Harry and Meghan -- Why I dislike them BOTH

[PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog]

I keep seeing threads that say everyone who dislikes the Sussexs is based on some form of racism and I wanted to put my view across. I will set the parameters of my points:

1. Meghan absolutely did receive racist coverage from sections of the British media.

1. I believe that there were threats to their safety by far right loons.
2. I believe they were both unhappy as working members of the RF

However...

I still find them both very disingenuous. They highlight and speak up against the racism of others, whilst failing to address Harry's previous and documented racist behaviour. As a Jew I cannot understand how Meghan can just remain silent about her husbands former mistakes. This makes her seem untrustworthy to me and seems like she will put up with anything for money and cache, whilst arguing (rightly) that racism is totally unacceptable. He keeps saying others need to learn and he is right, but he should acknowledge that he too needed to learn, acknowledge the support needed to help others learn and offer that support to others (including his own family, if needed).

Their attitude towards the public also seems 'off' and ungrateful to me and they seem to collocate the press and the public as the same thing. There is a lot of footage of the public support for them before, during and after their wedding. Yet, apparently, they did not want the big public wedding and the 'UK' was racist towards them. Harry particularly understands the 'deal' between the monarchy and the public and ought to have explained this to Meghan, the comments re the wedding on Oprah came across as quite spiteful and tone deaf. Almost like, 'we suffered through the big wedding for the plebs.' Ditto all the strange behaviour around Archie's birth. They could have followed the Tindall's approach if they wanted to avoid press intrusion.

During financial pressures around the world they are still complaining and not acknowledging their wealth and privilege, whilst claiming to give voice to the needs of those living in poverty and suffering. The Africa interview was a prime example for both of them. It just all comes together to make them feel untrustworthy to me, and makes me dislike them. I do not wish them any ill, but I wish they would acknowledge their fortune and live private, useful lives.

Harry who reportedly said… ah so you’re justifying saying an African American woman who has spoken out against racism, doesn’t actually care about it based on some rumour about Harry? Ok.
You have no basis to say what you said but sure, you’re entitled to say it. It’s about what I’d expect from you.

The 'virtual signalling' is standard Royal family behaviour. Charles and William use privates jets whilst preaching about climate change. They visit food banks but the coronation will cost 250 million. Do you think Charles and Camilla care about any one else but themselves?

@Rockybooboo I haven’t seen any preaching from William and Charles about flying but if they have and fly via private jet then yes they are hypocrites too in that regard - obviously.

Look - Harry was a racist and Meghan chose him as her husband. Those who choose to believ he has ‘seen the light’ are entitled to their opinion- as I am to mine

Where have you been? One example is Will and Kate flying to the US for the Earthshot awards whist the nominees stayed at home.

so agree, and calling him simple!!!!

@Rockybooboo I said I haven’t seen them Irving people not to fly- and then flying themselves. Or setting up an eco travel company.

urging

Five prizes times three nominees each who needed to get to Boston and back equals 30 plane trips that didn’t happen because of that decision. And two that did. Not the strongest logic there, I feel!

@8roses but they do preach abput climate change and its well.known air travel is one of the worst things for the envoronment or do you think they havent been told this.

Ok, insinuated then.

But why did Will have to be present? He could have attended virtually which they managed during lockdown

But why did Will have to be present? He could have attended virtually which they managed during lockdown

Because him attending and doing the red carpet appearance and meeting Joe Biden meant the awards got a heap of media coverage that wouldn’t have been the case if he’d presented it virtually.

(It’s why Meghan and Harry attend Invictus events, and why film stars jet around the world to attend premieres - to generate buzz)

That doesn’t really answer the question - William and Charles aren’t telling people not to do things that they are doing themselves - if they are and I have missed it then yes they are hypocrites too. To set up an eco travel company and then fly across the Atlantic for a few hours doesn’t sit right

That seems to be another whim that’s gone nowhere beyond the advert

But surely him making a stand against climate change and not flying be even better publicity?

Not attending your own project would be an insult to people who supported it and you. Ridiculous to say do it over zoom 🤣🤣

I haven’t seen any preaching from William and Charles about flying but if they have and fly via private jet then yes they are hypocrites too in that regard - obviously.

Both Charles and William have frequently spoken of the need to address climate change and have urged members of the public to cut their carbon footprint. Indeed way before Harry became persona non grata amoungst many, this was a frequent criticism raised specifically against Charles because of his environmentalism. They all struggle with practicing with what they preach and it is difficult to bring the charge of hypocrite against one with out raising against them all.

They will be attending by Zoom. I can imagine people who support Earthshot would have preferred them to stand by their principles.

It doesn't seem to be part of her activism, until it affected her.

Her agent said in the NF series that he wasn't aware initially that she is bi-racial. Of course, no-one should have to choose whether to 'pass' as white or identify as black.

I doubt her children - a black grandmother, 3 white grandparents - will be much affected, given their wealth and connections.

It would be more convincing if she had made a stand before it affected her personally.

I had a work induction meeting ten years ago or so, and a rep for the Black Staff group gave a short talk. They said that they don't define 'black' - if you identify as black you can join.

I did wonder whether that would extend to me - white British as far as my mother's research extends, in some cases to the 1600's. I had a colleague at the time say 'I was the only black person in the room', which surprised me as I didn't know she was 'black'. She had a black grandparent, but it had never occurred to me as it wasn't visibly obvious.

Since then we've had Rachel Dolezal, of course, 'identifying' as black.

I was brought up to see prejudice as everyone's responsibility, and having a black child the pervasiveness of racism has been eye opening. But I can also see that accusations of 'racism' can be a way of closing down a conversation and scoring points.

I'm seeing this more and more. I think the idea is to posit that Harry is the only one who was and is racist in the royal family - which would then negate any claim of racism in the royal family. As if this institution did not exempt itself from the Race Relations Act, the Sex Discrimination Act and the Equal Pay Act, and did not until after the interview publish workforce data (as per other employers) until 2021. And also as if it did not have members who would say things like "if you stay here much longer you'll become eyed", “It looks as if it was put in by an Indian”, “Still throwing spears?” - comments which were called "gaffes", or wear blackamoor brooches to meet people of colour. As if it did not have people who felt comfortable enough to touch and move someone of colour's hair whilst asking where were really from (code for why are you different).

Personally, I think Harry has still a lot of work to do - because unconscious bias, whether the perpetrator is or isn’t aware of it, is still racism. A racist act or belief, whether intentional or unintentional is still racist because of the negative impact it has. If we are to really define unconscious bias in relation to racism, it is a preconceived belief that an individual is unaware they have. Self flaggelation is not a requirement of being anti racist - accepting wrong doing, learning from it and having the motivation to do and be better is important. Time will indeed tell if he is indeed better - it will be hard for him especially looking from where he came from but from my perspective he's the only one at least even trying.

I doubt her children - a black grandmother, 3 white grandparents - will be much affected, given their wealth and connections.

Racism affects all peope of colour - regardless of their wealth or connections. Please see Oprah Winfrey (worth over £2 billion) for documented cases of this.

It would be more convincing if she had made a stand before it affected her personally.

A white British woman deciding whether or not a biracial African American is actually serious about racism and judging her on if she is a good advocate is at best, lacking in self awareness, at worst just more racism.

Yes absolutely. My lighter siblings still experience racism as Maori who can in some cases pass as pakeha. It comes in various forms. One of those is when others deny their race or that it affects them in a world where racism exists.