I am just going to quote myself from the blackface thread two days ago, since the same arguments are being made here...
Preface : Not comparing the two, just an personal story. The posts that talk about how they didn't know it was racist until this thread and whatnot reminded me of it.
Anyway...
I grew up in the middle-east. One thing that I would hear a lot was people shitting on the Jewish people. Literally blaming every problem on them, calling them the 'cursed-people' and using Jew as an extremely offensive slang.
I did this too.
We were kids playing outside, and asked one of our friends to get coca-cola for us since it was hot. He told us to fuck off and we can get it ourselves, and he isn't buying. I remember calling him "you fucking Jew"
I grew up, and I educated myself about these matters, and felt like shit about all I did. I told my friend to not say that when I heard them use it in a derogatory way, and they would call me "Jew-lover" sometimes.
What I am trying to say is, there are posts in this thread, that went through what I went through. Grew up in a culture that celebrates Zwarte Piet without questioning it, at least the majority don't.
These folk grew up in this culture, and even after being educated by others, and having people who were persecuted share their struggles and stories; they just go "it's my culture...what's racist in america isn't racist here.
They keep using the same excuse over...and over.
Nobody is here to take over your culture or destroy it. To be so stubborn and not change your stance that offends countless people is just baffling. Especially from people who claim they are open-minded.
It's as if I waltz in here, and when someone make a tipping thread I just post how "you are all fucking jews". Then people try to educate me, and I just post "This is my culture, this is where I grew up. We use it as a joke, its not a bad term like in America"
I will also add;
I used to live in Iran. And during new years you had people dress up as Haji Firuz. I used to laugh at it..and actually think it was funny. Did not see anything wrong with it. He was always a joke character and would sing and act really quirky.
Now that I look back at it, I cringe at myself. It was, and stil is so fucking wrong. Here is the rhyme that he sings to cheer others up i.e his master.
My master, hold your head up high,
My master, look at yourself,
My master, the billy goat!
My master, why dont you laugh?