Leefomstandigheden van de arbeiders in de 19e eeuw
Page Description
Understand the metaphor ‘black-and-white,’
its meaning, origins,
and how it represents clear,
absolute distinctions
in various contexts.
Black and White: The Stark Contrast of Justice and Injustice
English
Dutch
English
In the pursuit of justice, clarity often emerges from the stark contrasts of black and white. This theme resonates profoundly in two distinct narratives: the Post Office Inquiry involving former union leader George Thomson and the historical struggles depicted in the film Daens.
During the Post Office Inquiry, George Thomson, the former general secretary of the National Federation of Subpostmasters, faced intense scrutiny. Accused of being “aggressive and belligerent” during his testimony, Thomson was challenged by lawyer Sam Stein KC to provide straightforward answers regarding his role and the lack of support for subpostmasters wrongfully convicted due to faults in the Horizon IT system. Stein’s insistence on “black and white” answers underscored the need for unequivocal truth in the face of systemic failures. The questioning became so unruly that Sir Wyn Williams, Chair of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, was forced to intervene. Thomson’s responses consistently avoided the core of the questions, skirting around the issues. It is rare for the chair to step in, but on this occasion, he firmly set the record straight. His intervention served as a wake-up call with real significance.
THE GUARDIAN
Similarly, the film Daens portrays the stark realities of 19th-century industrial Belgium, where the working class endured severe exploitation. The film highlights the sharp divide between the laborers and the bourgeoisie, emphasizing the clear injustices faced by the workers.
WIKIPEDIA
Both narratives illuminate the enduring struggle between systemic authority and individual conscience, where the delineation between right and wrong becomes unmistakably clear.
Dutch
Zwart en Wit: Het Scherpe Contrast tussen Gerechtigheid en Onrecht
In de zoektocht naar gerechtigheid komt helderheid vaak voort uit de scherpe contrasten van zwart en wit. Dit thema resoneert diep in twee uiteenlopende verhalen: het Post Office-onderzoek met voormalig vakbondsleider George Thomson en de historische strijd zoals afgebeeld in de film Daens.
Tijdens het Post Office-onderzoek stond George Thomson, de voormalige secretaris-generaal van de National Federation of Subpostmasters, onder zware kritiek. Beschuldigd van een “agressieve en vijandige” houding tijdens zijn getuigenis, werd Thomson door advocaat Sam Stein KC uitgedaagd om heldere antwoorden te geven over zijn rol en het gebrek aan steun voor subpostmasters die ten onrechte waren veroordeeld door fouten in het Horizon IT-systeem. Steins nadruk op “zwart-wit” antwoorden benadrukte de noodzaak van ondubbelzinnige waarheid in het licht van systemische misstanden. De ondervraging liep zo uit de hand dat Sir Wyn Williams, voorzitter van het Post Office Horizon IT-onderzoek, moest ingrijpen. De antwoorden van Thomson draaiden steeds om de kern heen en weken af van de gestelde vragen. Het is uitzonderlijk dat de voorzitter ingrijpt, maar dit keer zette hij de kwestie recht. Zijn tussenkomst was een betekenisvolle wake-upcall.
THE GUARDIAN
Op vergelijkbare wijze toont de film Daens de harde realiteit van het industriële België in de 19e eeuw, waar de arbeidersklasse werd blootgesteld aan ernstige uitbuiting. De film laat de scherpe scheiding zien tussen de arbeiders en de bourgeoisie en benadrukt de onmiskenbare onrechtvaardigheden waarmee de arbeiders werden geconfronteerd.
WIKIPEDIA
Beide verhalen werpen licht op de voortdurende strijd tussen systemische macht en individueel geweten, waarin de grens tussen goed en kwaad onmiskenbaar duidelijk wordt.
Post Office Inquiry: former union boss branded ‘aggressive and belligerent’ during tense exchange
21 jun 2024
George Thomson, former general secretary of the National Federation of Subpostmasters was accused of being ‘aggressive and belligerent’ during a tense exchange with Sam Stein KC.
He also denied lacking sympathy for those who were wrongfully convicted as a result of faults in the Horizon IT system.
Mr Thomson, who served as general secretary between 2007 and 2018, gave evidence at the Post Office inquiry on Friday.
Post Office Inquiry: Alan Bates delivers brutal assessment of bosses
9 apr 2024
Today was the moment for the real Alan Bates to stand up, as he was sworn in at the Horizon inquiry, delivering a brutal assessment of the Post Office bosses who hounded him and his colleagues, then tried to cover it up.
Alan Bates says he was fired because the Post Office ‘didn’t like me standing up to them’
9 apr 2024
Alan Bates says the Post Office terminated his contract as a sub-postmaster because “they didn’t like me standing up to them”.
The inquiry hears he received a letter terminating his employment in 2003 in which no reason for his dismissal was given.
Mr Bates founded the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, and led a group of 555 sub-postmasters who took the Post Office to the High Court over the scandal.
His story became the subject of ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, starring Toby Jones.
Post Office scandal: 13 people may have taken their own lives after false accusations
8 jul 2025
It’s been described as the worst miscarriage of justice in British legal history and finally the long-running inquiry into how the Post Office Horizon scandal unfolded has produced its first report.
It described the impact on the hundreds of wrongly accused subpostmasters and subpostmistresses as “disastrous”.
It also called for urgent action on compensation for the victims and their families.
0:00 – Main story
3:39 – Interview with Lee Castleton
Analysis: What was impact of Post Office scandal?
8 jul 2025 #postoffice #skynews #horizon
At least 13 people linked to the Post Office scandal may have taken their own lives, a public inquiry has found.
The first volume of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report focuses on what Sir Wyn Williams calls the “disastrous” impact of false accusations made against at least 1,000 postmasters.
‘Thousands have suffered’: Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry chair gives update
It’s Black and White: The Unforgivable Divide
1 Filmfragment Daens verschillen arbeiders-burgerij
1 jul 2014
To explore the full story of Priest Daens and his fight against unjust justice in 19th-century Belgium, click here:
Essential viewing
Must-Listen Video
Essential viewing
Must-Listen Video
English
Dutch
English
Key Points of the Video:
Historical Context:
The video is a fragment from the film Daens (1993), which is set in 19th-century industrial Belgium.
It highlights the stark social divide between the working class (the “arbeiders”) and the bourgeoisie (the “burgerij”).
Labor Struggles:
The video portrays the dire conditions faced by the working class, who are subjected to extreme exploitation by factory owners and the wealthy elite.
The workers live in poverty and endure long hours, poor working conditions, and little to no rights.
Contrast with the Bourgeoisie:
In sharp contrast, the bourgeoisie, including factory owners and the wealthy class, enjoy a life of comfort, wealth, and privilege.
The video emphasizes the social and economic disparity that existed between the two classes.
Priest Daens’ Role:
Father Daens, a key figure in the film, is shown as a champion of the working class.
He fights for the rights of the workers and speaks out against the injustices they face, despite the opposition from the bourgeoisie and the Catholic Church.
Moral Conflict:
The video conveys the moral struggle of those who, like Daens, were trying to address the deeply entrenched system of injustice, while others turned a blind eye to the suffering of the working class.
It shows how Daens’ efforts to challenge the status quo were met with resistance from those in power.
Dutch
Belangrijke Punten van de Video:
Historische Context:
De video is een fragment uit de film Daens (1993), die zich afspeelt in 19e-eeuws industrieel België.
Het benadrukt de scherpe sociale kloof tussen de arbeidersklasse (de “arbeiders”) en de bourgeoisie (de “burgerij”).
Arbeidersstrijd:
De video toont de erbarmelijke omstandigheden waarin de arbeiders zich bevinden, die worden blootgesteld aan extreme uitbuiting door fabrieksbezitters en de rijke elite.
De arbeiders leven in armoede en moeten lange uren maken, werken onder slechte omstandigheden en hebben weinig tot geen rechten.
Contrast met de Bourgeoisie:
In scherp contrast hiermee geniet de bourgeoisie, inclusief fabrieksbezitters en de rijke klasse, een leven van comfort, welvaart en privileges.
De video benadrukt de sociale en economische ongelijkheid die bestond tussen de twee klassen.
De Rol van Priester Daens:
Priester Daens, een belangrijke figuur in de film, wordt afgebeeld als een kampioen van de arbeidersklasse.
Hij strijdt voor de rechten van de arbeiders en spreekt zich uit tegen de onrechtvaardigheid die zij ervaren, ondanks de tegenwerking van de bourgeoisie en de Katholieke Kerk.
Moreel Conflict:
De video toont de morele strijd van degenen die, zoals Daens, probeerden het diepgewortelde systeem van onrecht aan te pakken, terwijl anderen de lijdensweg van de arbeiders negeerden.
Het laat zien hoe de inspanningen van Daens om de gevestigde orde uit te dagen werden tegengewerkt door de machtigen.
English
Dutch
English
In both the tragic events of the British Post Office scandal and the historical struggles depicted in Daens, the divide between right and wrong is unmistakably clear. The pain and injustice faced by the victims of the Post Office scandal—a direct result of systemic failures—are as glaring as the exploitation of workers in 19th-century Belgium.
In the Post Office Inquiry, George Thomson’s refusal to acknowledge the true suffering of those wrongfully convicted reflects a fundamental disregard for justice. His defensiveness during questioning only deepened the divide, showing how the lines between accountability and neglect are sharply drawn.
Alan Bates, in his assessment of the bosses, cut through the excuses and pointed to the reality—what happened was wrong, and there are no shades of gray in that truth. Similarly, in Daens, the harsh realities of labor exploitation demand a response that is equally uncompromising.
Both narratives reveal the same painful truth: when lives are destroyed by systemic wrongdoing, there’s no room for ambiguity—it’s black and white.
Dutch
Het is Zwart en Wit: De Onvergeeflijke Kloof
Zowel de tragische gebeurtenissen van het Britse Post Office-schandaal als de historische strijd in Daens tonen op onmiskenbare wijze het verschil tussen goed en fout. Het lijden en de onrechtvaardigheid die de slachtoffers van het Post Office-schandaal hebben ervaren—direct het gevolg van systematische mislukkingen—zijn net zo duidelijk als de uitbuiting van arbeiders in 19e-eeuws België.
Tijdens het Post Office-onderzoek weerspiegelt George Thomson’s weigering om het echte lijden van de onterecht veroordeelden te erkennen een fundamenteel gebrek aan rechtvaardigheid. Zijn verdedigende houding tijdens het verhoor vergrootte de kloof alleen maar, waardoor de lijnen tussen verantwoordelijkheid en verwaarlozing scherp werden getrokken.
Alan Bates, in zijn beoordeling van de leidinggevenden, doorbrak de excuses en wees naar de werkelijkheid—wat er gebeurde was verkeerd, en daar is geen grijs gebied. Evenzo eisen in Daens de harde realiteiten van arbeidsuitbuiting een antwoord dat even compromisloos is.
Beide verhalen onthullen dezelfde pijnlijke waarheid: wanneer levens worden verwoest door systematisch wangedrag, is er geen ruimte voor ambiguïteit—het is zwart en wit.
Essential viewing
Must-Listen Video
Essential viewing
Must-Listen Video
A black-and-white subject or situation is one in which it is easy to understand what is right and wrong:
Disarmament isn’t a black-and-white issue for me.
Cambridge Dictionary
The expression “black-and-white” can refer to several different concepts or meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Here are some key points that may be associated with the expression:
Contrast or dichotomy: “Black-and-white” is often used to describe a clear contrast or dichotomy between two opposing viewpoints, concepts, or perspectives. It signifies a binary or polarized view where things are perceived as either right or wrong, good or bad, without much room for nuance or gray areas.
Monochrome or grayscale: “Black-and-white” can also refer to a monochrome or grayscale color scheme where only black and white are used, devoid of any color. This can be used in reference to visual art, photography, or design.
Lack of complexity or simplicity: “Black-and-white” may denote a simplistic or straightforward approach to a complex issue or problem, often overlooking nuances or complexities that may exist in reality.
Morality or ethics: “Black-and-white” can be used in the context of moral or ethical judgments, implying a clear-cut right or wrong distinction without considering contextual factors or shades of gray.
Certainty or definitiveness: “Black-and-white” may imply a high degree of certainty or definitiveness in a statement or decision, leaving little room for ambiguity or doubt.
Legal or contractual terms: “Black-and-white” can refer to the exact wording or interpretation of legal or contractual terms, often denoting a strict and literal interpretation without room for interpretation or negotiation.
Traditional or classic: “Black-and-white” can also refer to something traditional or classic, often associated with a sense of timelessness or simplicity.
It’s important to note that the meaning of “black-and-white” can vary depending on the context in which it is used, and it’s always best to consider the specific context to fully understand its intended meaning.
