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aral's profile
Aral Balkan
Aral Balkan
Aral Balkan
@aral

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Aral Balkan

@aral

I mainly post on my blog at https://ar.al  (RSS: https://ar.al/index.xml ) and interact on my Mastodon https://mastodon.ar.al . Please follow me there.

Terra firma
ar.al
Joined December 2006

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    Aral Balkan‏ @aral 26 Nov 2017

    Judging by the images and videos on Instagram, it’s that time of the year where the Dutch—former slave traders—proudly display their casual racism by dressing up in blackface. Here’s an article from six years ago about it – nothing’s changed: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/holidays/2011/12/zwarte_piet_holland_s_favorite_racist_christmas_tradition_.html … #zwartepietpic.twitter.com/WrTsLA7kF1

    12:19 AM - 26 Nov 2017
    • 88 Retweets
    • 141 Likes
    • j women want me fish fear me eli xɐ🦇 || 123 || RT PINNED Pumpkin🎃Princess pony 🦄 Aurora Deckard Stef Sanjati 👁 ((( Oblomova ))) 🇪🇺
    32 replies 88 retweets 141 likes
      1. Aral Balkan‏ @aral 26 Nov 2017

        Aral Balkan Retweeted Aral Balkan

        PS. If the past is any indication, I’ll be getting a slew of angry responses from Dutch folks. Save your breath. If you’re going to defend this practice, just unfollow me silently instead and save us both some time.https://twitter.com/aral/status/934697995978801152 …

        Aral Balkan added,

        Aral Balkan @aral
        Judging by the images and videos on Instagram, it’s that time of the year where the Dutch—former slave traders—proudly display their casual racism by dressing up in blackface. Here’s an article from six years ago about it – nothing’s changed: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/holidays/2011/12/zwarte_piet_holland_s_favorite_racist_christmas_tradition_.html … #zwartepiet pic.twitter.com/WrTsLA7kF1
        Show this thread
        3 replies 1 retweet 30 likes
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      2. var = DCotton 💫 💥‏ @andywalpole 26 Nov 2017
        Replying to @aral

        Is this still going on? It’s so creepy and weird

        1 reply 0 retweets 3 likes
      3. Aral Balkan‏ @aral 26 Nov 2017
        Replying to @andywalpole

        Sadly, yes.

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
      4. End of conversation
      1. Aral Balkan‏ @aral 26 Nov 2017
        Replying to @tijtsma

        That’s good to hear. Here’s hoping.

        1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes
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      2. Emma Blackman‏ @EmmaBlackman42 26 Nov 2017
        Replying to @aral

        Every year Sint and Zwarte Piet come to my workplace. And every year several colleagues of mine turn to me and say: "It's not racist". Interesting that they feel they have to tell me that... #DothProtestTooMuch

        1 reply 2 retweets 16 likes
      3. Josip‏ @josipK 26 Nov 2017
        Replying to @EmmaBlackman42 @aral

        Premise 1: If it has racist origin, it's racist. Premise 2: It's hard to deny its racist origin. Conclusion: It's racist.

        0 replies 0 retweets 5 likes
      4. End of conversation
      1. New conversation
      2. Zwarte Piet is racisme‏ @SuperLisaa 26 Nov 2017
        Replying to @aral

        Things are changing, but slowly. It's embarrassing as fuck. I don't expect eradication of this 'tradition' in my lifetime, but progress is being made. Good luck with the hate Tweets, I've been dealing with the consequences of speaking out as well.

        1 reply 2 retweets 4 likes
      3. 1 more reply
      1. Richard van der Meer‏ @richardvdmeer 26 Nov 2017
        Replying to @aral

        Some politicians and protesters are trying to get rid of this tradition. But protesters are blocked on the highway before they can start their demonstration, politicians get home visits from blackfaced men and schools that ban the blackface get surprise visits from blackfaces!

        0 replies 2 retweets 3 likes
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      2. Fabien Marry  ✏️‏ @Fabien_UX 26 Nov 2017
        Replying to @aral

        Interestingly, Germany, parts of France and Belgium also celebrate st Nicolas, but that black dude is nowhere... Wikipedia has that character dating from late 19th century, much latter than rest of st Nicholas tradition…

        2 replies 0 retweets 4 likes
      3. Fabien Marry  ✏️‏ @Fabien_UX 26 Nov 2017
        Replying to @Fabien_UX @aral

        … so that dude is only part of the culture for 2 x as long as Tintin in Congo.

        1 reply 0 retweets 1 like
      4. Lisa Jay‏ @2LipsinHolland 26 Nov 2017
        Replying to @Fabien_UX @aral

        Yes Zwarte Piet only came into play just as slavery in the US was ending and black face was picking up...

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
      5. End of conversation
      1. Alexis M. Skinner‏ @SkinnerA1 19 Dec 2017
        Replying to @Dkc30247580 @aral

        siteabeauxhugbutsolobg fo&@% i lovr you themi...i hupponon pony some dum [dkinnrpic.twitter.com/HRTjH4XfSG

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
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      1. Anne van Rossum ⌘‏ @annevanrossum 26 Nov 2017
        Replying to @aral

        The Dutch are afraid to lose our #identity (church, clogs). We fight change, be it mosques, hijabs, wind mills, veganism, or alterations to the most important holiday for us: Sinterklaas. Just keep on reminding us that respect for #history = getting rid of some #traditions!

        0 replies 0 retweets 3 likes
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      1. the Sage‏ @the_Sage_BB 26 Nov 2017
        Replying to @aral

        the Sage Retweeted the Sage

        Not entirely true. Fortunately, more and more Dutch people realize just how not OK it is, despite growing up with it.https://twitter.com/the_Sage_BB/status/932184353945346048 …

        the Sage added,

        the Sage @the_Sage_BB
        No blackface in my house pic.twitter.com/HTm72eggOl
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      2. Menno Pietersen‏ @MennoPP 26 Nov 2017
        Replying to @aral

        It is not intended at all to be racist, but the Dutch are slowly changing it, many white and brightly colored 'rainbow pieten' now... Traditions will change slowly I guess. Again it is a tradition for children, not intended as racist, but I totally get it should change.

        1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes
      3. This is not fine.‏ @sumdumnut 26 Nov 2017
        Replying to @MennoPP @aral

        Zwarte Piet cleary represents an enslaved black person, especially when you look at older photos. And don't use the excuse it's a kids festivity, it's a commercial enterprise supported by the government and the media.pic.twitter.com/shrWVWu7x8

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
      4. End of conversation

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