I don't mean to stereotype Dutch people, but were you guys stoned?
It's been a long time since I've felt compelled to quote Austin Powers (or more specifically, his father Nigel) but there's no way around this one: "There are two types of people I can't stand. People who are intolerant of other cultures, and the Dutch." Those two groups came together this weekend as the Netherlands knocked Mexico out of the Round of 16 with a goal in the 94th minute of play.
Did @KLM's social media team photoshop the little mariachi guy onto the sign really quick? pic.twitter.com/YY5ctcJYm1
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) June 29, 2014
Given that the Dutch celebrate Christmas with a popular folk character named Black Pete, better known to the world as Santa's Little Blackface Helper, it's maybe not surprising that their national airline failed to use much subtlety in their tweet bidding Mexico bye-bye. The image featured a "Departures" sign to rub it in Mexico's face that their fans were going home from Brazil (which is pretty rude by itself), next to a symbol of a Mexican with a stereotypical sombrero, mustache (appropriately called a bigote) and poncho.
Reaction to #KLM tweet is what you would expect! pic.twitter.com/iMwVkchKiC
— Joel Ewanick (@JoelEwanick) June 29, 2014
I'm not sure how mad I should be about this, because being racially insensitive is a stereotype about Dutch people, so is it insensitive of me to point it out? They're pragmatic about societal vices, they're tall, they're not the funniest people on Earth, they're not culturally sensitive, and they can breathe underwater. It is known. Mexico could have very well responded with an image of a mermaid smoking dope in a red-light window, but they chose a classier route.
Gracias por este gran campeonato, estamos orgullosos y los esperamos en casa #VivaMéxicopic.twitter.com/GCE5u5Cj6r
— Aeroméxico (@AeroMexico_com) June 29, 2014
Now, let's all remember how we supported Mexico on this issue when other countries inevitably make a joke about oversized Americans flying home. We don't stand for stereotypes like that. We don't stand at all.
(by Johnny McNulty)