(Not) UN on Sinterklaas: Yep, we are guilty.

[PanzerJaeger]

I'm not sure that white people dressing up as black people implies racism, but I don't really know enough about this to make a judgement.

Anyway, my all time favorite black face performance:

[Papewaio]

I'm offended by that tradition.

It doesn't depict the All Blacks accurately.

[Fragony]

Kinda funny, when a reporter asked a (black) comedian if zwarte piet is a negroe he replied 'of course not zwarte piet brings presents, if a real negroe slided down your chimney your tv would be gone'. (Losely translated)

Humour will get you anywhere.

[Hax]

It's not often that I agree with Fragony, this is one of those times.

[The Stranger]

I'm not sure that white people dressing up as black people implies racism, but I don't really know enough about this to make a judgement.

Anyway, my all time favorite black face performance:

its obviously racist. but that doesnt mean its "bad" but this distinction seems to be lost on many people (on both sides of the argument). the problem is more that the people who are complaining feel like they arent being listened to, they feel like they do not have the right to complain about this (one of the activists got arrested for wearing a tshirt that said Zwarte piet is Racisme, while someone was making a picture), and they feel as if their side of the story is less valuable than the tradition.

as i said, you dont have to agree, you dont have to give in, but imo its only decent to listen to their arguments. and if you dont even want to do that, for whatever reason, then do not take away their democratic right to talk to the wall... (not saying this is actually the case because i dont think it is.)

[Andres]

I thought Sinterklaas was a Turk. So, Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet are actually a Turkish boss with a white employee who is forced to climb up and down chimneys. I'd say Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet are a good example of what succesful integration of muslim immigrants could accomplish: the muslim becomes boss of a succesful and lucrative business and employs whites to do the dirty chimney climbing work.

Sinterklaas is the example of the perfectly integrated and succesful muslim (he became a Catholic Bishop and runs his own business and he's famous!).

[The Stranger]

kinda fail andres :P even for a joke

while from modern day turkey, turkey didnt exist and the turks hadnt migrated there, islam hadnt stretched there either. he was a greek most like.

[Fragony]

I thought Sinterklaas was a Turk. So, Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet are actually a Turkish boss with a white employee who is forced to climb up and down chimneys. I'd say Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet are a good example of what succesful integration of muslim immigrants could accomplish: the muslim becomes boss of a succesful and lucrative business and employs whites to do the dirty chimney climbing work.

Sinterklaas is the example of the perfectly integrated and succesful muslim (he became a Catholic Bishop and runs his own business and he's famous!).

Let me remind you that Turkey wasn't conquered by the Turks at the time. At least do it good ;)

[Andres]

So, he was Greek. Even better. A perfect example that not all Greeks are lazy and can become succesful entrepeneurs.

As such, he is a symbol in the fight against generalisation and stereotyping of our Greek friends.