Pedant

/// and yes AOG you should get out more
there is a Nigerian soap where the white man is an African whited out. ///

I was totally unaware that one had to get out more to view soaps.

// take for example certain un-polite remarks //

/// sorry AOG I recollect you posting "why does the ++++ wear a mask"
in one of your literate discussion on the hijab ///

One is allowed to be un-polite to scum such as that woman criminal.

[Ellipsis]

IMO Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall "whiting up" in "Coming To America" is the funniest part of the film. I understand that other white people may find it offensive, but this white person would find it objectionable if the opinions of other white people were allowed to spoil his enjoyment of films like that.

When it comes to "blacking up", the problem is there's a history associated with it. If, nowadays, the blacking up is in the same spirit as the whiting up above then I don't see a problem with it; if it's harking back to the historical mockery then there is a problem, obviously. If all blacking up is verboten because of the history, then that history lives on in creating division and tension; it has to be allowed in the right context.

[-Talbot-]

Evcellent post, Ellipsis.

[-Talbot-]

Excellent*

white chicks was also offensiv.....kidding it was quite funny.

[sp1814]

Yes Ellipsis - that's pretty much my view. I personally find Black Pete uncomfortable to see, but thought Mr Downey Jnr was superb in Tropic Thunder.

There is a difference, and it would be foolish to expect everyone to get it.

[sp1814]

White Chicks however, was trash.

[sp1814]

Ellipsis - seriously...I have to commend you on your post. It is absolutely spot on.

[douglas9401]

At last the truth! Thatcher's war on the coal industry was an anti racist crusade.
Black-faced miners,coalmen and sweeps, disgusting.

[DTCwordfan]

And it saw the undoing of that black scab, Arthur Scargill or is that Chargrill.

[naomi24]

sp. I wasn’t giving you a tip on how to deal with racism – I was making the point that black people are more concerned about people mentioning their colour than they are about a real insult - which is why I say it is almost as if they are ashamed. If someone calls a black man a black ***, he doesn’t object to the ‘***’ bit, his objection is to the fact that they said he’s black. That’s the bit they bristle at – and that’s what I can’t understand. I think black people unwittingly undermine themselves, and I find that very sad.

Happy Christmas. :o)

[sp1814]

Happy Christmas to you naomi24.

Your view is counter to mine, but that's perfectly understandable.

[Orderlimit]

SP, what I mean is we have an era where more and more people are finding things to be offended about and its getting ridiculous (not to mention counter-productive & very tiring).