Would you ban "Black Pete" as it is now in the Netherlands and Belgium?

[LAKISYLVANIA]

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53739618

Lots of comments on my FB wall. I posted several posts condemning Facebook and other social media for banning / limiting freedom of speech and freedom of content, and have repeatedly said that in the practice of the winter holiday festival Sint Nicolas, I don't see anything racist with the figure Black Pete. Of course, i'm Belgian. Because I did grow up with the child festival, i have never associated it with racism. Never! That's why I initially thought it was ridicilous to ban it. Right now, i'm unsure about my opinion. I see a lot of people who are in favour of, and people who are against it.

What's your opinion?

[jaymichaud]

It is blackface, but a ban would be silly.

[Kingpoleon]

Blackface shouldn’t be banned, and it is saddening (but not shocking) that a debate which should merely be about the morality of something has become a debate about “should it be legal”.

[Libertas Vel Mors]

Laki logic is that there are only two options: ban, or love it!

You can allow things you disapprove of, you know

[Former President tack50]

A ban would be silly. If you do not like it, do not do it and don't send your kids to it.

As an institution, I suppose muncicipalities in Belgium and the Netherlands could defund it if there is enough popular support, which would most likely extinguish the practice.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

No need to ban it here. Even without blackface, the backstory of Zwarte Piet (a 19th century invention by the way), wouldn't resonate here, so I can't see even Sooty Pete becoming a tradition here. If any European companion of Santa Claus/Father Christmas/Grandfather Frost were to be adopted here, I'd think the Snow Maiden is the most likely adoption.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

A ban would be silly. If you do not like it, do not do it and don't send your kids to it.

As an institution, I suppose muncicipalities in Belgium and the Netherlands could defund it if there is enough popular support, which would most likely extinguish the practice.

This is my opinion too