Prince Harry apologists are morons

[almostwitty]

So, the man third in line to the British throne is caught on camera joking around and calling one of his Army colleagues and ‘mates’ a “Paki”. Apparently, it was all just a bit of joking, Harry gets called ginger quite often (so that’s alright then) and anyway it was all three years ago, he’s a different man, we apologise on Harry’s behalf, can we please all forget it now? Lest it be forgotten, this is also the same guy who wore a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party.

Er…. no.

It points out the huge flaw in British society where the guy is so cut-off from the rest of British society, he’s missed the fact it’s been an insult for the last thirty-or-so years. And unless said Army colleague goes around saying “Hello, I’m a Paki” (which, frankly, seems a tad unlikely), you certainly don’t call a friend that.

What amazes me are the people who rush to his defence. Have they not been anywhere in the last decade or so? You rather expect latent knee-jerk racism from his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh, since he’s 2000 years old. But from a 24-year-old?

Personally, unless I see an actual apology from Harry - not his office or whatever - then I’ll continue to believe he’s ignorant at best, a Hooray-Henry racist thug at worst.

Originally published at almost witty. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[kiri-l.livejournal.com]

This is not a defense of the above.

That video was apparently taken when Harry was 21. While very unacceptable it does seem to be what many immature young men would get up to at about that age. It may not reflect his values - but what the society he runs in believes. However considering his Grandfather Phillip (who is better not seen or heard imo) who had a hand in their upbringing it might be he's been given some education that needs to be "unlearned". The comment about the officer training at Sandhurst is probably relevant. The fact he is a Royal Prince may well be the only reason this was even noted. Has anyone thought to examine the OTHER graduates and their behavior? (that could be quite telling) I seem to recall he wasn't the only one displaying racist and insulting behavior from that social strata.

Frankly it looks as if you have an entire class going.. do as I say.. not as I do and thumbing their noses at the lower classes.. STILL.

At least it appears your Prince William has some sense and decency. (I don't follow the royals so I only know that he hasn't appeared to be in any stupid scandals)

[almostwitty]

Not that I hang out with any young people, but given I don't hear that word *anywhere* on the street, not even in casual conversation, I don't think words like that have reached the point when they can be casually dropped into conversation even amongst closest friends.

And I'm sure he's not the only one amongst his circle who uses words like that. Which again shows the invisible class divide that permeates British society. But then again it doesn't usually come up that often.

[waltzingalong.livejournal.com]

Wow, the news story was pretty unsavoury in itself but the comments people made to it gave me O_O face. Still, I suppose it's jolly old News Of The World readers.

I will never get how being offended by the word "Paki" (which I am) is considered by some to be "overly PC". WTF.

Edit: Oops, I seemed to lose my grammar there! Fixed.

[almostwitty]

It has to be said, if the News of the World thinks that the word is not exactly one to be used even in impolite conversation, then either it's out of touch with its readers, or its readers are out of touch with the editorial team.

[madmosh-uk.livejournal.com]

Already had a lot of this conversation on my blog, but to sum up:

1) It was 3 years ago. People fuck up, they change, they're in different situations, they grow up.

2) He was in the army. A coloured guy being called a "Paki" is getting off lightly, from what I gather. He went on to pass the course with the highest marks of any of the foreign candidates who joined, so it didn't seem to affect his work or commitment.

3) The "afflicted" chap himself hasn't come forward and complained. He doesn't seem to care enough to step into the limelight, so why should we be bothered?

4) I heard the term plenty of times when I was in Bradford - and often by the South Asian community itself. It seems they're taking the term "Paki" the same way the African American crowd are taking the word "xxxxxx" (you know the one, but someone will likely complain even if I use it in this context).

5) I still argue that the use is contextual. I've heard the soundtrack - Harry's voice doesn't sound in the least spiteful or bitter or abusive. If anything, it sounds like he's using the word as an abbreviation of "Pakistani" - in which case nobody would have said a word and this issue would never have come up.

I'd say the most offence in this day and age that a person could feel if the word "Paki" was thrown at them would be if they were Indian, or Bangladeshi and just pissed off at everyone using a generic term to describe a whole bunch of nationalities.

Oh, and PS

[madmosh-uk.livejournal.com]

Because you have to laugh at "*everything* in this life...

http://www.b3ta.com/board/9084859