Mark Rutte the Dutch Prime Minister (Minister-president) just exposed his ignorance and lack of understanding about Dutch culture and history. He exposed his lack of understanding of the multicultural Dutch society and how our shared history shaped our present. After years of protesting against the racist Blackface character Zwarte Piet he still doesnt seem to grasp the idea that its a backward historical tradition. On Saturday thousands of people protested against discrimination and racism on the streets of Amsterdam, the past week there has been a national debate about racism in Dutch society. The Council of Europe, de Ombudsman, de United Nations, the Dutch Human Rights council reported about the wave of institutional racism in Dutch society and the political landscape and the racist character of Zwarte Piet. Still this dude, the leader of the Dutch nation, responds to the critical questions of a journalist like this: This is an old Dutch tradition. It is not blue Pete, not Green Pete. Black pete is Black so I can not change that. This is an old tradition. My friends in the Dutch Antilles are happy when they have Sinterklaas because they dont have to paint their face black. When Im playing for Black Pete for days Im trying to get the stuff of my face for days (paraphrased cause his English was terrible) This dude is a trained historian but cant even manage to understand how our shared history shaped our shared present. He doesnt seem to understand the world and our society is changing in a globalizing world. That traditions are not fixed but change throughout time reflecting the change in our societies. At the same time, he reflects the general collective Dutch consciousness, people do not understand the concept of institutional racism and how our shared history of colonialism and slavery shaped our present. The indignation and outrage of people about the racist statements of Ruttes former coalition partner Wilders should be extended to indignation about this statement of the Dutch prime minister. Both statements reflect how deeply institutional racism is embedded in Dutch society. The only difference is that Wilders is putting it out there openly and bluntly while Rutte is stating it more subtle through the traditional white priviliged way of down playing, ignoring and denying that Black Pete is a racist blackface charicature of people of African descent. Rutte doesnt show any leadership, understanding nor character. With this statement he showed that he doesnt have any empathy for Dutch black people. This is not my Prime Minister. Barack Obama please talk some sense into this dude, please... #Support the Netherlands in fighting black pete/blackface #Zwarte Piet Niet #Zwarte Zwarte Piet is Racisme nos.nl/video/627070-rutte-krijgt-vraag-over-zwarte-piet.html
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 23:49:42 +0000
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