Harry and Gabor

[laurwalsh]

My friend just sent me this. I adore Gabor mate and the work he does. His book 'in the realms of hungry ghosts' was life changing for me who had suffered serious addiction issues. But am I being too harsh to feel disappointed he's jumping on this band wagon of garbage. I'm sorry but Harry we're sick of listening to your trauma and no offence you've sung it to death, (and I don't even think it's that bad relative to how much he has gone on and on about it) and trauma aside you're a complete hypocrite with how you've treated you're family and the trauma you've put them through!!

I did wonder about that, I don't know if his status means it's overlooked?.

Surely alarm bells are going off at invictus

I wouldn't presume to speak for them, but given Harry's derailing of the last games to make the headlines about himself, his hideous mocking of the disabled matron, the taliban comments and now this, I'd be surprised if a number aren't upset

Which would be a shame, because Invictus was something I hugely admired Harry for - only now I'm left wondering if it was always just a PR stunt his advisers prodded him towards

I've just reminded myself that a year ago Invictus announced "that we are forging a new partnership, making BetterUp the official mental fitness coaching tool of the Invictus Games Foundation."

That's the outfit where Harry became CHIMPO - chief impact officer.

And Harry is "founding patron" of Invictus (based on the Warrior Games, developed in the US, that Harry attended in 2013).

Now that Harry is using both positions to talk about his supposed knowledge of drugs & mental health and his views on the military, and to make a lot of money for himself personally, it's all starting to look a bit, ahem, conflict of interesty. I think that the Invictus governing body may rue the day.

Sources:

invictusgamesfoundation.org/partners/betterup/

www.betterup.com/about-us/leadership-team

It was definitely something people organised and encouraged Harry to lead. I have read it was Charles' idea, but who knows.
Harry embraced it and promoted it and it's been really successful. It would be a shame if that was spoiled.

I think he was originally on an Einstein visa (for exceptional talent) like Melania Trump.

How does one qualify for diplomatic immunity? Could he have that, perhaps?

Guffaws.

VixenTodd · Today 18:18
I think he was originally on an Einstein visa (for exceptional talent) like Melania Trump.

Harry the exceptional genius? 'course he is.....

Invictus won't get rid of him as a spokesman. He doesn't work at the foundation anymore but he is the face of the games. Invictus won't be worried about the details of the book or these interviews. Doubt they even know what peoole are saying online. They have no reason to think he's a negative to the organisation. And, in fact, as they're friends of his, they'll probably be supporting what he says and does.

@MarshaMelrose you may very well be right. But It is clear that some peers , others in the military and Senior Military people have criticised him for his comments & some do think he has raised the security bar. & as Invictus games very much associated with the military - I would be surprised if some aren't thinking of it. Well - up to organisers not to me.

I do think some mental health charities / institutions might ( should? ) be thinking twice about H.

Ah well - not my choice

That's very true about the criticism within the forces. Indeed I think I saw veterans that knew him through Invictus criticising him. So I see where you're coming from.
I just think the invictus trustees are his friends so they're going to protect him and stand by him as much as possible. Let's face it, it's he and Meghan that are the face of the games. They'd have to make a public statement why they weren't attending which just runs more negative publicity and speculation. Memories are short so it's probably best to just buckle up and ride any storm.

No. The drugs he uses are legal in California. He is breaking no laws here.

They will not look at his past drug use in the UK because 1) he wasn't in the US when he did it and 2) the US is commuting sentences of drug offenders now that the drugs are being legalized, so why would they go after him?

I totally support what you say. Harry is a fuckwit of stupendous proportions. There I've said it for you

It's not that they would go after him in terms of prosecuting a crime but rather that it could affect his visa status and reentry into the US, or his visa renewal down the line.

You are asked on most immigration visas to the US about your drug and alcohol use, and also about any criminal activity etc in the country you are coming from.

Admitting certain things can mean a delay in granting a visa (I know someone who had to report for monthly testing for a year before getting their visa) or an outright denial. Sometimes there is a possibility of applying for a special waiver to let you in despite the issue you have admitted to.

American immigration also sees lying on official forms to gain an immigration benefit sometimes as worse than the original crime and it can lead to a lifetime ban from the US.

Often these issues only come up when the immigrant tries to re-enter the USA after a trip outside the country or when they are renewing a visa or applying for citizenship down the road.

Now do I think Harry as the son of the British King will be treated like a regular person? Probably not.

But for anyone reading this who has plans to immigrate and or apply for longterm US immigration benefits you want to be as squeaky clean as possible at least in terms of what is known about you publically so don't be publishing any books about your excessive drug use.

Thanks. I got triggered by her dismissive comments about mental health with a dozen PMSL emojis.

So listening to the issuer of amazing bumper sticker gems of wisdom, Harry came up with 'I was not allowed to be my authentic self, I was told I had to conform to xyz standards'

As per bloody usual his nonsensical word salad said absolutely nothing! What is your 'authentic self' Harry? Drink and drug addled puffing on a spliff, or rocking in a dark corner. What the fuck is an authentic self! The frustration of listening to his nonsense will give me a stroke. Was the alternative to his 'authentic self', going to school, studying, laughing at disabled matrons? Why doesn't someone ask some fucking questions and get to the truth.

I need a drink.

I completely agree with your take on this @MarshaMelrose. Harry is seen as some kind of hero leader figure at Invictus and I don't think they'd chuck him out for any reason whatsoever.

There may be those lower down who are unhappy with what he's saying - and I've certainly seen some express anger - but those at the top are rammed firmly up his back side and I don't think they can see daylight.

Even if they ever DID admit he has issues it would just be down to PTSD or war or something, and they'd see him as needing their support, not being expelled.

I think Harry's status as the CHIMPO for a mental health organisation is a far bigger conflict. I don't think his stance on drugs and the things he's said are appropriate for his position. But I imagine as he's chuntered on about therapy, and finding your authentic self blah blah, that will be seen as making the right noises.

I don't think you'll find it I'm afraid. I was immersed in that environment for a good few years and I clearly saw they would never break free of it. They simply stay in this permanent state of enigma and if you do not understand then it is because they are more evolved and awoken than you are.

As they grow older, the guy version stays adrift with his spliff, guitar (and new iphone!) close to hand. The hemptresses argue incessantly among themselves in warring factions and often squander large amounts of their inheritances on pointless litigation 'because she posted x or y on facebook about me'.

That was horrible. I think we were all disgusted by that.
Best ignore.

Good advice @Maireas. I started to type an incredulous reply this morning but just deleted it to avoid feeding the drama. Absolutely unbelievable - mental health and trauma discussion, and they think laughing emojis are appropriate. No words.

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees
I think it's all bollocks and he's misremembered the bit in Skyfall about orphans making better MI6 recruits.

Where do you think that line in the film came from? James Bond novels which are decades old and based on the author’s life experience. It’s a really old trope that the forces attract and give structure/discipline to lost young men who haven’t had a good family structure around them. There was an interesting podcast recently of a guy advocating for some sort of national service on this basis - there was a lot of sense in it.

@purpledalmation
What the fuck is an authentic self!

Going to assume you’re genuinely asking. Your authentic self is your feelings - what you really feel. It’s very common to ostracise children and people in society for feeling/expressing their real feelings like anger particularly, and other so-called ‘negative’ feelings like disgust, fear etc. Which is why we get so much drama on MN/the internet about people venting their real (authentic) feelings - because they feel they can’t be honest about how they feel in real life. It also leads to outbursts of anger (aka your post) because pent up emotions tend to explode when there’s a small trigger. It’s emotionally damaging to suppress feelings and leads to all sorts of dysfunction and enmeshment etc, not to mention physical health problems, if parents don’t allow their children to have their real (authentic) feelings and instead shame, deny, ostracise or punish them for certain feelings. It’s actually a very common experience and I believe the reason some people can’t stand what Harry says and get so riled about it is because they’re deep down jealous that they don’t/won’t/feel they can’t speak their own real feelings in their own lives.

Where do you think that line in the film came from? James Bond novels which are decades old and based on the author’s life experience. It’s a really old trope that the forces attract and give structure/discipline to lost young men who haven’t had a good family structure around them. There was an interesting podcast recently of a guy advocating for some sort of national service on this basis - there was a lot of sense in it.

It’s just that though, a really old trope. I’m sure there are those who join because they are looking for structure/ discipline as you put it, but what Harry is implying in his own words is that those sort of people are the majority who are actively recruited by the armed forces and that is simply not true. As for whether some sort of National Service would be appropriate, that has nothing to do with what Harry was saying.

I know. There was a lovely poster upthread, sharing her struggles with ADHD and how she tries to deal with it, someone else talking about a loved one's horrible descent into drugs, then you get that response. It just beggars belief. I've started using Michelle Obama's mantra: they go low, we go high.

Meant to add as well that I think he manages to imply at the same time that people from “broken homes” join the armed forces because they have no other purpose in life and are maybe expendable. It’s really not very nice.