Prince Philip, from an foreigner's perspective

[Kishkashta]

I am not English, but have been living here for quite a while. And I just don't get what all the fuss is about with prince Philip.

Every single article I read (there are a lot of them lately...) mentions his unconventional personality and sense of humor. But the thing is, from my experience, this is just cookie cutter behavior of the (especially older male) members of the British upper class. These politically incorrect jokes that kind of just stir the water a bit and slightly off kilter behavior. I just find it weird how in these articles it is presented as something unique about him whereas in reality all these stories are just something that describes essentially his class rather than his personality.

Also I don't know how anybody can take seriously the attempts to paint his life as full of hardships (had to give up his "Navy career" to support the Queen - the only reason he had his kind of career is obviously his background and marriage, etc).

To me, from these descriptions, he just seems to be an extremely ordinary person who literally did nothing special other than existing until age 99...

Is there something I don't get about this?

Also all the news is prob likely that few series have been made and it helps feel the programmes as apparently they say he wasn't the sort who liked a fuss

@worriedatthemoment

My 15 year old managed to stand and show respect with a minute silence both at footie and rugby yesterday infact all the 15/16 years old did Im sure some of them know little about him or care but were able to show respect , yet fully grown adults don't seem capable

This is the attitude that gets to me.

The attempt to shame or coerce people into displaying 'correct' behaviour.

I do not respect the royal family. They're no more than grifters born into the right family.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/07/revealed-queen-lobbied-for-change-in-law-to-hide-her-private-wealth

I am more than capable of showing respect or grieving for people I'm genuinely sad about. Why would I be sad about a 99 year old rich stranger dying? He had a better life than most other people in this country could ever dream of having.

@Alltheprettyseahorses and how does national mourning really affect your day to day life
Have you read more on him and things about him that people who actually met him like the Obama's etc
We have a monarchy and protocols in this countries , other countries have different traditions its what makes countries often interesting and unique

VladmirsPoutine

Saying black has been in an out as the correct term several times.

At one point coloured was the preferred term (god knows why)
Now it seems to be PoC or BAME but that seems to be currently under review.

Umm, ok, thanks for sharing.

@UnderHisAye why be disrespectful though?
It affects you in no way so whats your problem
So if you had a son in the team would you tell him to talk or not conform
He holds a position in this country if a serving president dies in other countries Im sure they have protocols
Sporting events often have a minutes silence for people

* I am more than capable of showing respect or grieving for people I'm genuinely sad about. Why would I be sad about a 99 year old rich stranger dying?*

I agree with you @UnderHisAye.

[quote JayAlfredPrufrock]@adrianmolesmole

You misrepresent me. As I expected.

Anyone is welcome here. I was merely trying to establish what it was about the UK that the OP found so desirable to use her skills here.[/quote]
Why?

@drpet49 who is asking you to be sad ?
No one is you have a tv remote right?
Standing for a minute silence is just respect within sport and is done for many people

Well im very similar in that i say exactly what I think, i can be abrasive, i have zero patience or tolerance for rubbish and faffing about. I don't say things to purposely offend however if you get offended that's your problem, you chose to take offence. I have a good career and im good at doing my job. The only thing I don't have is his achievements such as Dof E award! Im neither male nor upper class, so no your generalisation doesn't work OP.

Worriedattgemoment National mourning affects my life because it's quite embarrassing to have such a ridiculous, outdated, obsequious ritual and as a UK citizen I don't want to be associated with it. Philip was apparently described as a moderniser: this would be a great opportunity to be modern and get rid of a silly and fairly recent tradition.

@FrippEnos exactly people seem to not know history well and how things have changed over the years
I know a lot of my friends are not keen on BAME

I think it’s also because Prince Philip has been around longer than most of us have been alive, along with the Queen herself. Seeing the Queen present at major events without him there with her will take some getting used to.

@Alltheprettyseahorses no the reality os it doesn't affect you at all in any real way

I agree with you UnderHisAye and normally I'm a stickler for respecting silences. I don't see the point here.

@CherryCherries

Even if he was standard Joe Bloggs from down the road, he still served in WWll, which holds merit on its own even without any of the other achievements.

Op would you have made the same remarks about Sir Captain Tom Moore? Said he never actually achieved anything in his 100 years of life? Or anyone else who served in WWll? Or would you treat them with a little respect?

People on here don't care about serving in WWII. What they care about is someone making an off remark. It's the worstest thing in the whole wide world. I don't know who they admire. Themselves and Ash Sarkar probably.

Many countries have national mourning, it is not just us, and ours seems quite relaxed compared to others. Doesn’t really impact anyone at all.

@Alltheprettyseahorses embarassed why? Its not about you and what about the uk citizens who are fine with it
Him and the queen are the last of the older monarchy and things will change over the years
But basic respect for someone who has died why is that hard, especially a minute silence at a sporting event , I have done it for many a person I do not know

@Alltheprettyseahorses well anyone that doesn't respect a minute silence I think says more about them really
Its one minute even the 5 year olds managed

worried, it really does affect me. I'm having to live in a country that's governed by people who think it's appropriate to do that. I feel embarrassed by it. I'm affected by a rigid class system that results in one privileged old man being elevated over millions of wonderful, hard-working people just because of an accident of birth. Please don't tell me it doesn't affect me or all of us.

@adrianmolesmole

Because I am interested.

@ineedaholidaynow I know exactly and ai bet people in other countries don't moan so much , we do seem to be a nation of wingers lately

@Alltheprettyseahorses no it doesn't and you don't have to live here you can emigrate

@Alltheprettyseahorses your embarrassed really !! Why because you can't control how others want to do things

I'm not here to pick a fight, worried. I believe my post even said I'm a stickler for silences. But that involves respect and I have no respect for the royal institution or anyone in it. Why should I?

It's not appropriate to enforce a silence on 5 year olds, btw. A silence should be something freely participated in with no coercion and in full understanding and contemplation of what's being remembered. Little children being silent for a minute isn't really the point imo.