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.

[Zacs-Master]

Of course they are. There's tradition and then there's the intelligence to realise that some traditions cause offence.

[anotheoldgit]

Zacs-Master

/// Of course they are. There's tradition and then there's the intelligence to realise that some traditions cause offence. ///

How many various foreign traditions are downloaded on to us, we are not allowed to be offended, in fact they are encouraged by the establishment.

[BlackadderV]

Black Pete is supposedly a chimney sweep, not a black man. Can no one dress up as a seep these days for fear of offending the ultra-sensitive?

[Zacs-Master]

Could you be specific about the traditions being 'downloaded' onto us which are offensive, and why?

[Old_Geezer]

Maybe they don't feel obliged to pander to unwarranted offence taking ?

[bednobs]

don't you think there is enough to worry about at home without worrying about what happenes in other random countries?

[Zacs-Master]

I would have thought that the potential for violence may obviate the 'pandering' option through police / law intervention.

[-Talbot-]

Witch Doctors paint their face white...that doesn't make them racist.

(I'm sure we have had this question before)

[BlackadderV]

Apparently this tradition is over 150 years old. Why the protests only this year?

[sp1814]

Are they wrong?

Yes, I believe so.

Would it be more acceptable to recruit only black actors to portray him?

Yes, I believe so...after reading the Wikipedia article on the character, it would be difficult to see how it could be portrayed in anything but a negative light.

Why don't the black population join in the fun by 'whiting up'? That would be senseless as they wouldn't be dressing as a character.

[Baldric]

//Would it be more acceptable for them to recruit only black people to play his part?//
You mean, Ban White People from the part?

Wouldn't that be . . . . . . Racist?

[sp1814]

BlackadderV

Protests against the character did not start this year. It may be that you've only heard about it this year, but the controversy has been bubbling away since the 1990s.

[BlackadderV]

Can anyone suggest an alternative method of portraying a chimney sweep that is easily recognisable?

[Zacs-Master]

Divebuddy I'm not sure whether that's a crass statement or just a very silly one. Possibly both.

[Zacs-Master]

Blackadder - a white person with a dust sheet and a vacuum cleaner?

[sp1814]

divebuddy

Firstly, do you know whether the protestors are Dutch-born?

If I as a black man went on a protest in London, do people like you mutter "get out of my country"?

As I pay taxes and work hard, am I not allowed to protest if I want?

Would it not be the same for the black Dutch protestors?

[sp1814]

BlackadderV

Black Pete is not a chimney sweep.

Please read the Wikipedia page for details.

[Zacs-Master]

Still no word from the OP on these offensive 'downloaded' traditions which we all take offense to (?).