Nederland Wordt Beter lanceert een videoboodschap aan alle mensen die het sinterklaasfeest een warm hart toedragen. Wij hopen met dit filmpje nogmaals duidelijk te maken dat we voor de viering zijn, maar pleiten voor een aanpassing die het feest leuk maakt voor iedereen en niet slechts de meerderheid.
English:
Message to the pro Black Piets
In the last three years I've spoken to hundreds of people about the Zwarte Piet character. I have done this because I believe in the power of dialogue. When we look each other in the eye and truly share each other's feelings, something magical happens, no matter how far apart we are. I've also noticed that we tend to lose ourselves and cease to listen to each other. The discussion has hardened. That is why I address these words to you all and especially to the pro-Piets.
To all people who are afraid that their childhood memories will be tainted: we truly understand. We also have fond memories of the Sinterklaas celebrations. Just thinking about the songs, candy -- lots of candy -- hot chocolate and sweet, sweet marzipan, seeing the Sinterklaas parade with our parents, putting our shoes in front of the gas stove and being unable to sleep of excitement, hoping that Sinterklaas will not have forgotten us. As we grew older, the getting together with parents and siblings became more important, so were the funny poems and the 'surprises'. Some of us even played Zwarte Piet when we were young. Does that mean that we are racists? No, nor does it mean that you are racists. Because like us, you just didn't know any better. That's why we say that Zwarte Piet is racism, not that people who celebrate the tradition are racists.
We don't doubt that your intentions are good. We trust you if you say you didn't know and that you only knew the bright side of the celebration. We believe you. We ask you to believe us when we say that the celebration isn't fun for everyone, that many people dare not go outside during the Sinterklaas period, that children are bullied in schools and start to feel inferior and that our beautiful celebration -- despite the best intentions -- also hurts people. We ask you for understanding and empathy and that you open your heart and let our objections in.
We understand that it won't be easy. We didn't accept it instantly either. It needs time and we are more than willing to grant you time. But while we wait, we ask you -- as of today -- to show us a heart. Show us that we are on the right track. Show us that you want nothing but the best for us. Show us that your pleasure is not more important than our pain.
Give us something to hold on to in these dark days: a willing ear, a friendly word or a sign of brotherhood.
