The reason is simple.
The exercise, could be extremely sensitive, shocking, revealing and confrontational.
More that that.
At the end of the day, the findings could force one to change one's outlook on one's own life and on others, in a very fundamental way.
Especially, when that 'self-inspection' relates to something that has been an extremely pleasant and popular tradition for an entire nation !
Nevertheless, subjecting herself to that process, that is exactly what Laura BIJNSDORP did when she wrote an extremely interesting article in the WEEKender of the Daily Herald of Saturday, December 3, 2011 entitled 'Quinsy Gario on Zwarte Piet'.
What Laura did by writing that article, requires extreme courage, a trait which she probably inherited from her father, Gerard BIJNSDORP.
Although, I do not always agree with his articles, I have always admired Gerard, for freely expressing his mind, without hiding behind some obscure anonymity.
In addition, without condemning the Dutch tradition of 'Sinterklaas' as such, Laura has expressed the deep feeling of embarrassment, hurt and anger shared so long, by many colored people living in the Netherlands as a result of their race being extremely negatively depicted and personified by 'Black Pete'.
I am sure that many feel extremely grateful to her for trying to understand and publicly express the emotions that are aroused in many Black people, when the Dutch use 'Zwarte Piet', to in fact project subconscious racism towards another race.
It is very clear, that this phenomenon of the 'innocent' Zwarte Piet is one of the most sensitive issues for Dutch People and something they do not want to be confronted with.
Therefore, they simply put it in the realm of 'denial' hoping it will go away.
That explains the ridiculous physical abuse of Quinsy by the Dutch police a number of weeks ago.
It was disgraceful and very reminiscent to the Apartheid days in South Africa.
However, here is the 'wake-up' call for the Dutch !
While, for ages, the Dutch could simply ignore the hurt imposed on the Black people in the Netherlands, as a consequence of this 'Zwarte Piet' racism, the times we are now living in, will drastically change that.
Either, as Laura, so professionally did, there must be a real discussion on this matter, or the Dutch might one day have to explain to the entire world and the UN, why they condone and promote this outdated form of bullying and violation of the human rights of Black people to be seen as a race equal to their own Caucasian race..
In addition, take this one.
Holland is known to be one of the most liberal countries in the world, first to condemn 'abuse of human rights' far outside it's border.
Consequently, the Netherlands has become one of the leading countries forcing others to abandon their opposition towards same-sex 'marriages', even if that goes totally against the tradition and social grain of those countries.
The Netherlands, has also gone to places such as Afghanistan to 'rescue' women from abuse by Afghan men, again even-though that was part of their culture and tradition.
In the process, many Afghans were killed in their own country !
It does not stop there.
The Netherlands is also preparing the way for laws against bullying.
Fine.
But, isn't is now time for the same level of 'self-inspection' by the Dutch, where it comes to the celebration of their own racist and degrading 'Zwarte Piet' human rights abuse ?
Yes, it might be 'innocent' and 'fun' for White Dutch people, but isn't bullying also fun for the bully, or calling a gay person, 'marico', also fun for the 'straight' man or woman ?
Just to bring this matter in a broader perspective and possible resolution, imagine the following.
Suppose Quinsy Gario and others, would make use of the internet and encourage Governments of countries, where colored people are dominant to pass a resolution in the UN as follows.
Invade the Netherlands and impose a ban on the abuse of the human rights of the Black people there, as a consequence the racist 'Zwarte Piet' practices.
A crazy and stupid idea ?
Maybe so.
But, then, perhaps that is the way the Taliban might have also viewed the arrogant, colonial invasion of their country as well, through the NATO military, of which Dutch soldiers are part of.
Many of their people were killed as a result of NATO trying to impose change of the culture and tradition of the Afghan people.
So, will the change in the Netherlands come through the Dutch people themselves, or through UN- or some other external intervention ?
The choice is theirs.
Food for thought.
Drs. Leopold JAMES
President SNBF/ Association L' Esprit de Concordia
The grassroots St. Martin nation building- & unification movement.
