Give a Guy a Break
Britain's Prince Harry apologizes for offensive language
This was in my email in-box (I have a CNN customized alert for any articles on Prince William and Prince Harry, yes I am a geek).
Here is the article link - http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/01/10/prince.harry.videos/index.html
Read all about it, but the gist is that Prince Harry used some derogatory terms for Pakistani's. Now everyone is up in arms but really I don't think its all that bad (the first one, "Paki" I've heard Pakistani's use all the time, so I don't know where people are saying that is bad?? What exactly is bad about it?).
I say give the kid a break - he did this while working as a serviceman, where it is understood sometimes the language gets salty. Hey at least he didn't torture people like the guys at Abu Ghrab. In the end, I think his good deeds outweigh his bad (he works diligently to promote and help AIDS orphans in Africa).
posted by Virginia Gal @ 12:14 AM
6 Comments:
It does seem at times ike we are so focused on political correctness that we get bent out of shape too easily. And yet, language is important and words can hurt. So maybe it is necessary to have him called to task, especially since he has a role as a representative of a nation. If apolizing makes him think a bit more carefully, is that a bad thing?
I concur with Citizen.
Yes, language gets salty and offensive in the service and there's probably more being made of this than needs to be. But, language matters. It's alot easier to make someone your enemy if you only refer to them in derogatory slang. If you're in the public eye, and participating in military service, your duty is doubled. Be conscientious.
Plus, just because some Pakistanis call themselves that doesn't make it okay any more than black people who refer to each other as the N word. Maybe they should stop. Like Tina Fey's character in "Mean Girls" says: When we call each other "bitches and hos, we give boys permission to call us that." Same ethic. I'm not convinced that a minority referring to him/herself in the derogatory slang of the oppressor is "reclaiming the word," as some purport. Words are dynamic and evolve through the ages. I get that, but either we can all use it, or we can all agree it's unacceptable.
And as far as public officials dropping epithets "jokingly:" why is it okay for Prince Harry to get away with it, but not George Allen? Not defending Allen ... just saying.
I believe we should focus more on our own behavior and less on those of the "upper" class. Poor guy can't even act normal.
He is young. As a royal, he will have to learn to rise above the temptation to fall in with his comrades in using language that could be hurtful, even if he didn't intend it that way. It's peer pressure and the whole need to be cool thing.
Soryr, but yes, if he is to be King then he better be politically correct all the time.
Citizen - Yes apologizing for the second time will certainly make him think twice.
Molly - Very interesting thing about Allen...for me it was never offensive, I just was happy that others were all outraged, so he could lose. I always thought he was an ass (GA). No you are right language is important, but I think maybe this was a mistake of a child, who just happens to be in the spotlight.
Brenda - excellent point!
Merci - I think you hit the nail on the head, he needs to be above the peer pressure. That is the larger issue here.
Joe - he is third in line, I know there is a possibility of being King but really it is far off. I agree it would be nice if he didn't have these thoughts and voiced them. But I bet a lot of politico's think the same thing, just smart enough not to say anything.
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