The Lady Hussey racism thing

[Tiiiiiiiiiiired]

I am really conflicted about this.

If went to live in Japan (I did live there for 3 years several years ago) I would be expected to be asked about where I'm from because I don't look Japanese (and in fact I was asked many times! I didn't mind at all, it was my choice to be in Japan and I knew I didn't look japanese). If I chose to stay in that country and have children, I'd expect my children would be asked the same, and their children and that although they would be Japanese by birth, I would hope they would be happy to talk about their heritage and where they are from and not mind being asked why they don't look Japanese and what the history is. I wouldnt think it racist and wouldn't want such questions to be stopped because we only learn from others, and about others, by talking and feeling safe to ask questions.

So why in the UK does everyone have to be sooo careful with what they say? This woman has a non English name, was wearing some non western clothing, as was asked about her heritage. Why is this abuse?

We need to stop being so sensitive and allow dialogue.

Why should an organisation have to miss out on an important event for their charity just because the palace behaves this way towards black people?

It says upthread that this charity was not specifically invited. Or did I get it wrong?

The person on the receiving end of offensive behaviour doesn’t have to be personally offended. “For your conduct or language to be offensive at law it must, be calculated to wound the feelings, arouse anger or resentment or disgust or outrage in the mind of a reasonable person.” Which it clearly has.

I see someone has been googling 😂

Of course. There’s nothing funny about it.

So MaryMolly said something, you told her she was wrong, she double check the official guidance and now, because you cannot admit you are wrong, you are laughing at her. Okay then.

If the charity was not specifically invited - I do not know about this aspect - are you saying that makes the racism OK?

I do not understand all these people desperate to minimise what happened, unless they are in favour of the palace behaving this way.

What happened is an embarrassment.

Not quite. Unless Susan Hussey has been charged with some sort of offence in the last 24 hours, MaryMolly’s little google exploration is completely by the by. Love the idea that you think that there is some sort of ‘official guidance’ governing day to day conversations.

You are exactly right.

@TooBigForMyBoots I'm not an apologist I have nothing to apologise for. I am entitled to an opinion like many others on here and we all won't agree. I was not there neither were you. Some people take offense more easily than others and some look for offence in everything any anything. However racism is not acceptable and that goes towards all races and skin colours. And don't presume to know my ethnicity either.

In Japan it ddoes not matter where you are born really, it's your heritage that makes you Japanese or not in the eyes of the public opinion. You can be born in Japan and have parents born in Japan but of non-Japanese background and you will never be seen as fully Japanese. End of really. If you watch any clips of mixed race people or people of non-Japanese parents born and fully raised in Japan, they will always say the same thing- they never are regarded as 'Japanese' by the society even if they have the citizenship etc.

Ah you are ignoring the hate speech laws which are literally official guidance/laws that govern day to day conversation making it illegal to express hatred to someone on account of race or sexuality etc etc

I can see why you would want to ignore that

outrage in the mind of a reasonable person

What is a 'reasonable person'? It's difficult to judge based on some of the responses on this thread. Most are looking to be offended by everything and anything

It wasn't a day-to-day conversation, Lady SH was in an official role, from which they have had to resign.

There is lots of guidance within workplaces and other organisations covering exactly this sort of thing.

It did not take place in the street.

As I said, has Susan Hussey been charged under that legislation? If you think it applies then no doubt you have reported to the Met. If not why not? Just out of interest could you clearly explain which part of the exchange you understand to be expressing hatred.

What happened is an embarrassment

Indeed. I would be embarrassed if I piggybacked into BP, caused mayhem and a 60-year serving lady had to resign.

No, not 'everything and anything', racism.

You are very out of touch, both with the modern world in general and also with the views of the palace. The palace is not embarrassed by the guest.

Because I believe Ngozi has the agency to make that decision on her own and I will not presume to make it for her. In the same way that if she accused someone of rape I would not report it to the Met either.

By your logic if someone is raped and the rapist isn't charged the rape didn't happen

How does one piggyback into Buckingham Palace, out of interest? Security is pretty tight. It’s not a minimum wage bouncer in a high-vis vest half-heartedly shining a torch into people’s bags and waving you through without checking the date on your ticket.

I would’ve agreed, if she’d just asked “where are you from?” once. But she asked again, and again, and again. If she wasn’t point making she was certainly tone deaf! And she lifted up her hair!!

For your sake I am going to pretend that you didn’t just try equate a conversation with rape.

So according to this thread, racism isn’t racism if it happens at an event you weren’t personally invited to, if it happens when you’re wearing leopard print, or if it happens to someone who has changed their name. Gotcha.

The allegation is that Lady H was trying to put her in her place.

That makes sense. There is no way a woman with Lady SH's experience and knowledge would accidentally behave in such a disgraceful way. It would also explain the speed and strength of the Palace's statement.

Worrying isn't it!? Rape is traumatic and violent. This was at worse extremely offensive.