離開
進入《中英對照讀新聞》UN brands Dutch ’Black Pete’ a ’vestige of slavery’ 聯合國指荷蘭「黑彼得」為「奴隸遺緒」
◎管淑平
The United Nations called a Dutch character who appears in blackface every Christmas a "vestige of slavery" and said that The Netherlands should begin overturning the popular tradition.
聯合國稱每年耶誕節都會以黑面孔出現的一名荷蘭人物是「奴隸遺緒」，並說荷蘭應著手廢除這個廣為流傳的傳統。
But Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the fate of "Black Pete", a sidekick of the Dutch Saint Nicholas, is not up to his government, calling the controversy a "social issue" rather than a matter of state.
但荷蘭總理馬克．呂特說，「黑彼得」這名荷蘭聖尼古拉夥伴的命運，並非由他的政府決定，他說這項爭議是「社會議題」，而非國家事務。
"Zwarte Piete", or Black Pete, appears traditionally dressed in a gaudy medieval costume with a blackened face, red lips and an afro wig to help Saint Nicholas hand out gifts to children.
「黑彼得」傳統上穿著中世紀俗麗服裝，以黑臉、紅唇和戴著蓬鬆假髮模樣現身，協助聖尼古拉發送糖果給小孩。
The character sparks an annual divide on racism in The Netherlands, with many branding him a racist stereotype dating from the colonial era.
這個人物每年在荷蘭引發有關種族主義的歧見，許多人稱他是源自殖民時代的種族歧視刻板印象。
Black Pete’s defenders say he is black from coming down the chimney, and refuse to admit there might be anything racist about the character.
捍衛黑彼得的人說，他黑是因為爬煙囪下來，拒絕承認這個角色或許有任何種族主義者色彩。
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said in a report Friday that the character was "sometimes portrayed in a way that reflects negative stereotypes" and is seen as "a vestige of slavery" by many people. （AFP）
聯合國消除種族歧視委員會週五在一份報告中說，這個人物「有時被以反映負面刻板印象的方式描繪」，而且被許多人視為「奴隸遺緒」。（法新社）
新聞辭典
vestige：名詞，遺跡、殘餘物。例句：The building is our country’s last vestige of colonial era.（這棟建築物是我國最後一處殖民時代遺跡。）
overturn：動詞，傾覆，顛覆，推翻。例句：The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the ban on same sex marriage.（美國最高法院推翻同性婚姻禁令。）
sidekick：（俚語）名詞，夥伴，助手；共犯；附帶批評。例句：He has been my sidekick for 10 years.（他擔任我的助手已經10年了。）
