Result Statement: ‘Tradition is being taken away’ | What you say

This week web store bol.com announced that it would remove Zwarte Piet from digital shelves because people can experience Zwarte Piet as hurtful. Facebook and other chain stores already preceded bol.com.

Companies such as bol.com and Facebook can therefore count on little sympathy from the respondents. 93% think their boycott of Zwarte Piet is a bad decision and 74% of the participants declines appreciation for companies that take such a step.

“Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet belong together. They are childhood friends and it is too ridiculous for words that there is any discussion about it at all ”, one participant responds. “Sad that a children’s party is killed by a minority. This is linked to our slavery past, which has nothing to do with it. I would like to see people not look to the past, but to a better future ”, says another.

According to many theorem participants, the link between Zwarte Piet and racism is being overstated. “Zwarte Piet is an important part of the party that was enjoyed by everyone until a few years ago and had no racist connotation,” said one respondent. “Zwarte Piet was conceived at the time to make fellow residents (like Sinterklaas) of the village unrecognizable to the children, so that they could not see ‘oh … but that is Janus, the son of farmer Krelis’, ” says another.

Most cannot understand the fact that others do make the connection with racism. “I am against discrimination and racial hatred, but I have had it now. The history and culture of our country are being denied because a number of minority groups are now in charge ”, writes one proponent.

One in eight sees no problem in saying goodbye to Zwarte Piet and from now on just do it with Piet. “It depends on how the tradition is shaped. A Pete can remain a Pete without being black. I myself am white and I have never had the ‘black’ association with Zwarte Piet. But I have come to understand that it is more important how it is experienced. ”

However, many feel that Dutch culture is under threat. “People from other cultures who come to live in our country do honor their own parties and culture but do not want anything to do with ours,” someone responds.

“It is sour that other people kill our Dutch traditions because they do not understand it,” says another.

Yet another: “Fighting racism is fine, but it should not be the case that companies determine what is or is not tolerated.” Others consider the ban a sanctimonious display ‘with the sole aim of polishing their own image’.

Several respondents argue that racism and the environment are being abused by companies to benefit from them. “Although I don’t let anyone tell me how to live, it irritates me terribly. I intend to avoid such companies as much as possible because of their display of power. ”

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