Soldier called 'Paki' by Prince Harry believes Harry is not a racist

[The_Pumpkin_King]

i wonder how much he was paid to say this...
british royal family = biggest scum of all time

 

[koffiejunkie]

So when a westerner calls a middle-easterner a 'raghead' or a 'towelhead' or something or a 'sand-n' (naughty word), you think the latter can get rid of that 'stigma'...

No but the latter has choice of ignoring the comment instead of throwing a tantrum and taking offence. Especially if the term used carries no reall offence. Every time an ignorant English speaking South African or black person calls me a "boor" (because they can't even be bothered to spel "boer" correctly) or a Dutchman or a whitey, I have the choice of taking offence or simply ignoring it.

Are you not perhaps making the mistake of assuming that these people who look different and come from different cultures have the same chances that you being from South Africa yet also caucasian Anglo-saxon in an English-ruled country, have? Sometimes you need to step into another person's shoes.

Are you suggesting that racial discrimination is the order of the day in the UK job market? Looking at racial make-up of the company I work for and the companies I deal with every day, I'd I have to say I very much doubt that. Anyway, I was speaking in broad terms. Behaviour, in general.

And for your information, I have lived and worked in countries where I was in a much smaller minority than people of South Asian decent are in the UK and where my presence was resented (often loudly) for reasons that had nothing to do with me. I know what it feels like. Doesn't mean I don't have a choice in my response.

 

[Alan]

Alan surely a future king who has been educated in Oxford or Cambridge, is capable of some tact and has had some of that education stick so as to know at least that "Paki" is derogatory. If I was a British subject, I would be embarrassed. People often refer to the gaffes committed by poor George W Bush but here is Prince Harry - first with a swastika some years ago, now with this. I'm pretty sure Prince Harry is not a racist - but his remark shows that he either has no tact or has no sensibilities or hopefully doesn't show that the expensive education he received was wasted. Remember when you're a prince, PM or president you not only speak for yourself but for your office and even the entire country. Its a tough life and that's one of the drawbacks of belonging to the ruling royal family. You have to be careful WHAT you say and not just about race but many other subjects. He shouldn't make homophobic statements, religious statements, political statements, cultural statements etc.

True but you gotta give the guy some slack. He's a young man after all. Everybody knows Harry has problem dealing with his royal responsibilities. He went to Afghanistan of all places to get away from it all.

IMO this episode reflects more poorly on those getting all hyped up over something so trivial than Harry not living up to his 'obligations'. It's the people who set these obligations who need to take a step back

 

[PPC_SouthAfrica]

People take this to literally

 

[semiautomatix]

It's the future king of England. The army is not about jokes, insults or other nonsense, it's about getting a job done in hopefully the most optimal manner.

Er... no, that would be his brother and he would be the future king of the United Kingdom.

The prince has to act like royalty, he not only represents himself, and the throne of Great Britain but also every British subject. Either he is poorly educated and doesn't know how to behave or he really is a racist. If it's the former it's an insult towards his office (and his ancestors), if its the latter
then he should at least pretend he's not racist and keep his private opinions private. It's the same with Sarkozy telling a voter who refused to shake his hand to f-off. That was captured on camera. A head of state or future head of state is held to much higher standards then the rest of us, and racial (or any other) slurs should not be exercised by anyone either but especially NOT a head of state. Especially in Britain among the higher circles people try to act the part: if the head of the British Medical Association had called a doctor or God forbid--a patient, a 'paki' at a prize-giving for example,
he no doubt would have had to apologise and may even have been removed from the said position.

It's not even a left wing thing, who are happy to use words such as 'imperialist', 'bourgeois' and denigrate all wealthier people and the opposition.
It's an old fashioned idea and goes beyond the excessive PC BS we hear today - but a lord has to act lordly, ie a gentleman is a gentleman and if he doesn't behave as such he is not a gentleman.

If Harry acts like a prince he will appear to think he is better than the rest; this will earn him no respect. Its a case of boys being boys, and I completely understand especially since Khan was not offended he was obviously in on the inside joke. Its just a case of the media blowing it out of proportion, something which should have stayed within the confines of the army.

 

[semiautomatix]

True but you gotta give the guy some slack. He's a young man after all. Everybody knows Harry has problem dealing with his royal responsibilities. He went to Afghanistan of all places to get away from it all.

IMO this episode reflects more poorly on those getting all hyped up over something so trivial than Harry not living up to his 'obligations'. It's the people who set these obligations who need to take a step back

He joined the army and was assigned the position in Afghanistan, it was supposed to originally be Iraq - it just so happens that is where the British army is stationed at present.

Please tell me what obligations he has to fulfil. He does not have to become head of state of Britain. Perhaps more of a PR position like his mother, but that is his choice.

 

[semiautomatix]

Alan surely a future king who has been educated in Oxford or Cambridge, is capable of some tact and has had some of that education stick so as to know at least that "Paki" is derogatory. If I was a British subject, I would be embarrassed. People often refer to the gaffes committed by poor George W Bush but here is Prince Harry - first with a swastika some years ago, now with this. I'm pretty sure Prince Harry is not a racist - but his remark shows that he either has no tact or has no sensibilities or hopefully doesn't show that the expensive education he received was wasted. Remember when you're a prince, PM or president you not only speak for yourself but for your office and even the entire country. Its a tough life and that's one of the drawbacks of belonging to the ruling royal family. You have to be careful WHAT you say and not just about race but many other subjects. He shouldn't make homophobic statements, religious statements, political statements, cultural statements etc.

Have you ever listened to quotes by his grandfather. Harry is hardly that bad.

2. To a blind women with a guide

“Do you know they have eating dogs for the anorexic now?”

5. When asked if he would like to visit the Soviet Union

“The bastards murdered half my family”

7. To a driving instructor in Scotland

“How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to get them through the test?”

12. To the President of Nigeria, dressed in traditional robes

“You look like you’re ready for bed!”

 

[Devill]

People are to freaking hyped up about race issues, and the media nd government keep pushing it in peoples faces and thats why this world will never be without racism.

My indian and black friends have called me a boertjie. I have called my indian mates "Curry munchers". Yes if the same things were said but we were strangers im sure them and myself would have taken offence. But because we are friends we can joke about racial issues. I just wish the whole world or atleast SA can be like that some day.