Good way to destroy a traditional festivity and make it even more fabricated and commercial. Also WTF to the guys who're saying it should be modernised, it's called TRADITION...
This seems to be the
main argument being brought up when discussing Zwarte Piet. There are factors people forget to consider however when discussing how and why Zwarte Piet for a long time was considered totally fine, but it actually never was.
Foreign families in the old days did not touch the subject, but there were discussion during family meetings, social gatherings and so on about how demeaning it felt. Its not too hard understand why they didnt openly discussed their displeasure, this because they were working class people. Often not making that much money, trying to get their kids through school and trying to keep a roof over their head. Adding racial political statements could either jeopardize their employment, the future of their children, and/or alienate their position within society. Its not uncommon to hear older foreigners say that they felt like second class citizens during that time, and that they just smile and accepted things they didnt agree with.
Its easy to say now that they should have stood up and made a firm stance on various racial issues, but those times were very different. Now the kids from that generation are growing up, their positions compares to their elders has considerably changed. They now are not afraid or held back by economic, social or other pressures. They can make political statements without being afraid. After years of foreigners not saying a peep, people are completely baffled by how and why just now they are just standing up. Is it that surprising? No, those issues have always been there and are now bubbling to the surface.
What is surprising is though that people are surprised that foreigners are reacting so passionately, while anybody would half-a-brain could see it coming from far away.
The notion of it not being an issue years ago is baffling. Either you turned a blind eye to it or just didnt accept that people could have issues with Zwarte Piet. What makes it even more insulting is that strange justifications for everything surrounding the holiday, just to avoid discussing the racial undertones and the questionable history The Nederlands has had in slavery. He isnt black, he became black because of the root of the chimney he goes through., His lips are red, because of bleeding., Its just a kids holiday., Well, foreign families also celebrate this holiday they feel is racist! and If you do not like, you can leave. are just cringe worthy arguments that get brought up every year, but are just dodging the main issue or trying to stifle the discussion.
The kids holiday argument has always annoyed me the most. The holiday is fine in spirit, but
why keep hold on the obviously antiquated racist stereotypes to add legitimacy to the holiday? The lack of respect for history is just insulting. Dont use kids to justify the way the holiday is presented, because you dont want to teach them how and why slaves were being used in history. Thinking up reasons to circumvent that becomes just even more insulting.
Most families do not want their children to be left out of major holidays, they want to play with their friends and get presents. Could you really deny your kid that fun? No parent could. Most foreign parents feel very uneasy about them celebrating the holiday. As the kids also grow older, they tend to avoid that holiday. Its still a big discussion when family and friends get together, but the hopelessness and the lack of understanding always brings the discussion to a screeching halt. A sad reminder that this might still be an issue for the next 20 years.