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Original poster

Prince Harry caught on video using a racist slur

210 replies

sherby · 10/01/2009 22:44

what do we think about this one then?

You would think after the nazi thing he would've learnt his lesson no?

OP posts:
seeker · 12/01/2009 09:39

Actually I think this is important. This is a man who has had the most expensive education money can buy, and presumably extensive media and other training, yet he doesn't know what my 7 and 13 year olds know - that there are some words you NEVER ever use, and that you have to think before you send a mate a video clip because it might end up on U-tube.

Clarissimo · 12/01/2009 09:41

It's a hate word, he's a few in line to the throne of the country, it matters.

How hard is it to remember 'thes eare words we never use...'?

very relevant to me atm as in a related quandary with friends over use of another hate word (thread in AIBU) and I can't find any way to say it is OK, because it isn't.

wannaBe · 12/01/2009 10:07

but of course it's possible to acknowledge that the use of the words are wrong. AndHarry has apologised.

I just don't see why it is necessary for someone to use this to make money (and clearly this has been used purely to make money, because if not then the video would have been given to a more reputable source than the NOTW) and why this is now making headline news all over the media when there are far more newsworthy things going on. Especially given this happened three years ago.

extremelychocolateymilkroll · 12/01/2009 10:44

"Our little Paki friend". It's wrong on so many levels because it's not a nickname - it's a general term and incredibly condescending. It's even worse that this Asian guy feels that he has to - and has had to for Heavens knows how long - put up with this sort of crap because if he objected in some way he would probably be accused of taking the matter too seriously. Okay, it probably is common currency in the army and in the upper middle classes to speak like this but it is great that it has been exposed because there's been so positive PR for these young royals it's great that this side can be shown too.

FAQtothefuture · 12/01/2009 10:45

is it true that this happened 3yrs ago?

If so why is it being brought up as "news" now???

Pingping · 12/01/2009 10:46

I agree with WannaBe.

As for the royal family costing us money without them we wouldn't get a large percentage of tourists.

Also your notice that Prince Harry and Prince William are both in the Armed forces and in fact earn there own wage.

Long live the Queen!

Pingping · 12/01/2009 10:47

What he said was wrong but it was 3 years ago FAQ and he is was young stupid and has changed alot in the last 3 years.

It was brought up as someone sold the video to the media

CatIsSleepy · 12/01/2009 10:54

I don't think there's any excuse for him really...
agree with chocolatey- this was at best condescending, at worst racist and the poor sod in question prob never cpmplained as he knew it would most likely make things worse so had to put up with it- which is the saddest part of all

FAQtothefuture · 12/01/2009 11:05

blimey is there no "new" news happening in the world at the moment for people to be discussing stuff that actually happened 3 yrs ago

Pingping · 12/01/2009 11:09

LOL FAQ

wannaBe · 12/01/2009 11:11

actually, I think it's equally condescending to presume how this "poor sod" must be thinking and feeling about all of this.

Who are we to decide whether someone was or wasn't offended by something? yes an uncle of his has spoken out but he himself hasn't has he? I'm sure that if someone printed something about me in the media there would be members of my family prepared to cash in on my behalf.

extremelychocolateymilkroll · 12/01/2009 11:17

Okay, I take the point that this guy might not have been offended but surely you can see that even if he had been he wouldn't really be able to say so? And maybe the reason the guy himself hasn't said anything is because he is still in the army so wouldn't be doing himself any favours by bringing it up?

I don't think it's the end of the world that it's happened - just quite sad really.

Blu · 12/01/2009 11:19

The person he was talking about wasn't a colleaugue of in his regiment or platoon or whatever they have, he was a member of the Pakistani Army, on the same course.

Brie - if you have visitors in your office, do you (or would you) introduce your coleague as 'my little Pali colleague'? Even though he is cool to call himself this?.

I daresay this has been overblown - but it's interesting that someone who must know that his every move will be scrutinised in the light of his public role thinks that casualreference to Paki' on camera is not worthy of a second thought, and also - I have spent a moment imagining being a member of a highly hierarchical organisation, a member of a minority, in an environment where everyone is supposed to be able to cope with anything, and making a complaint could well be seen as 'grassing' or being a wimp...making a complaint about a meber of the royal family.

scaredoflove · 12/01/2009 11:53

would there have been this uproar if he had spoken of a short australian?? Our little aussie friend?

seeker · 12/01/2009 11:56

Thing is, people who are saying that it's the same as saying "our little Aussie friend" are missing the point - I can only assume deliberately.

MorrisZapp · 12/01/2009 12:30

Storm in a teacup from where I'm standing. It's a hateful word indeed but he said it in jest, amongst colleagues, when he thought he was in private.

He can't win. No doubt if Harry said to his fellow squaddies 'Come on now chaps, we don't use language like that' then they'd lambast him for being a snob and not one of them.

What he did was horrid but it is not worthy of the front pages. Why are we so addicted to these silly, trivial stories in which one person behaves badly. Worse stuff happens every day and languishes unnoticed on ths inside pages.

When baby P died it barely raised a flicker. It was only years later at the trial that the media and public paid any attention.

But 'posh lad says p*' gets the front page. I despair.

notnowplease · 12/01/2009 12:43

It has been taken out of context.It is an awful term but was probably said in jest amongst friends where that sort of term was commonly used in that way. It wasn't a slur as no one complained at the time and it didn't sound like an insult.He does need to be reprimanded though.I remember years ago being in thailand with another couple black husband white wife middle class boden types and my then dp and I were shocked to hear her calling him darkie sorry.It was supposedly a term of endearment.I must admit I found it distatsteful but my then dp was mixed race and thought it was hilarious

seeker · 12/01/2009 13:07

"It has been taken out of context" No it hasn't!

SaltireOShanter · 12/01/2009 13:56

I hope my husband never has to work with any of the Officers featured in the video.

I think he has apologised it was 3 years ago(around about the time of the dressing up as a Nazi) and TBH there are far more important things going on in the world. I think that media should concentrate on people being killed uneccesarily

BabyBaby123 · 12/01/2009 14:39

i'm sorry but it is a highly offensive term. I don't care how it was said, and whether the other person in question was aware or not - it is not a word he should be using. I think it's disgusting that we have this awful, ignorant bunch of people draining our resources. The Royal family do nothing. I wouldn't mind but there's a high chance Harry is not royal anyway and there he is living the life or riley and thinking it's perfectly acceptable to use racist names. Well, I'm sorry it's not, not from anyone but especially not from someone as apparently well educated and well brought up as him

minxofmancunia · 12/01/2009 14:44

totally agree babybaby, can't believe there's this whole "oh it was said in banter" thing going on on here, if anyone in our group of friends said it in whatever context they prob wouldn't get invited out again.

policywonk · 12/01/2009 14:51

He's not a great advertisement for private education, is he? Bet they are crying into their sherry at Eton about all this.

cariboo · 12/01/2009 14:57

Bad form! Very bad indeed.

Still, if he called a Frenchman a frog or a Canadian a canuck or even an American a yank, would there be as much fuss?

A racial slur obviously to do with colour of skin, I suppose...

PoloPlayingMummy · 12/01/2009 15:00

Ahh the PC brigade are off again. It was clearly not meant in an offensive manner. The whole video was a big send-up and he's apologised.

I think it's about time he was cut some slack- being the "spare" is a difficult position and he's trying damn hard to forge a career for himself.

Blu · 12/01/2009 15:02

Or not, PW.

Who knows, perhaps he picked it up there?

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