Was Prince Harry really being racist?
By missberlee
@missberlee (467)
January 12, 2009 4:24am CST
There have been reports in the media and a video showing Prince Harry making a "racist" comment to a fellow soldier in his platoon and I was just wondering, was he really being racist?
My husband is in the army and the nicknames they have for one another, I was fairly shocked by at first. However, the guys that have these nicknames agree and allow themselves to be called by such a name so is Prince Harry really being racist or are the terms that he was using just nicknames.
Most lads in the British Army have nicknames such as these, some are offensive and some aren't and at the end of the day they have a say in whether or not they want to be called these things.
I think the Press have made far too much of a big deal about this. The lad in question didn't find it offensive so what does the rest of the world matter when it is only the Prince and this other guy that is involved? I think it is political correctness gone bonkers personally and I know that many people will have a say in this matter and I wish to state that I do not want to cause offence to anyone.
I don't really know if I can say the words here that he used for fear of offending other people but in short, they are short terms for people coming from Pakistan and suchlike. I know of guys here where we are stationed that are called by the same name and they actually chose that nickname!!!
What are your thoughts on this?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@WebMann (4731)
• Canada
12 Jan 09
The things that come out of your mouth can't be put back in so you should always be on your guard as to what you say. I don't care what my friends and buddy call me or their other friends I don't ever say things like that just incase someone is in ear shot.
I have had a great time and like to party with my buddies but I am always aware of what is going on around me. So I don't have forgiveness for others that open their mouth to spew remarks that are best kept locked up.
@missberlee (467)
•
12 Jan 09
You see, I understand that completely, but apparently these videos of him saying such things are 3 years old and also, they were not overheard by anyone, so that kind of puts what you are saying out of perspective. They were filmed and then leaked three years later so actually, he was saying such things to a close friend rather than to the whole world.
Either way, those videos should never have been made public. They were of a personal moment between the Prince and his army buddies and it's kind of sad that he has been betrayed in such a manner!
@mummyofthree (2715)
•
12 Jan 09
I agree that it has been blown out of all proportion. I'm not sure how this was actually leaked to the media but it is obviouse from the footage it was never meant for the publics eyes. I think we are becoming overly PC and it is this sort of thing that leads to radical forms of racism. Would such a big deal have been made of this if it weren't a Prince that had said it? And as we know the press loves catching Prince Harry out doing things that he shouldn't!
@missberlee (467)
•
12 Jan 09
Do you know what? I'm glad it's not just me thinking this! You should hear some of the things the British lads call each other here, and none of them take offence!
It is just PC going mad. And I don't think anyone would care if it was anyone other than the Prince. I don't care either way but I just think it's unfair that poor Harry has been singled out like this. If they are going to have a go at him for the terms that he used then they ideally have to regulate every single nickname that the Army has ever used! It's ridiculous and I don't think he should have apologised personally!
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
12 Jan 09
No, I don’t think so. From what I read of the news, the terms he used are general terms used to denote people of a particular race or nation. It is only now that global situations are far to complex and people being more impatient with each other and taking offence at the slightest of pretexts, that such small harmless words are taking dangerous proportions. I’m sure he used the words unintentionally.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32748)
• Calgary, Alberta
30 Sep 17
His fiancee is black so that doesn't sound racist to me. He was young and immature when that thing got leaked though.
