General Chat

Frederick, pmsl When I was pregnant with my son, whose father is Maltese, I used to say that the ad for Maltesers was wrong, they are fattening lol

Lizx

Never mind being called a Paki. Pom, Brit, etc

Just imagine how a person born in Malta feels. !!!!! F.

I too think it's a mountain out of a molehill. I'm not saying racism doesn't exist because it does but I'm sure Harry wasn't meaning to be racist at all.

Karen, spot on! That's what I think too, and still wonder who released this film etc to the press, someone out to stir things and/or make some money on the side. I hope they are proud of themselves, maybe someone who didn't make it through the training or is jealous of Harry. He didn't ask to be born into a privileged position and I think he and his brother are doing a better job than Prince Charles of living life, doing ok and trying to help others while being as normal as possible for someone in such a position.
I would never condone racism from anyone done in an insulting or nasty way but the jokey friendly affectionate way Harry was doing that film to while away the time was so normal and there must be thousands of other people who do similar things but are allowed their privacy so it's never known about.

Lizxx

ps. Karen, I haven't forgotten the dvd

Whether or not we agree that the P word is an isult, racist or otherwise.....what I cannot agree with, and fail to understand, is that anyone should have to apologise for some comment they made....a) in private, b) whilst minding their own business, c) whilst making a private, (aka personal) video film.
How many times have any of us muttered something about someone under our breath, not wanting, or EVER intending it to be overheard by anyone. Is that not allowed any more?? This is "Big Brother" taken to the limit.

The fact that this was 3 years ago makes me laugh.
So all of those Army chaps who fought in WW2, or the Falklands, or Korea, or the Gulf, shall all film footage be raked through and scanned, plus all of their colleagues questioned, just in case any of them was overheard calling an Arab a raghead, or an Italian an Iti or a Wop, etc etc etc etc. Hey, let's find them and ask them to issue an apology.

I stand corrected David.....

I still believe an insult is an insult, no matter how kindly that insult is delivered! The P word is a racial insult in my opinion.

Diana
xx

My brother-in-law is Asian .
He Say's he is a P himself so does that make it alright for him to call him self one but no anyone else .
This world is getting pathetic .
You tell me how many Asians or blacks have been prosecuted for Racism .

I have never heard of any, this is because when they speak in there language we haven't got a clue what they say -- for instance we were out one day and my S.i.l can understand Asian language she was bumped into by an Asian lady and she said something in her language ,my s.i.l just turned round and said "I'm not a white bitch " this is what the Asian had called her .
Did my s.i.l make a racism complaint NO.

Racism is a word that is used when it suits .

I have to pick Chelsea Pink up on a point she made, The Comments were made at Sandhurst 3 years ago that Officer is a Captain in the Pakistani Army and not the British Army,
Davex

Hi everyone who replied to me, thank-you!

I have some very good buddies from the Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities.

Champagne boys? Yes, we thought it was quite funny. When I was racially abused it wasn't quite so funny.

In the '70's I was at secondary school when Idi Amin threw the Atsians out of Uganda. Some ended up in Kent (where i didn't live at the time) and 1, just 1, was bused all the way to our school in Hertfordshire every day.

We all felt really sorry for him - although he was very good at cricket. In those days the skinheads used to wear white socks because they said it upset the Pakis. Morons. Does anyone remember this? Only knowing one Asian boy at the time we were all really upset by this and very protective towards our new friend. So I agree it used to be an insult but is it still? I really don't know and would welcome hearing Asian views.

In Australia last year I was called a Pom several times but I didn't challenge anyone. Should I have done? Or are we all totally over the top these days? I really don't know.

Why has there not been an enquiry as to how this videoclip got into the public domain? Surely if it was just a private clip made when they were larking about, and at the time, I am not sure Harry was that lad's senior except for his royal connections which should not have counted when training, it shouldn't have been made public, if someone has sold it on then they are as bad as anyone else. Altho the chap didn't look amused when Harry was filming, I don't think it could have been a major issue or he should have reported it at the time, and as for his father spouting forth, I think the lad himself should have spoken up and either said that he wasn't really happy about it or that he was ok with it, and they all joked like that together. Wonder if the other lads training with them called him the same nickname, would they be 'on trial' in the press too? After all, this was three years ago and Harry was much younger then and sillier. Give the lad some credit for the good things he does and the fact that he and his brother aren't taking advantage of their positions to be screwing round lots of girls and living a mad debauched life, they both have steady girlfriends that have been around for a while, who are discreet and not shallow and tarty or anything like WAGS etc and they are trying to live their lives as most young lads but with added pressure of the media gaze. I think the whole thing has been blown out of proportion and it should have been left in the past where it belonged. Had it been said in malice it would have been different but there are far worse things happening now that need addressing and I do feel it should be put to rest now.

Also the Sooty thing with Prince Charles and his polo pal, again a private thing so why drag it up now.

Lizx

I think I agree with the 'mountain out of molehill' people on this one. I havent seen the clip but from what I have read it was a term or affection or friendship it wasnt said with malice. We have a friend, who when he phones he says, 'tell Al (my OH) its the Paki on the phone'. I think the problem is when someone isnt Pakistani but Indian or otherwise. However what is the problem because infact most non-white people living in the UK are there for generations; are they simply not British or English. Its not surprise there is segregation if we continue to refer to people, long in the UK, as different. (I hope my explanation isnt too clumsy.)

When I first moved here I would not say someone was 'taking the Mick/y' because Mick used to be a derogatory slang word for Irish people. However only last year I discussed this with some of my college friends and they thought I was crazy. 'Micky' is the slang word for penis here!

I am sure somewhere int eh definition of racism there is something about malice or bad feeling.

Anyway for future reference I better not be called fat, blonde (well they are all bimbos), Irish or a Brit. I am none, I am me!

love Theresa

I have been called Cockney, when living in the North, even though I was not born within the sound of Bow Bells.

And- What about the Brits being called Pommie b...... in Oz.

Taffy, Jock, Paddy, Toni (for Italians) Nick (for Greeks)

None of us worry about being called nick names.

PC getting out of hand.

Think more important things to worry about, such as the state of the economy instead of this pettiness.

Mo

He was called it because of the colour of his skin not because of where he came from so its a RACIAL comment!!

How anyone can disagree with that is beyond me!

Weather he said it in a 'kind' or a patronising tone doesn't make any difference to the fact that he said the word 'Paki'.. I am genuienly surprised that there are people around who dont seem to be aware of the enormity of the offence felt by the Asian population of the use of this word.

I saw and heard the video and i thought he said,,'our little pakki friend' in quite a kind tone,,,
Maybe Im wrong but it always seems that the ethnic population have a chip on their shoulder as regards rascism...It doesnt take much for them to get offended,

Helen,,i think the term'Champagne Boys' is quite nice,,lol

Sorry Dave have to reply yo you comparing it with shortening names. ie David to Dave etc. It is not the same at all. By no stretch of the imagination.
And Helen in Kent, if you ask the large majority of Black people if they feel that the N word is appropriate even if used by other Black people they will tell you no. I've been in big discussions about this on other sites where there is a larger ethnic mix than on here it would seem. And they all told me that it has so many racist and slavery connotations that it would never be acceptable to the mainstream population. And that it is still a very offensive word that they wish rap artists etc would not use.

Totaly agree with Sally and Deanne. I spent most of my life in a highly populated Asian and Carribean district in London where the N and P word was always a highly offensive word used as a derogatory term whereas Brit, Manc, Jock etc just did not 'carry the same weight'..they were almost used as more as a endearing term. No doubt, as Harry has never lived in the 'real' world he undoubtedly didn't realise that this word would cause such hurt and offence.

I am really confused because, in Rap songs, etc, black people call each other by the N word and that's ok. while we white people are not allowed to say this.

On holiday in Tobago, on 3 occasions because we love it so much, the blonde men were called Champagne Boys by the locals and no-one took offence. One local women was very racist towards me as we drove through her village and I let it pass. Should I have sued her??

I don't think Harry meant any harm but, in his position,he should be more aware of the issues.

Surely we would need to hear the other soldiers view, if he wasnt offended at the time 3 years ago !!! and still isnt why stir this up now ,its the father thats found it offensive,yes a derogaotry and unpleasant remark by any standards but it was made in the confines of a group who by all accounts were mates and they refered to Harry as Ginge,,but it goes to show its meaning is felt even spoke by a Royal.

I am absolutely with Sally on this one!

The P word is as bad as the N word! And I can't believe that in this day and age there are people defending its use!

Are you all forgetting that the soldier he used it against is BRITISH and fighting for the BRITISH ARMY defending BRITAIN as a job and has probably never been to Pakistan in his life!