Zwarte Piet - Dutch Racism or Harmless fun?

[Troll]

Yep, that's exactly what black friends say. Somehow I think that's a more advanced attitude than blacking up and acting like a moron while talking in a faux Caribbean accent.

know what you mean

[NotAllThere]

We have this chap, Schmutzli, accompanying Sannichlaus.



If you've been bad - and he catches you - he'll give you a thrashing with his broomstick.

[bless 'em all]

Santa's little helper.

UK wins.

[original PM]

Santa's little helper.

UK wins.

I have been bad

where do i go to get my spanking??

[norrahe]

We have this chap, Schmutzli, accompanying Sannichlaus.



If you've been bad - and he catches you - he'll give you a thrashing with his broomstick.

Supposed to be the same with Zwarte Piet, I prefer the Swiss version, more like Santa's Halloween helper.

[Zippy]

L
I think people are surprised that the Dutch tolerate this, they have this outward perception of an easy going all encompassing nation, that wouldn't put up with this, but the truth is they are formal, tolerant to a point (as long as you abide by the rules) and can be very old fashioned.

Yep, I know someone that believed that the Dutch were an 'Anything goes' kind of people, simply because of the overt prostitution, coffee shops and pron emporia. He was wrong and sadly couldn't see the natives sniggering at him. I tried to tell him.
Reader ... I dumped him.

[norrahe]

Yep, I know someone that believed that the Dutch were an 'Anything goes' kind of people, simply because of the overt prostitution, coffee shops and pron emporia. He was wrong and sadly couldn't see the natives sniggering at him. I tried to tell him.
Reader ... I dumped him.

Once you're among the natives you'll be very surprised that the impression the rest of Europe has is not what reality is.

I still really enjoy it over here.

[Mich the Tester]

Yep, I know someone that believed that the Dutch were an 'Anything goes' kind of people, simply because of the overt prostitution, coffee shops and pron emporia. He was wrong and sadly couldn't see the natives sniggering at him. I tried to tell him.
Reader ... I dumped him.

It's a nation of NIMBYs. They couldn't give a stuff what people do as long as they do it somewhere else.