2011 in Pictures

[theyoungest]

Hmm...

Huh?

Dekker and Vansummeren are dressed up as Zwarte Pieten ("Black Petes") for the traditional Sinterklaas fest in the low countries. "Sinterklaas" has later been transliterated to Santa Claus in English.

 

[El Pistolero]

Huh?

Dekker and Vansummeren are dressed up as Zwarte Pieten ("Black Petes") for the traditional Sinterklaas fest in the low countries. "Sinterklaas" has later been transliterated to Santa Claus in English.

Translated you mean, transliteration means something else.

Quite funny how we have both Sinterklaas and Santa Claus here though

I didn't recognize Vansummeren though

 

[theyoungest]

Translated you mean, transliteration means something else.

Quite funny how we have both Sinterklaas and Santa Claus here though

I didn't recognize Vansummeren though

No, I don't mean translated. Not transliterated either, morphed might be a better word.

 

[RedheadDane]

I didn't recognize Vansummeren though

Well... as you might've figured I didn't recognize any of them. I just thought it was two crazy guys dressing weirdly. Not really saying much!

 

[Christian]

Dekker and Vansummeren are dressed up as Zwarte Pieten ("Black Petes") for the traditional Sinterklaas fest in the low countries.

We have a similar tradition over here. The "Kleeschen" (St. Niclas) brings gifts to children on the 6th of December but has an evil counterpart with him, the Housécker, who is supposed to give out sticks to the naughty children (of course in the end everyone gets their gifts). The Housécker is dressed in black, has a black beard and sometimes black face.

I have learned that (caucasian) Americans can be very, very offended by this, and consider it to be absolutely horrible and despicable. I tried to explain to them that there is nothing necessarily racial about it, but that's what they associate it with.

Sorry, not trying to derail the thread, just thought it might be interesting to note this, as we have many Americans on the board.

 

[Cobblestoned]

We have a similar tradition over here. The "Kleeschen" (St. Niclas) brings gifts to children on the 6th of December but has an evil counterpart with him, the Housécker, who is supposed to give out sticks to the naughty children (of course in the end everyone gets their gifts). The Housécker is dressed in black, has a black beard and sometimes black face.

I have learned that (caucasian) Americans can be very, very offended by this, and consider it to be absolutely horrible and despicable. I tried to explain to them that there is nothing necessarily racial about it, but that's what they associate it with.

Sorry, not trying to derail the thread, just thought it might be interesting to note this, as we have many Americans on the board.

Lol. Thats funny. Since they are American, I guess they sued all Houséckers and won. So the Houséckers had to organize a solidarity fund to pay the 50 Million $ fine.
Around here, he is called "Knecht Ruprecht", and used to look like the Imperator. I was never feared of Knecht Ruprecht, because I always was a good boy, and besides that, I had Jedi power anyway, you know.

Only 2 days to go. I am so excited.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

We have a similar tradition over here. The "Kleeschen" (St. Niclas) brings gifts to children on the 6th of December but has an evil counterpart with him, the Housécker, who is supposed to give out sticks to the naughty children (of course in the end everyone gets their gifts). The Housécker is dressed in black, has a black beard and sometimes black face.

I have learned that (caucasian) Americans can be very, very offended by this, and consider it to be absolutely horrible and despicable. I tried to explain to them that there is nothing necessarily racial about it, but that's what they associate it with.

Sorry, not trying to derail the thread, just thought it might be interesting to note this, as we have many Americans on the board.

Well our Sinterklaas (Sint Niclas) occasinaly gives wood sticks ('de Roe') to bad children instead of presents as well.

Also the black petes (zwarte Pieten) are his helpesr. Explain that to an american and he thinks of slaves and racism. They don't get it.
Funny, 99% of Americans don't even know Santa Claus is based on Siaint Niclas and Coca Cola just moved it to christmas... (yes, Coca Cola did!)

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Its different for Americans, for obvious reasons. The issue for many would be the face painting. I don't want to imply that only american's have understandings of race, but Black Face (white people with black face paint) connotes a specific time when black entertainers were disallowed. Instead, white people would wear Black face when they wanted to portray black people. Of course, the only time they would want to do so is to satirize, stereotype, and mock. Its a shameful past, and I don't like to see that unfortunate history disrespected.

Like we have pointed out, the difference of course is between tradition of one culture and the perspectives of another. I was taken aback by the image because of my background, but understand the different perspectives.

Implicit racism is a very real and very sensitive issue still for many of us, and many may overreact. Still, I prefer an overreaction than no reaction

 

[Jeanne]

 

[El Pistolero]

What's only 57 seconds?

 

[TourOfSardinia]

What's only 57 seconds?

Evans trailed Andy Schleck by 57secs in
General Classification after Stage 19 of Tdf 2011

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Tour_de_France,_Stage_12_to_Stage_21#Stage_19

 

[Cobblestoned]

Now that we were talking about Peter Sagan, this victory comes to my mind.
That was an awesome showing of downhill skills. Crazy decent. Crazy roads.
Crushed Cunego.

Race where that happened should obvious, considering all the flags in the pic. Tour of Turkey of course.
You still remember it ?

 

[El Pistolero]

Lol at his victory salutes.